Niall Mackay’s here, the host of Discover Vietnam: A Vietnam Podcast. I interview guests from diverse backgrounds with different stories, but they all share the same love for Vietnam.
My guest this time is Devin, a Viet Kieu (Vietnamese living overseas). When I first met Devin, I knew his story would be powerful. He’s an actor, dancer, and model who grew up in California but was born in Vietnam. He had only been back in Saigon for a couple of years, yet he spoke with so much honesty about identity, culture, and belonging.
This episode wasn’t just about acting or moving countries. It was about the deeper question: where do we belong?
Growing Up Between Worlds
Devin was born in Vietnam but moved to the US when he was three years old. He grew up in San Jose and later in LA. Life there wasn’t easy. The neighborhood was rough, and he said survival was part of daily life.
He didn’t grow up feeling Vietnamese. In fact, he pushed that part of himself away. Instead, he found comfort in hip-hop culture. Dance gave him a sense of identity when “being Asian” felt confusing.
What really struck me was how he explained stereotypes. People didn’t ask, “What kind of Asian are you?” They just assumed. Sometimes he was Chinese, sometimes Filipino, sometimes “the dark Asian.” It didn’t matter to them who he really was.
That lack of clarity about who he was followed him into acting. He was often asked to audition for roles that had nothing to do with his culture. Korean roles, Japanese roles—it didn’t matter. For casting directors, “Asian” was all the same. Devin said he went along with it when he first started, but over time, it felt wrong.
Listening to him, I thought about how labels can erase people’s real stories. Devin wasn’t just “Asian.” He was Vietnamese. But in America, that part of his identity got lost.
Acting and Performing Across Cultures
We laughed when I told him about my one acting job in Vietnam. I played a doctor in a milk commercial. They sprayed gray hair on me, gave me makeup, and told me to act natural. I had no idea what “natural hands” even meant.
Devin had been through the same madness. He said in Asia, they pile on the makeup to make you look a certain way—often pale, glowing, and perfect. In the US, it was more about keeping things natural. Two opposite standards, but both equally strange when you’re the one standing in front of the camera.
But there was a deeper story too. Devin told me about a film he walked away from. The director wanted to change a scene and push it further than what Devin had agreed to in his contract. He said no. The director told him he’d never work in LA again. Devin nearly gave in, but something inside him refused.
That decision cost him work, but it gave him peace. It also made him step away from acting for three years. During that time, he worked as a designer. He had to heal from the experience.
I admired that. It reminded me that in creative work, saying no can be the most important decision you make.
Coming Home: A Viet Kieu Returns
After years in the US, Devin finally came back to Vietnam. At first, it was only for a dance competition. A friend asked him to judge, and he said yes. He didn’t expect much.
But when he landed, he felt something he didn’t expect. He was back where he was born. The streets, the food, the people—it was different from everything his parents had told him.
He laughed when he told me how anxious his parents had been. His mom warned him about kidnappings and theft. His dad told him not to trust people from the south. But when he arrived, people were warm and welcoming. Even at immigration, the officer smiled and said, “Welcome home, brother.”
That moment stayed with him. It made him realize Vietnam wasn’t what he’d been told. It was something new, something alive.
Of course, it wasn’t all easy. He struggled with the language. He struggled with being “too direct” in a culture that avoids confrontation. He struggled with the work culture, where hierarchy and overtime are expected.
But he also found healing. He said Vietnam made him calmer, less angry. It gave him space to grow.
Belonging and Community
One of the biggest themes in our talk was belonging. Devin said it was easy to meet people when he first arrived. There were groups like OV and Saigon Viet Kieu that connected Overseas Vietnamese. At first, those connections were powerful. Everyone had similar stories.
But there was also a sadness in it. Many people came and went. Friendships didn’t always last. He said it’s easy to find someone to drink with in Saigon, but harder to find someone who will have coffee with you in the morning.
That line hit me. I’ve felt the same. In the expat world, people come and go. You learn not to get too attached.
Devin explained it with the Vietnamese idea of duyên. It’s like fate or serendipity. People come into your life for a reason, but they don’t always stay. When the duyên ends, the relationship ends. That doesn’t make it meaningless—it just means its time is over.
I thought that was a beautiful way to look at it.
Life in Saigon Today
We both laughed about the noise in Saigon. The constant honking, karaoke, and early morning school exercises. Devin admitted he’s more of an introvert and sometimes misses quiet.
But he also said the chaos is part of what makes Saigon special. The energy pushes you out of your comfort zone. The city is alive, and it forces you to grow with it.
I compared it to a big college town. When you first arrive, it feels like a non-stop party. You make friends fast, go out often, and live wildly. But after a while, you realize you live here. You start craving stability, health, and routine.
Devin was in that stage now. After a couple of years, he wanted more than just fun nights out. He wanted a real life. He wanted work, purpose, and deeper friendships.
That’s something I’ve seen happen with so many people. Saigon has a way of reshaping you.
Reflections and Lessons
Talking with Devin reminded me why I love doing this podcast. His story wasn’t just about being an actor or moving countries. It was about identity, belonging, and finding peace.
I was struck by his honesty. He admitted the struggles—language, work, culture—but he also shared the joy of discovering a new side of himself. He left Vietnam as a child and came back as an adult to finally feel at home.
It made me think about my own journey. I came to Vietnam nine years ago and stayed for many of the same reasons. The people, the energy, the feeling that this country has something to teach you.
Devin’s words helped me realize that home isn’t just where you’re born or where you grow up. Sometimes, home is where you finally feel like yourself.
Conclusion
Identity is complicated. Belonging takes time. And sometimes, you have to leave and come back to really understand where you’re from.
I’m grateful Devin shared his story so openly. It’s one that so many VQs, expats, and even locals will relate to.
If you want to hear more, listen to the full episode. And if it resonates with you, share it with someone else who’s searching for where they belong.
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