Tung, Hanoi, Vietnam

“ Today I think about “us”, as a family and no longer as “me”, as an individual.”

Name : Tung Le Phuong Thanh

Gender : Female

DoB : 31.12.1980

City of Birth : Viet Tri. Phu Tho Province

Status : Married

Family : 2 daughters : 1 and 7 yo

Hometown : Hanoi, Vietnam

Education : Accounting and Finance – MBA

Job : Marketing for bank

Religion : –

Politics : –

As a child… How would you picture yourself at 30?

JOB – How did you decide to do this job?

I have always thought about becoming a teacher. As a child I was proud of my teacher and loved to stand in front of the board. At the time I imagined myself teaching!
I decided to study accounting because of opportunities, indeed, I was told it would be easy to find a job.

I think it is the time I spent on holiday abroad. Because it is the time when I have had the most interesting experiences ever.

HOME / PLACE OF LIVING – Where you thought we would be living by now?

When I was younger I did not think about it at all! But I think that in Vietnam, if you are not from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, you think about going there because of opportunities. I was born and raised in a small town of the Phu Tho Province not so far from Hanoi and I moved to Hanoi when I got to university.

Tung getting her older daughter at shcool.

Tung taking a selfie with her colleagues from work.

Striking and memorable events…

IN YOUR PERSONAL LIFE – What are the most memorable event of your personal life?

I think it is the time I spent on holiday abroad. Because it is the time when I have had the most interesting experiences ever.
I am referring to the time I got to visit my sister who was studying in Poland and we made a trip throughout a few countries in Europe. It was my first time outside of Asia and I really loved it…

On the negative side there is also the first time I was pregnant…. I was pregnant for about a couple of months and I lost my baby… I was 26 years old. We do not know why it happened but it stroke me a lot. But when I think about it, the most important is that I could give birth to my 2 other children later.

IN THE WORLD – What are the main events that stroke the world you are living in?

Vietnam : In May 2014, there was a series of anti-China protests followed by unrests and riots across Vietnam in May 2014 in response to China deploying an oil rig in a disputed region of the South China Sea. We worried a lot about how situation could degenerate and were afraid for our relatives and familty.

World : The current situation in the Islamic States really is quite terrifying… Terrorist attacks, kidnapping, slaughters… Maybe the press makes it bigger than it is but I find the situation really scare cause it seems that the world is not safe and that anything can happen… We cannot really plan and predict what will happen which is the opposite of what you want when you have a family.
For instance, my cousins are afraid to send their child to study in the USA because of this constant threat.

BEST MEMORY – What is your best memory?

The day my first child, Zin, was born. I have always wanted to be a mother and it was very important for me.

GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT –

I am proud of being financially independent, I can earn money and spend it went I want. It is not very common in Vietnam and this is the reason why I am proud of it. Most of the women rely on their husband, especially in the countryside.

Looking back / Reviewing expectations

10 YEARS AGO, I was living in Hanoi alone because I was studying at university. So at the time I often thought about my life later… At 30 I was seeing myself living in a beautiful house in Hanoi. Probably married with children but I do not remember it clearly. I already chose to study accounting so I though I could become accountant for a big company.

TODAY, I am married with 2 lovely girls… I am quite independent and have this flat I like in Hanoi. I think I did pretty good with my job cause I work in the marketing field for a Vietnamese bank.

Tung, her husband and her older daughter in the center of Hanoi.

Tung having dinner home with her family and some friends.

30 years old, a turning point?

WHAT’S NEW? – Did you notice some changes since you are 30 YO?

I think that today I think about “us”, as a family and no longer as “me”, as an individual. At this age you get much more responsibilities… I want to educate my children the best way and giving them the best opportunities. Hopefully I will be able to send them abroad to get a better education than in Vietnam.

I want to educate my children the best way and giving them the best opportunities.

OLD OR YOUNG? – Do you feel « old » or « still young »?

Young of course! If one think he is young, one have power to live and feel that life is beautiful and achieve more things. It’s just a mindset.

CHANGES OR REGRETS? What are the things you would like to change?

I think I would have tried my best to study abroad like my younger sister did after me. But at the time, when I was 20, my parents did not have the financial resources to do so. Even if we can get scholarships it always costs a bit of money.

My Values

My Typical day

And tomorrow?

YOUR STORY IN 10 YEARS – What is the story you want to tell within 10 years?

I think that I will stay in Hanoi, that I will achieve a higher position in my job an that I will have more money, enough to afford for my life and children in the way I would like.

THE WORLD IN 10 YEARS – How do you imagine the world you will be living in within 10 years?

Vietnam : I think that Vietnam will improve over next years. Government cares more and more about people needs and we can see more social policies coming out. The government also invests a lot in infrastructures (hospital, roads, transportation) and education. Public schools are still pretty bad quality today and I hope it will change things (improve).

World : Even if I think that there will still be problems in the world, I really hope for the best in the future… That in 10/20 years most of these conflicts will be over. That countries would care more about each other…