The best part about living in Los Angeles is...
The best part about living in Los Angeles is the diversity of people from around the world, embracing one another as individuals: cultures, languages, and cuisines. Within a relatively short distance, you can go any part of Los Angeles—staying in the city, walking along the beach, or ending up in the mountains.
Recommend a place to visit where Vietnamese is the native language, and tell us why you like it.
Although the most well-established and largest group of Vietnamese-American residents is in Little Saigon, Orange County, California; the second largest ethnic Vietnamese group is found in San Gabriel Valley, a region of Los Angeles. The strip along Garey Avenue and Valley Boulevard in South El Monte have become a hot spot for Vietnamese cuisine.
What Vietnamese film or musical artist do you recommend students watch or listen to?
The most recent Vietnamese film (2019/ Thriller/ Action) that I would like to recommend is 'Furie,' directed by Le-Van Kiet. The two major Vietnamese houses of music such as 'Paris By Night' by Thuy Nga production, and Asia production, have been producing hundreds musical shows that have been applauded by Vietnamese communities in the USA.
What most surprises your students about Vietnamese?
One single word such as 'Ma' has six different meanings based on how it is pronounced with high-low tone; for example: ma- ghost/ mã- horse/ mạ- rice seedling/ má- mother/ mà- that/ mả- tomb
What one thing would you like your students to know about you?
One thing I would like my students to know about me is that I am was born in 1963 in Saigon, in the south of Vietnam. I speak and write French as well as I do English.