The girl who keeps the flame of Vietnamese culture in the heart of Australia

Born and raised in Ho Chi Minh City, in a family that always valued knowledge, Dam Lan Anh (also known as Anna Dam) went to study abroad in Australia in 2005 - when she was just 18 years old. Following her sister's journey studying in Melbourne, Lan Anh chose to study at Swinburne University of Technology.

The early days in Melbourne were not easy as the language barrier, cultural differences and feelings of alienation made her wonder about her future many times. But it was in the challenges that Lan Anh found her courage and purpose. In 2014, she decided to move to Darwin - a peaceful land in Northern Australia, which has since become her second home.

Dam Lan Anh in traditional ao dai, speaking at the Vietnamese Lantern Festival in Darwin.

Building community from the simplest things

Working as a team leader at Centrelink (an Australian Government agency that provides a range of community services, including benefits and social security services), Lan Anh had the opportunity to meet many Vietnamese people in need in Darwin. This inspired her to take action to connect the community, not only by sharing information, but also by helping with humanity. From there, the Vietnamese Australian Family Association in Darwin was born with the goal of spreading Vietnamese values ​​and supporting overseas Vietnamese.

Under the leadership of Lan Anh and her team, the association carries out many practical programs such as: supporting the elderly, new students, integration counseling, organizing cultural festivals such as Tet Nguyen Dan, Lantern Festival in September... These activities not only help Vietnamese people in Darwin preserve their roots but also promote the image of Vietnamese culture to the international community.

Lan Anh and the Vietnamese community in Darwin, where Vietnamese culture and friendship are always present.

Live to spread kindness

Lan Anh shared: "I always believe that every good thing I do will create a positive circle of cause and effect. If I receive a lot, I must know how to share it with those who need help."

Thanks to the experience of living, studying and working in Australia, Lan Anh has accumulated many valuable things and wishes to bring similar opportunities to other Vietnamese people, especially newcomers who are still unfamiliar with life in a foreign land.

What makes her most proud is not the title, but her contribution to preserving Vietnamese culture, especially for the young generation born in Australia, so that they do not forget their mother tongue, national traditions and pride in their homeland.

Dam Lan Anh - spreading Vietnamese identity in the heart of Darwin's multicultural community.

With a long-term vision, Lan Anh hopes to expand the Vietnamese Australian Family Association in Darwin to become a sustainable organization with a profound influence in the Vietnamese community in Northern Australia. She also hopes to continue organizing larger-scale cultural festivals, attracting not only the Vietnamese community but also local people and international visitors.

"My message to the young generation of Vietnamese people in Australia is very simple: Be grateful for what you have and don't be afraid to share. Integration is good, but don't lose your own identity," Lan Anh said.

Faculty

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/co-gai-giu-lua-van-hoa-viet-giua-long-australia-ar942888.html