The Vietnamese with Kenneth Nguyen

Mia Nguyen is a Vietnamese community builder and the founder of Viet Boss Babes - a Vietlish podcast and media platform sharing Vietnamese culture, identity and ambition with the world. Born and raised in Hanoi and currently living in Toronto, Mia’s work bridges the diaspora experience with global conversations.By day, she leads marketing strategies in the tech industry. By night, she’s building a platform that redefines what it means to be modern, Vietnamese, and proudly in-between - through storytelling, community events and cultural context that speak both to the roots and the remix.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vietnamese-with-kenneth-nguyen/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode of The Vietnamese podcast, host Anderson Le sits down with Tony Bui, a pioneer in the Vietnamese American independent cinema space. Tony is a Sundance award-winning writer, director, and producer. He is currently Artist-in-Residence at Columbia University’s Weatherhead East Asian Institute and teaches in Columbia’s School of the Arts graduate film program. His films include Yellow Lotus, Three Seasons, Green Dragon, and The Throwaways. His short film, Yellow Lotus, was the first Vietnamese language film to be screened at the Sundance Film Festival and received over 15 national and international festival awards. His feature film debut, Three Seasons, was the first American-Vietnamese co-production to be filmed entirely in Vietnam. The film received the Grand Jury Prize, Audience Award, and Best Cinematography Award at the Sundance Film Festival, along with two Independent Spirit Awards nominations. Three Seasons was also Vietnam’s official entry to the Oscars, where it was shortlisted. In 2024, Three Seasons was showcased once again at the Sundance Film Festival, chosen as one of ten films from the festival's four decade history to celebrate its 40th anniversary.Tony is a recipient of the Humanitas Prize and an alumnus of the Sundance Institute's Screenwriting and Directing Labs. He has written and developed projects for HBO, Warner Bros., and NBC. Tony previously served on the Board of Directors of Film Independent for seven years and is currently on the Global Advisory Board of Fulbright University Vietnam. As Artist-in-Residence at Columbia, Tony has brought filmmakers, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists, global activists, and more to the campus as guest speakers to engage in vital conversations about the role of artists and truth seekers. In the summer of 2024, in partnership with Columbia University’s Weatherhead East Asian Institute, Tony held public talks in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Beijing. These events, titled Conversations in Storytelling: Regional Voices, Global Impact, brought together notable filmmakers in each city for discussions on the role and significance of regional storytelling in today’s world. In April 2025, Tony and the Criterion Channel launched Legacies of War: Vietnam Across the Divides, a curated program of American and Vietnamese films in honor of the fiftieth anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. This landmark series marked the first time a showcase of Vietnamese cinema became available for streaming on the Criterion Channel.—————————————————————-Please Support PICTUREHOUSE today by clicking on the Links to the campaign shared in the description. Every donation brings Director Minh, and his cast and crew closer to sharing this special film with the world.Indiegogo: https://igg.me/at/picturehousemovieSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vietnamese-with-kenneth-nguyen/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Can The Japanese Internment Camps Happen Again?In this episode, we sit with Kevin Nguyen, author of the new novel Mỹ Documents, a chilling and satirical reimagining of American history. Kevin is the features editor at The Verge, formerly a senior editor at GQ, and the author of New Waves.We talk about his latest book, which imagines a near-future America where Vietnamese Americans are rounded up and detained in internment camps following a wave of national panic. Set through the perspectives of four cousins—Ursula, Alvin, Jen, and Duncan—Mỹ Documents explores family, ambition, and the terrifying ease with which fear can turn into policy.In our conversation, Kevin shares the inspirations behind the novel, how historical memory shapes fiction, and why this story—while fictional—feels uncomfortably close to reality. We also reflect on how history has treated communities of color in times of crisis, and whether the past is ever really past.This is a deeply personal, sharply political, and unexpectedly funny conversation about resilience, memory, and what it means to belong in America.- - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - Many of you still have the chance to record and preserve the legacies of your own families. I’ve just begun to sit with families now for interview sessions to record the rich histories of parents and explore the lives of the generations that preceded them. Don’t let your family stories go untold! Take a moment to reach out and together we will bring out your family’s story on a recorded journey. - Kenneth NguyenVisit vietnamstorybank.com today for more information.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vietnamese-with-kenneth-nguyen/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On the 50th anniversary of April 30, 1975 — the official end of the Vietnam War — I sat in silence at home and thought about what a few of us have been thinking for a long time: it’s time to think about the next 50 years of what the Vietnamese all over the world can do together. Not to forget, not to erase, but to release. We’ve all carried the weight of this war for five decades — across time, oceans, generations, and identities. In this moment, I'm asking for a new space.A new way of seeing community not built on grief or guilt, but on creativity, possibility, and dialogue. We should always honor the shadow of the past but start imagining a future that’s finally ours to show the world.