The Vietnamese with Kenneth Nguyen

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

Alex-Thai Dinh Vo is Research Assistant Professor at the Vietnam Center & Archive (VNCA), Texas Tech University. He is a historian of modern Vietnam and East and Southeast Asia, specializing in Cold War politics and the Vietnam Wars. He oversees the VNCA Vietnam War MIAs and Legacies Research Project and the VNCA Vietnamese Oral History Project.He formerly served as a historian with the U.S. Defense POW/MIA Agency and a research scholar with the U.S.-Vietnam Center at the University of Oregon. He is the co-editor of Toward a Framework for Vietnamese American Studies: History, Community, and Memory (Temple University Press, 2023).He is published and interviewed on Voice of America, Radio Free Asia, and the BBC. He holds a Ph.D. and two MAs in history from Cornell University and a B.A. in political science from UC Berkeley.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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

We sit in conversation with historian Dr. Jay Veith to uncover the forgotten and often overlooked story of how the United States worked to recover POWs and MIAs from Vietnam—efforts that began long before the lifting of the U.S. embargo. Dr. Veith shares powerful insights into the challenges, politics, and perseverance behind these missions.We then turn to a discussion about President Nguyễn Văn Thiệu—his leadership, legacy, and role in shaping the fate of South Vietnam.Finally, we reflect on the critical importance of preserving South Vietnamese military history. As time passes and veterans age, recording their memories through memoirs has never been more urgent. Dr. Veith discusses why these personal accounts matter—not only for history’s sake but for truth, legacy, and future generations.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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, Kenneth sits down with Chris Tran from Chris Tran Travels to explore the complexities of identity and culture as third-culture kids. We both share the challenges of spreading Vietnamese culture, despite our deep love for our work and mission. We dive into the work he’s doing by teaching the Vietnamese language to overseas Vietnamese American and other students, and the importance of cultural preservation in today’s world. Additionally, Chris shares exciting details about his new venture, the Heritage Tour, where he takes people on immersive journeys to explore Vietnam’s rich history and heritage. Join us for a thought-provoking conversation on identity, culture, and the power of teaching the next generation. To learn more about Chris Tran's Vietnamese language courses, please check out the links below:Survival Vietnamese is a practical, fun, and culturally grounded language brand that helps you speak real Vietnamese with confidence.Learn real Vietnamese at your own pace with the full Survival Vietnamese course—packed with essential grammar, vocabulary, and real-life conversations in both Northern and Southern dialects.👉 Start your journey here: https://chris-site-f403.thinkific.com/courses/survival-vietnamese?ref=a87b69Master the Southern Vietnamese dialect with the self-paced Pronunciation Course—50+ snappy, practical lessons packed with drills to help you sound natural and be understood.👉 Get started here: https://chris-site-f403.thinkific.com/courses/SouthernVietnamesePronunciation?ref=a87b69Support 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 is joined by acclaimed film director Ham Tran. Together, they discuss the current state of the film industry in Vietnam, reflecting on its evolution and the growing opportunities for filmmakers in the region. Ham shares insights into his own journey, from his early start in filmmaking to the directors and inspirations that helped shape his unique cinematic voice.The conversation begins with Ham Tran’s early days, with the director recalling his influences and pivotal moments that sparked his passion for film. From the formative years of his career to his breakthrough successes, Ham discusses the challenges and triumphs he faced along the way.Throughout the discussion, Anderson and Ham also examine the broader landscape of Vietnamese cinema, touching on how the industry has changed and where it is heading. They explore the role of Vietnamese filmmakers in reshaping global narratives and creating more authentic representations of their culture, both within Vietnam and abroad.Ham Tran, known for his visionary direction in films and shows like Maika, Journey from the Fall and Devil's Diner, has made a significant impact on the Vietnamese entertainment industry.His work highlights personal and familial struggles, weaving rich emotional stories that resonate with audiences worldwide. In this episode, Ham reflects on how his upbringing and experiences in both Vietnam and abroad have shaped his approach to storytelling, and how he continues to push the boundaries of Vietnamese cinema.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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