"I took my entire severance pay and blew it on a two-month trip to Asia — and that decision changed my life." - Hao Tran
In this episode, I felt a strong sense of kindred spirit with Hao. We both came to Vietnam almost exactly nine years ago and ended up building something rooted in storytelling. I loved Hao's honesty about how Vietcetera started from nothing — no business plan, no roadmap — just curiosity and persistence. What stuck with me most was his idea that podcasting and media aren't just about broadcasting, but about representation: Vietnam telling its own story, from the inside out.
He reminded me of the importance of long-term vision. When people told him they’d run out of stories, he proved that Vietnam is overflowing with them. This is more than media; it’s cultural documentation. And honestly, that’s what I hope the Vietnam Podcast becomes as well.
Top 5 Takeaways
- Hao came to Vietnam with no plans and just $300/month: A leap of faith that would unknowingly launch Vietcetera.
- Vietcetera’s first-ever feature was rejected by its subject: A lesson in humility, editing, and persistence.
- The first paid advertorial turned out to be a voucher, not cash: Business lessons in transparency and expectation-setting.
- There was no business model — it was built on energy, value exchange, and curiosity.
- Mission to “bring Vietnam to the world” is not only alive — it’s overflowing with untold stories.
Chapters & Timestamps
04:30-From Tech Layoff to Vietnam Leap
06:30-Meeting Andrew Frazier & Early Immersions
09:30-The First Vietcetera Blog: Rejection & Rewrite
19:00-Living on $300 a Month in Vietnam
22:00-Language, Culture & Being a Vietnamese-American Boss
24:30- Remote Work, Human Connection & Gen Z Trends
31:00-Youth Identity, Content Influence & the Monoculture
39:00-Mission to Bring Vietnam to the World
41:00-Supporting the Next Generation of Vietnamese Talent
This Season is sponsored by Premier Dental.
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