The 'nomad' guy and his desire to spread Vietnamese identity

Study abroad on your own at the age of 18

In 2020, after graduating from high school, Nguyen Viet Kien studied abroad in France, at the time when the whole world was in turmoil due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The decision to leave his homeland in the midst of such a turbulent time was not an easy one, but for the then 18-year-old Nguyen Viet Kien, “leaving” was not just a choice, but a mission of youth - daring to challenge himself, daring to live differently.

Before making his decision, Kien considered many countries, but France - the land of academics, culture and profound human values - was the place Kien chose to sow the seeds of his dream. The journey to study abroad in France was full of challenges for Kien. In the first days of arriving in a strange country, he had to manage everything himself: from renting a house, cooking, managing expenses to overcoming the language barrier. Everything became more challenging when he had to study entirely in French, while before that he had only studied English.

“There were times when I fell into a crisis because of the difficulties surrounding me. But every time I wanted to give up, I thought about how strong my dream of studying abroad was, how my desire to become a global citizen used to motivate me, and told myself that no matter how difficult it was, there would be a way to overcome it if I persevered and remained calm,” Kien shared.

Kien often sought out friends, teachers and Vietnamese student groups in France for guidance and experience sharing. He trained himself to be proactive, to know how to make clear plans and to be flexible in all situations. Thanks to that, Kien gradually overcame his initial confusion, turning difficulties into opportunities to learn and grow.

After about half a year of arriving in France, Kien started working part-time, with his first job being delivering food. Then he worked part-time at a restaurant as a waiter, cashier... "In addition to having extra money to cover the cost of studying abroad, working part-time also gives me the opportunity to have many meaningful experiences, as well as improve my ability to communicate in French," Kien shared.

A breath of fresh air for the Vietnamese Student Association in France

One of the supports that helped young man Nguyen Viet Kien quickly integrate into his new life was the companionship and support of the Vietnamese Student Association in Lyon, France (UEVL). “The brothers and sisters in the Vietnamese student community accompanied and helped me a lot, from administrative procedures, finding accommodation, to even words of encouragement in the first days in France,” Kien said. It was this concern that motivated Kien to join UEVL, contributing many meaningful activities to the Vietnamese student community in France.

In 2022, after two years of active work, Kien was elected as President of the Vietnamese Student Association in Lyon. At the age of 20, the young "leader" brought a new breeze to the Vietnamese student community in France with his dynamism, creativity and enthusiasm. Under Kien's leadership, the Vietnamese Student Association in Lyon (UEVL) not only expanded its scale of activities but also improved its quality, attracting more and more students to participate. Cultural exchange programs, international student festivals or traditional New Year celebrations were all organized systematically, leaving a strong impression in the hearts of young Vietnamese people and international friends.

For the past 5 years, Kien has been celebrating Tet away from home. “Every spring, when the streets of Vietnam are filled with peach blossoms, in Europe, I sometimes miss the bustling atmosphere of cleaning and preparing for Tet, the scent of my mother’s banh chung, and the laughter on New Year’s Eve. But instead of letting the nostalgia linger, I choose to share,” Kien said.

Nguyen Viet Kien (2nd from left) wraps banh chung with Vietnamese students studying in Lyon (France)

Together with the Vietnamese Student Association in Lyon, he organized a program to celebrate the traditional New Year, recreating the atmosphere of his homeland's Tet in the heart of France with familiar activities such as wrapping Chung cakes and setting up a pole. "What's special is that international friends also participated enthusiastically. Through these activities, we not only connect the international student community, nurture the love for Vietnam in each young person, but also contribute to introducing the image of the country, culture and people of Vietnam to friends around the world," Kien shared.

23 years old, traveled through 40 countries

Kien is also a true "traveler". At the age of 23, he has set foot in 40 countries on three continents, all on self-sufficient trips. Kien had to calculate every penny to save, work extra in his free time, hunt for cheap tickets and plan early. He shared: " Traveling is not just about spending money, but also investing in knowledge and soul. Each trip is a learning experience, an opportunity for me to explore the world and myself."

Nguyen Viet Kien is studying a master's program specializing in "Developing heritage values combined with sustainable tourism", wishing to do more research on how to preserve and spread Vietnamese identity through tourism. "I want to complete my master's program well, then accumulate experience and return to Vietnam to work. I believe that, no matter where, young people can contribute to building the country, but returning to contribute is still the most meaningful thing," Kien shared.

According to Kien, as a student, to satisfy his passion for traveling, he faces two biggest obstacles: finance and time. He overcomes this by making a tight plan and arranging his time reasonably. Every summer vacation, winter break or gap between school years is fully utilized for traveling without affecting his studies. Regarding costs, Kien always plans very early, 3-6 months, to hunt for plane tickets, book cheap hotels, etc.

In total, the cost for the 40 countries Kien visited was only about half a billion VND - a figure that surprised many people. On average, each of his long trips cost him around 20 million VND, while trips of just a few days cost much less. “The secret lies in optimizing the schedule and spending wisely: combining visits to many countries in the same trip, spending more days in cheap places, shortening the time in expensive countries, and using travel apps to compare ticket prices and services,” Kien shared.

For Kien, travel is a great school that teaches him about cultural diversity, tolerance and national pride. “Every country I visit, every person I meet, every culture I learn about leaves me with profound lessons. Traveling helps me broaden my horizons, learn to appreciate differences and feel more proud of my roots when I see Vietnam becoming more and more known to international friends, especially for its cuisine and culture,” Kien shared.

Nguyen Viet Kien wears traditional ao dai when traveling

Kien believes that each trip is not simply a journey, but a new page in the life of youth - where passion, knowledge and love for the homeland blend together, creating a unique map of a "global citizen" with a Vietnamese heart.

Source: https://tienphong.vn/chang-trai-xe-dich-va-khat-vong-lan-toa-ban-sac-viet-post1790645.tpo