I was born and raised in Hồ Chí Minh City (née Saigon), Vietnam; by two Central Vietnamese (miền Trung) parents. I often joke that the best Vietnamese traits are Hanoi’s Northern (miền Bắc) political acumen and Saigon’s Southern (miền Nam) business sensibilities. As a Central person, I have the worst (or best?) of both regions: Hanoi’s business sensibilities and Saigon’s political acumen.
Nota bene: Opinions expressed are solely my own and do not express the views or opinions of my employers, or former employers, or of the United States Government.
My interests include public diplomacy, Vietnam and its checkered history, and U.S.-Indo-Pacific local ties. I try to be a good citizen and put effort into being a decent person (làm người tử tế). To that end, I made a deliberate effort to design my profile’s half-serious, half-jest nature. I hope you will be entertained before reflecting on the absurdity of the professional world we inhabit.
Fig. 1: At my alma mater high school, Nguyen Thuong Hien High School “for the Gifted,” HCMC, Vietnam
Thus, the serious part. In real life, I worked on projects advancing U.S. and Southeast Asia relations via business ties, researched the diplomatic nuances between the peoples of the United States and Vietnam, among other things. I interned at the world’s largest business organization, where my eyes have seen the glory of the coming of neoliberal economics. It made “decency” the currency I value most, for its demand is high, while the supply has decreased in these polarized times.
Fig. 2: Between the flags of my different homelands (from L-R): the United States of America, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, and Southeast Asia.
Fig. 2 to 4: My past affiliations at people-to-people-oriented policy/cultural exchange organizations: the US-Asia Institute and the East-West Center.
Figs. 5 to 7: My interlude as a “Hilltern” (linked is an excellent article on the experience of these Congressional interns) in the U.S. House of Representatives. I appreciate my stint with Rep. McGovern (MA-02)’s office and his wonderful staff, who reaffirmed my faith in service toward the diverse constituents in the American congressional district. Massachusetts’s Second District, admittedly, has the BEST selection of snacks (potato chips), healthy snacks (KIND granola bars), soda (Dr. Pepper), and healthier soda (Dr. Pepper Zero) around. Oh, and unlimited coffee, which I relied on during those long constituent calls…
Figs. 8 to 9: As an intern at the Chamber of Commerce of the United States. You may be aware of its contemporary name: the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Why did I mention the old name? First, it is because the Chamber is a historic, powerful institution that speaks on behalf the American business community. By virtue of the United States being the largest economy in the world (?); one dare to say the U.S. Chamber (hear, hear, “the Chamber”) is the world’s largest business organization.
Second (more personal and important for me): the Chamber had good, societal relevant research. “What made you guys intern at the Chamber; and what is your future plan?,” One high-level Chamber leader asked us during an intern speaker series event. Everyone wanted to help American businesses, to protect free enterprise, to learn about Usonian industries. Aight, aight. This is still not my country, despite my love for it. My reason to intern at the Chamber: “Mr. X, I want to work here because of a research it conducted in 1965 on The Concept of Poverty: “The [study] will include detailed studies on such subjects as the concept of poverty, the aged poor, the unemployed, the uneducated, the farm poor, and poverty and its relationship to welfare and philanthropy.” [smiley emoji]
I am almost always open for coffee chat (being hyper-caffeinated since 8th grade) when I keep pondering the question “Is there a substitute for victory?” – Ergo, there is – flipping the premise of Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s quote.
I occasionally update my reading list, which by October 2025 includes: “Miles to Go: A Personal History of Social Policy” by Daniel Patrick Moynihan and the classic “Requiem for a Nun” by William Faulkner.
Thank you for stopping by, and I look forward to connecting with you.
P.S. Sam Tran's Site 