In this episode, I had the pleasure of talking to Trang Nguyen, a fascinating guest who recently moved to Vietnam from Germany. Trang is a food scientist who has taken a leap of faith to explore content creation here in Vietnam. It’s always exciting to meet someone embracing such a big change, and having her on the podcast was a real treat.
Trang shared about her feelings when she was a kid, as a Vietnamese in German. We also talked about food safety in Vietnam as Trang has just graduated with a Food Science Degree.
Vietnamese Background – From Refusing to Embracing
Trang grew up in Germany, where her parents had moved as contract workers in the late 1980s, shortly before the Berlin Wall fell. Unlike many who returned to Vietnam after their work contracts ended, her parents decided to stay and build a life in Germany.
Born and raised there, Trang experienced what it was like to grow up straddling two cultures. Her parents gave her a traditional Vietnamese name, Trang, instead of a German one, a decision that became a meaningful reminder of her roots but also a source of challenges.
Growing up, Trang often struggled with her identity. As a child and teenager, she found it hard to fit in among her German classmates. They’d mispronounce her name, and she’d feel embarrassed when teachers stumbled over it during roll calls. At times, she even wished to look more like her peers—blonde hair, blue eyes, and fair skin—just to blend in. It didn’t help that the beauty standards around her seemed to reinforce those feelings of being different.
Her feelings towards her Vietnamese heritage were complicated back then. Like many teens, Trang went through a phase of rebelling against her parents and the culture they represented. She disliked the loudness of Vietnamese gatherings, where relatives and family friends would openly comment on her appearance or insist on certain traditions, like formal greetings based on age. For someone shy like Trang, this made her feel even more out of place.
However, Trang was grateful that her parents pushed her to take Vietnamese lessons as a child, even though she didn’t appreciate it at the time. She admitted there was always room for improvement, but she saw learning the language as a key part of understanding the culture. For her, it’s more than just being able to talk to people—it’s a window into Vietnam’s history and a way to integrate more deeply into society.
It reminded me of a guest I had years ago—a Vietnamese American who grew up deliberately distancing herself from the culture. She didn’t see the need to learn the language and thought she’d never use it. But later, when she moved to Saigon, the reality hit her. Starting from zero to learn Vietnamese as an adult was a massive challenge, and she often wished she could go back and tell her younger self to embrace it earlier.
It’s true that learning the language opens up a deeper connection to a place. Hearing Trang talk about this, though, made me feel a little guilty—I’ve been in Vietnam for years and still don’t speak Vietnamese! Trang laughed and joked that one day, she’d inspire me to start learning.
Looking back, it’s incredible to see how far Trang has come. Her journey of self-discovery and embracing her identity is not just inspiring but a reminder of how important it is to stay open to growth and change. From her roots in Germany to her new chapter in Vietnam, Trang’s story is one of resilience, curiosity, and courage.
Coming Back To Vietnam – A Whole New Country
When I asked Trang about the moment she began embracing her Vietnamese identity again, she traced it back to around five years ago. Trang had always enjoyed volunteer work and got involved with AIESEC, an international student organization that helps young people take on internships and volunteer projects abroad. While she initially promoted the program at universities in Germany, she soon realized she wanted to take part herself.
That’s when Vietnam came to mind. Trang’s family is from the north, but she’d never been to the south of Vietnam before. She decided to change that and signed up for a volunteer project in Ho Chi Minh City. In 2019, for the first time, she found herself in Vietnam on her own—without family obligations or plans. It was a completely new experience for her, and it changed everything.
Growing up, her view of Vietnam was shaped by visits to her family’s rural village. The memories weren’t glamorous—unbuilt roads, no proper toilets, and an overall feeling of poverty. But this solo trip to Saigon was different. She discovered a thriving, vibrant city filled with international energy and rapid growth. She even said the city life in Ho Chi Minh City felt better—well, different—from what she knew in Europe.
Hearing Trang describe Saigon’s energy brought a huge smile to my face. It’s exactly why I fell in love with the city too. Vietnam has this amazing contrast between its quieter, rural roots and the bustling life of its urban centers. In the West, like in Scotland where I’m from, the difference between city and rural life isn’t nearly as stark. But in Vietnam, the two worlds can feel like they’re decades apart, despite being only a short drive away from each other.
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Trang also shared her observations about how Saigon really is the city that never sleeps. This resonated deeply with me. I’ve been to New York, the so-called “city that never sleeps,” but even New York has its quiet hours. Saigon, on the other hand, is alive at any hour. You can walk around at 3 or 4 a.m. and still find people having breakfast, snacking, or just going about their lives.
Trang also touched on her identity as a “Viet Kieu”—a term for overseas Vietnamese—and how it plays a role in how people perceive her here. She hasn’t faced negativity, perhaps because she makes an effort to speak the language and connect with locals. To her, being able to speak Vietnamese is not just about communication; it’s about respect and making a genuine effort to integrate into her new environment.
Food Safety and the Magic of Street Food
We talked about the food in Vietnam, the most exciting part as I’m really into Vietnamese food.
When I learned that Trang had just completed her master’s degree in food science and product safety, I couldn’t wait to hear her thoughts on food safety here in Saigon. Her response? It’s all about balance. Despite her academic background, Trang emphasized a common-sense approach—trusting your instincts and not overthinking them.
She admitted she didn’t shy away from street food, even if the environment might not meet the spotless standards you’d expect in the West. Growing up with Vietnamese cuisine gave her an edge—she’s not squeamish about trying new things. Still, she believes moderation is key. You might enjoy a meal from a scruffy roadside stand one day and then cook at home the next.
Talking with Trang got me thinking about the strange magic of Vietnam’s street food. You know the ones—plastic stools on dirt roads, kitchens that would probably shock a Western food inspector. But somehow, the food is amazing.
Watch and listen to my episode and see how street food in Vietnam is so tasty despite the messy spots.
I’ve been here eight years, eating everywhere from fancy restaurants to tiny street stalls, and I’ve never had a problem. It’s one of those things that makes Saigon so interesting—how the messiest places often serve the tastiest food.
Trang thinks it might be because these vendors put all their energy into making the food great, so things like cleanliness take a backseat. The food is cooked well, which probably helps keep it safe, but the surroundings? That’s a whole different story!
Beyond food science, Trang shared her aspirations as a content creator. It was a path she had been quietly exploring for years, documenting her life privately on platforms like YouTube. Looking back at her videos, she saw them as a time capsule—capturing her younger, more innocent self.
For Trang, content creation wasn’t just about gaining influence. It was about creativity, connection, and storytelling. She was driven by the idea of building a community and learning from others, rather than chasing financial stability through clicks and likes. Her food science degree provided her with the foundation to pursue content creation without pressure, giving her the ability to balance passion with practicality.
She was still figuring out her direction, but her open-mindedness was inspiring. Whether she focused on content creation, applied her degree in food science, or found a way to blend the two, it was clear she was going to make an impact.
Final Thoughts
Talking with Trang was such an interesting look at reconnecting with roots, embracing change, and following new dreams. She shared great insights about Vietnam’s lively street food culture and how she’s balancing creativity with practical goals. Trang’s story is a great reminder that life is about learning, exploring, and growing.
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