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vietnamese-with-kenneth-nguyen/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode of Viet History Makers, host Kenneth Nguyen and co-host Kevin Pham explore the life and legacy of Đào Duy Anh (1904–1988), a pioneering figure in Vietnam's intellectual history. As a historian, lexicographer, and cultural scholar, Đào Duy Anh laid the groundwork for modern Vietnamese social sciences. His seminal works, including the Hán-Việt Từ Điển and Việt Nam Văn Hóa Sử Cương, have become cornerstones in the study of Vietnamese language and culture. The discussion explores Đào Duy Anh's early involvement in revolutionary movements, his contributions to Vietnamese historiography, and his role in the Nhân Văn–Giai Phẩm affair, which highlighted the tensions between intellectual freedom and political authority in mid-20th-century Vietnam. Through his extensive research and publications, Đào Duy Anh not only chronicled Vietnam's past but also influenced its cultural and academic development .Join us as we examine how Đào Duy Anh's dedication to scholarship and cultural preservation has left an indelible mark on Vietnam's intellectual landscape.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Kevin D. Pham is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Amsterdam. His research introduces Vietnamese political thought to the academic field of political theory, showing how Vietnamese thinkers challenge and enhance conventional Western understandings of important political concepts.He co-hosts Nam Phong Dialogues, a podcast in which he and Yen Vu have casual chats about Vietnamese history and being Vietnamese American. He is the author of The Architects of Dignity: Vietnamese Visions of Decolonization (Oxford University Press, 2024).Kevindoanpham.com--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Many of you still have the chance to record and preserve the legacies of your own families. I’ve sat with families now for interview sessions to record the rich histories of parents and explore the lives of the generations that preceded them. Don’t let your family stories go untold! Take a moment to reach out and together we will bring out your family’s story on a recorded journey. - Kenneth NguyenVisit vietnamstorybank.com today for more information.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vietnamese-with-kenneth-nguyen/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Andrew Lam is a Vietnamese American author and journalist known for his insightful and humorous explorations of the Vietnamese diaspora and immigrant identity. Born Lâm Quang Dũng in 1964 in South Vietnam, he is the son of General Lâm Quang Thi of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam. At the age of 11, during the fall of Saigon in April 1975, Lam and his family fled Vietnam, eventually settling in California. His writing explores themes of identity, belonging, and the complexities of the immigrant experience, often drawing from his own background. In 2004, a PBS documentary titled My Journey Home followed Lam's return to Vietnam, offering a personal perspective on the Vietnamese diaspora.Beyond his literary work, Lam co-founded New America Media, an association of ethnic media organizations, and has taught journalism and creative nonfiction at institutions like San Francisco State University and San Jose State University.April 30th, 1975 is a day of reflection for the global Vietnamese, no matter where you stand. Fifty years later, we are all affected in one way or another. Please join Andrew Lam and Kenneth Nguyen in conversation about all the ways this date can mean to Vietnamese folks all around the world. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Many of you still have the chance to record and preserve the legacies of your own families. I’ve sat with families now for interview sessions to record the rich histories of parents and explore the lives of the generations that preceded them. Don’t let your family stories go untold! Take a moment to reach out and together we will bring out your family’s story on a recorded journey. - Kenneth NguyenVisit vietnamstorybank.com today for more information.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vietnamese-with-kenneth-nguyen/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode of The Vietnamese, we sit down with veteran director/producer Timothy Linh Bui to explore his journey in the film business from Hollywood to Vietnam. Starting from his formative years at Columbia College in Los Angeles, Timothy shares insights into his early works, including Three Seasons and Green Dragon, and his collaborations with actors like Patrick Swayze and Forest Whitaker. Timothy has gone on to work with actors such as Jessica Biel, Ray Liotta, Lisa Kudrow, Eddie Redmayne and Kriss Kristofferson. Transitioning from Hollywood to Vietnam, Timothy shares his experiences producing films such as How to Fight in Six Inch Heels and his latest venture, Daydreamers—Vietnam's foray into the vampire genre. We discuss the challenges and inspirations behind bringing supernatural narratives to Vietnamese cinema and how his bicultural background influences his storytelling. Join us for a conversation that bridges cultures, genres, and the evolving landscape of global Vietnamese films.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Many of you still have the chance to record and preserve the legacies of your own families. I’ve sat with families now for interview sessions to record the rich histories of parents and explore the lives of the generations that preceded them. Don’t let your family stories go untold! Take a moment to reach out and together we will bring out your family’s story on a recorded journey. - Kenneth NguyenVisit vietnamstorybank.com today for more information!Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vietnamese-with-kenneth-nguyen/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode of The Vietnamese Podcast, we’re joined by Đoan Hoàng Curtis, a director and producer, to discuss her journey in the world of documentary filmmaking. Doan shares her behind-the-scenes experience working on the new Netflix series Turning Point: The Vietnam War, where she played a pivotal role in shedding light on the complexities of the Vietnam War.Doan also talks about her own documentary Oh Saigon, a deeply personal exploration, capturing the resilience and transformation of her family in the aftermath of war. Doan reflects on the significance of April 30th, 1975, this historic milestone and how it has influenced her work and perspective as a filmmaker.Join us for a conversation with Đoan Hoàng Curtis as we explore her artistic vision and the power of storytelling from a Vietnamese American perspective.Turning Point: The Vietnam War releases on Netflix on April 30, 2025To learn more about the upcoming May 3rd event, please go to:ohsaigon.comLink to the Netflix series Turning Point: The Vietnam Warhttps://youtu.be/G7LounlxPdASupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vietnamese-with-kenneth-nguyen/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Join host Kenneth Nguyen and series co-host Kevin Pham, author of The Architects of Dignity: Vietnamese Visions of Decolonization (Oxford University Press, 2024), in this sub-series of the podcast, where they explore the key figures and pivotal moments in Vietnamese history.In this episode of Viet History Makers, Kenneth and Kevin dive into one of the most somber chapters of the Vietnam War: the final days of the conflict, marked by the suicides of five high-ranking South Vietnamese generals on April 30, 1975, as Saigon fell to the North. These men, once at the helm of the South Vietnamese military, faced the collapse of their government and the impending victory of the communist North. Their tragic decisions reflect the profound psychological and political toll the war exacted on those in power, and their deaths serve as a chilling reminder of the personal cost of conflict.But the conversation doesn't stop there. Kenneth and Kevin also take a step back to explore the broader ideological landscape of the time, discussing the different types of communism throughout history. From Marxist-Leninism to the unique interpretations shaped by Vietnamese revolutionary leaders, they trace how communist ideology evolved, influenced the course of the Vietnam War, and shaped the future of the nation.Join us as we unravel the complex history of these five generals and their tragic end, while also exploring the broader context of communism and its impact on Vietnam's journey. This episode offers a thought-provoking look at the intersections of personal fate, political ideology, and national history at a moment of profound transition.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Kevin D. Pham is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Amsterdam. His research introduces Vietnamese political thought to the academic field of political theory, showing how Vietnamese thinkers challenge and enhance conventional Western understandings of important political concepts.He co-hosts Nam Phong Dialogues, a podcast in which he and Yen Vu have casual chats about Vietnamese history and being Vietnamese American. He is the author of The Architects of Dignity: Vietnamese Visions of Decolonization (Oxford University Press, 2024).Kevindoanpham.com--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Many of you still have the chance to record and preserve the legacies of your own families. I’ve sat with families now for interview sessions to record the rich histories of parents and explore the lives of the generations that preceded them. Don’t let your family stories go untold! Take a moment to reach out and together we will bring out your family’s story on a recorded journey. - Kenneth NguyenVisit vietnamstorybank.com today for more information!Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vietnamese-with-kenneth-nguyen/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode of The Vietnamese podcast, host Anderson Le sits down with Duong Dieu Linh, a distinctive voice in Vietnam’s new wave of independent cinema. Known for her quirky, layered storytelling and bold visual style, Duong shares her perspective on filmmaking in Vietnam and the unique path she’s carved out as a director.The conversation opens with Linh’s artistic beginnings, tracing how her studies abroad and early creative experiments led her to pursue storytelling through film. She discusses the personal and cultural themes that often appear in her work—exploring identity, gender, and the everyday absurdities of life in Vietnam.Together, Anderson and Linh discuss the challenges of navigating the Vietnamese film industry as an independent filmmaker, and what it means to create bold, personal cinema in a space that often favors commercial formulas. They also discuss the importance of short films in her career and how the festival circuit, including Cannes and Berlinale, helped bring her voice to an international audience.Her first narrative feature, DON'T CRY BUTTERFLY, world premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2024, bringing a refreshingly unconventional perspective to contemporary Vietnamese cinema. Her work is celebrated for its dark humor, emotional depth, and striking visual compositions.—————————————————————-Please Support PICTUREHOUSE today by clicking on the Links to the campaign shared in the description. Every donation brings Director Minh, and his cast and crew closer to sharing this special film with the world.Indiegogo: https://igg.me/at/picturehousemovieSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vietnamese-with-kenneth-nguyen/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy