“Disobedienceisthetruefoundationof liberty.Theobedientmustbeslaves.”
HenryDavidThoreau(1817-1862)
HeyThông,howisyourankleafterlastsession?
Myanklewasinjured2monthsago,nowadaysit usuallyhurtsthedayafterifIskatetoomuch, seemlikeIneedtotakealongrest,butthe homiesalwayshypemeup!
It’salwayshardtotakeabreakfromskateboarding becauseofaninjury.Whatdoliketodotostay busyduringyourrecover?
That’strue!Ialwaysfindmyselfhavingsomuch thingstodo,likehangingoutwiththeguysfor filmingthefootage,watchingskatevideothatkeep mehype.
LastmonthIsignedupforswimmingclassandjust gotmyfirstbicycle.Ithinkithelpsmegainthe muscleandalsothemindtosupportmyskate journeyafterrecovery.
YourbrotherandyouownSaigonSkateshop,themain skateshopinHoChiMinhCity,whyandwhendidyou decidetobecomeentrepreneur?
Atthebeginning,itstartedwithonlyusbuying skateaccessoriesforpeopleweknowaswehave familiesintheUS.
Lateron,werealizedhowharditwasforskaters tobuyagoodqualityskateboardinVietnam.Onthe otherhandtheskatecommunitywasgrowingsowe decidedtoopenasmallonlineshopbasedinmy room.Itwas10yearsago.
TheVietnameselivingstandardisnotashighas thewesternone,cantheskateboardcommunityhere canaffordtobuynewshoesornewdecks?
Ithinkwegotalotofaffordabledeckswithvery goodqualitycomparingwithothersonthemarket. However,it’shardtofindgoodskateshoeswith reasonablepriceshere.
What’syouropinionofallthebigshoesbrands (Nike,Cons,Adidas,SoleTech…)thatmaketheir shoesinVietnambutdistributeonlyinWestern countryandnotinthelocalmarket?
Firstofall,thepeople’saverageincomehereis verylow,inmyshop,80$shoessoldveryslowlyas theyrarelyspendthatmuchmoneyonapairof shoestoskateforafewmonths.
Secondly,perhapstheskatesceneinVietNamis notaswell-developedasotherWesterncountries, yetwe’reworkinghardtomakeadifferenceonthat andhopefullythiswillchangeinthefuture.
Howdoyoudotogetshoesinyourshop?
NowwehaveLastResortABattheshop,besideswe don’thaveanyothershoesbrandatthemoment.
Regardingskateboardbrands,howdoyoudecide whichbrandyouwillsellattheshop?Doyouhave accesstodistributors?
Therearesomanyskateboardcompaniesnowadays,we aimtochoosebrandsfollowedourfavoritepro skatersandthebrandvibes.Besidesquality,good priceisalsoaveryimportantfactor,themedium pricerangeproductshelpusmaintainingthestore tocontinuetonurturetheskateboardingscenein Saigon.WedohaveaccesstosomeUSdistributors buttheimportprocessiscomplicatedandshipping feesandtaxesarealot.
Ontheotherhands,youtrytokeepthecommunity inspiredwithcontestsandeventsregularly,which isveryimpressiveregardingthelackofhelpfrom thecitycouncilorotherprivateinstitution.Why don’ttheywanttosupporttheyouthdevelopment withskateboarding?
Nowinourcitytheyofficiallyhaveasign“no skateboarding”inallthepark,asskateboardingis stillstrangeforthem,theyjustonlyseeitas dangerous,destructivetopublicareas.Therefore, the government don’t do any favor for skateboarding.Ithinkweneedtoshowthemmore abouttheskateboardingculture,howitcanbenefit younggeneration.
YoualsocreatedyourclothingbrandMovement,is itwithyourbrothertoo?What’stheideabehind thebrand?
No,thebrandwascreatedwithmywife.Themessage istoencourageyoungpeopletotravel,goout thereandhavealifewithfullofexperiencesand createnewperspectiveofhowyouseetheworld.
On a more personal note, how did you start skateboardinginVietnam?Atthattime,itwasvery newhere. Ihadsomeideasaboutskateboardinginhighschool around2005butatthattime,thereweresomany thingelseIwasexcitedabout.
Myfirstencounterwithaskateboardwasthedaymy elderbrothercamehomewithafewskateboardsthat hekeptforhisfriends.Itriedtostandupon thatandgotalotoffunnyslamsoIkept searchingfor“howto”photo&GIFfilestolearn anddownloadskatevideopartonmIRC(atthattime theinternetwasnotasdevelopedasitisnow).
Thatmademetickabouthowtheycanskatelike thatonaskateboard.Twoyearslater(2007)I officiallygotaskateboardandskateshoestogo toskateandtriedtomakemyselfavideopart.
DespiteyourfamilylivingintheUS,andthe difficultytoskateinHoChiMinhCity(lackof spots,securityeverywhere…),youdecidetostay livinghere,whatmotivatesyourdecision?
Duringmyfirst3yearsofskating,Ireallywanted to go to the US because there are so many skateparks…
Butdaysafterdays,myloveforskateboardingis growing,Ihavemoreandmorefriendstoskate with,andtheskateshopisreceivingalotof supportfromallaroundthecountry.
IrealizeIhavetopaybackforeverybodythathas supportedusthroughouttheseyearsbycreatinga betterenvironmenttoskatewhichissomethingI wasmotluckyenoughtohavebackthen.
Ourgoalfordecadeistomakeaskateparkand we’reworkinghardforthat.Thegoodnewsisthat itwillbedonebytheendofthisyear!
What’syouropiniononthelocalsceneherecompare towhatyoucanseeabroad?
Despitethefactthatwedon’thavegoodplacesto skatecomparetowhatIcanseeonsocialmedia,I stillfindthattheskatersherehavesuchahuge passioninwhattheydo.
Wheneverwehostcontests,theyallshowedupno matterhowtheweatheris,theyalwayshavefun togetherandalwayssharepositiveenergyamong otherswhichalwaysimpressandmotivatemealot todowhatI'mdoingrightnow.
Thankyoufortakingthetimefortheinterview
The magazine is awesome and keep our local connected, please don’t stop inspiring people. Yass,everyoneneverstopskating!
HeyThien!Howdoesitfeeltobe34yearsold,being amanagerforabigcompanysoontobeafatherand stillskating?Heremostofthepeoplestillthinks thatskateboardingisateenagerthing…
Hey, thanks for this interview, I’m honored! Regardingyourquestion,itfeelsspecialtobe honest. We’re trying to let people know that skateboardingisn’tonlyforyoungbuffalos,andit shouldbeconsideredlikejustanyothersport.Even backinCanada,skateboardingisstillsometimes viewedasasportforyoungsters.It’sagreat feeling to be able to show that you can be responsible,andstillenjoythisamazingsport.
Let’srewindalittlebit,you’refromQuebecin Canada.Howdidyoudiscoverskateboardingthere?
Istartedskatingingrade8(14yearsold).There wasaskateshoprightnextto myhighschool (Underworldskateshop)thatIwouldgohangoutwith friendsduringlunchtimeandafterschool.Wewould juststayinfrontandchill,whilesomeofthe friendshadboardsandskateflat.Backinthese days,skateboardingwasreallyconsideredlikea sportfordelinquentkids.IguessIgotattractedto thisimageandwantedtogiveitatry.Also,oneof myfavoritebandwasSum41andBlink-182,whichthey really showed skateboarding as part of their lifestyle.
IaskedmymothertobuymeaboardifIhadgood grades.Irememberitwasazeroboardwiththe classicblackandwhiteskull.
Whenthetransitionhappensfrombeingayoungkid skatingtogetsponsoredbythelocalskateshop,then byCircashoesandtouringinallCanada?
Ahman,justluck!Butsorrythestorymaybelong haha! MeandmybesthomieJessyJeanBart(shoutoutto youdogwho’sstillkillingitinCanadaandVegas rightnow)wereataskateparkinMontrealthenone guyapproachedus–VincentLetellier,whohada skateboardingschool–Perseveranceskateboard.He gaveussomeshirtsandaskedusifwewantedtodo somedemosinhighschoolswithhim.Weendedup doingsomanydemosatmultiplehighschoolsacross theprovince.HiscompanywassponsoredbyDuffs shoes,thenVincentintroducedustotheQuebec distributor,whichhookedupflowsponsor!Iwas16 atthetime.
MeandJessydecidedtostartfilmingandmake Sponsor-metape.Twosummerslater,IrememberIjust contactedBoutiqueAdrenalineandsentmysponsor-me tapebyemail.Theyendedupansweringmebyemail: cometotheshop.Andeverythinghappened!During summerinCanada,therearealotofcompetitions, likeonceaweek.Ilovedcompetition,andluckily,I didprettygoodinsomeofthem…Ithinktheyheard frommebeforebecauseofthat,sothathelped.
AdrenalineofferedmeflowwithCirca,soIswitch fromDuffstoCircafootwear.I’mnotsurewhen,nor why,butIremembertheCircarepfromVancouverjust emailedmeandsaidfromnowonyou’llaskyourshoes andappareldirectlyfromme.IwasagainwithJessy atthetimeinourdirtysmallassapartment.Oneof thebestemotionsofmylifemanhaha.Iwas19when ithappened.
YouevengottheopportunitytotraveltoCalifornia andLasVegas,wasitadreamcometrue?Wasthe realitytherematchingyourexpectation?
Californiaisgreat,thespotsareperfect,butit reallywasn’tmylifestyle.Mybestmemoriesarein Vegas,MiamiorinTexas.Jessy’smotherlivesin Vegas,soIwent2timesbymyselftovisitandskate withhim.Wewouldskatealldayandnightwiththe bestskatersthere.It’scompletelyanotherlevel man theyreallyliveforskateboarding.
Anywaysthebestmemorieswouldbethetours,our skateshopsponsorrep,KevinMcglynn,wasthebest dude.Hewouldgetbudgetfromtheshopfor3-weeks skateboardingtripseachyearandwewouldgothe wholeteam(likeseven-eight20-year-olddudes)for skateboardingtripstothesecitiesintheUSAand Canada.Skateboard,drinksandgirlshaha.Thedream for young skaters that admired Baker/Emercia lifestyle.
HowdoesitfeeltobecalledthecanadianNuge?Did youlikeitordiditfeelabitracist,justbecause you’rebothAsianmeanthatyouaresimilar
Hahaatthattimeitwassweet.Ithelpedmealot withgettingtothepointIgot.Imean,Iwasnot thatgoodofaskatercomparedtotheothersponsored kids.IthinkbeingtheonlyAsianatthetimein Quebec,whilehavingthesamestyleandsponsorsas Nuge(Duffs,Circa,Ezekiel)assistedalot.
Istilldon’tseeitasracisttobehonest.Ihad thesameclothingstyle,samesponsors,haircut…and lifestylehaha.Can’tblamethem!
Andsuddenlythedreamstopped,youbrokeyourleg. Howdidthathappen?Wasitabrutalwakeupcall?I rememberafterthatyoutoldmethatyouquitskating andgotbacktostudy.
ItriednollieBSshuvforfunonbigPACgapin Montreal,notfilming.ItwasinMarch,sostillvery coldinCanada,prettystupidhaha.Ilandedboth feetbutmyfrontfootslippedoutinfrontofthe nose.Thegapisprettybig,it’slikea4footdrop +flat+4stairs,soyeah…hurtlikehell.
Icouldn’tskatenorwalkforthewholesummer,stop contactingmysponsors,excepttheskateshop.I realizedIshouldbedoingsomethingwithmylife.
SinceIwasalwaysgoodatschoolsandthatallmy familymembersareengineers,Idecidedtodothatas well.Idon’tknowaboutuniversitiesinFrance,or inVietnam,butuniversitylifeinCanadaismost probablythebesttimeandexperienceofyourlife.I realizedthattherewasgreathappinesswaybeyond skateboarding,whileensuringtohaveagoodfuture.
Soyeah,Iwouldskatemaybe1-2ayearmax.Mybest skatefriendsthatwenttouniversityalsohadthis transition.Soweendeduphanginglesswithour skaterfriends,becauseoflifestyleonly.Ilove themforeverthough!
WhatmadeyouchoosetocomebacklivinginVietnam, whereyourfamilyrootsare?Itmusthavebeena difficultchoicetounderstandfortheoldermember of your family following the history of their departurewiththewar…
WhenIdidmyfirsttripaloneinVietnamin2014,I did3-weektripinVietnam.
Itrulyfellinlovewiththeplace,itspeopleand reallyopenedmyeyesonthecountrymyancestors comefrom.Ialsogottounderstandtheculturethat hasbeentaughtfrommyparents/grandparenttome sinceIgotborn.
WhenIgotbacktoCanada,therewasapartofme thatsaid,manyouhavetolivethereoneday,just tryit.Thatyear,Ijustgraduateduniversity,soI wantedtogetsomeworkingexperienceinCanada,to thenbeabletogetajobinVietnam.Fromthat moment,thatwasmywholeobjective.
IrememberIsharedthisintentionwithmymotherand grandmother.Mymomwasok,butmygrandmotherwas literallypanicking.Idounderstandherposition withalltheexperienceshehasbeenthroughduring andafterthewar.Herhusband,beingageneral doctor,wasassassinatedin1972.Shesacrificed everythingtogetherfamilyoutofVietnamand immigratetoCanada.Eventoday,shestilldoesn’t acceptmydecisionandistryingeverythingshecan togetmebacktoCanada.ButIfeelhomehere.It’s averyweirdfeelingandhardtoexplain.Ihavea lotsofVietkieu(Vietnameseabroad)thatsharethe samestoryandfeeling.Iamabouttohaveakidand Ihopethatmygrandmotherwillaccepttocometo
Vietnamwhenmydaughterisborn.Iknowshewill stillnotlikethecountry…butIhopeshemayone dayunderstandandacceptmydecision.
Beingback,whatarethethingsthatyouthatmake youthemostproudaboutyourVietnameseroots?
Thepeople.Vietnamesearehonestlythekindestand mostlovablepeopleonthisplanet.Ohandweare verygood-lookinghaha.
Beingborninoneofthemostdevelopedandrich countryintheworld,howdoyouimaginethefuture forVietnam?Doyoufeelitisgoingintheright direction?
Ahman,that’satoughone.WhyCanadaisrankedthe bestcountryoftheworldIbelieveisbecauseof equality. Everyone who is born has the same opportunity(ofcourseIexcludeextremecasesand social issues), instuition is free and so is healthcare.
Vietnam is getting a lot better and developing extremelyfast.Butthedisparitybetweenrichand oldpeopleisalsoincreasingextremely,whichI believeisnottherightdirection.SometimesI forgotaboutthatbecauseoursurroundingandcircle offriendsareprettycomfortable.Butthenyougo downthestreetandyourememberthatitisstilla countrywithverypoorpeople.
There’s also the freedom issue that yeah.. we shouldn’tcontinuewiththishaha.
Anyways,yes,generally,thecountryisdoingquite well. Economy is growing rapidly, international companiescometothiscountryinmassestoinvest, kidsaregettingbettereducation,lifequalityis betterforalotofpeople.Butit’sgoingtowardan AmericancapitalismapproachthatIdon’tnecessarily likeasaCanadian.Buthey,it’sgettingbetterfor sure!Ijustworryalotaboutenvironmentalissues, butIamhopefulthegovernmentwillimplementthe rightpoliciestomakethisbeautifulplacebetter. Howfinallydidyoustartskatingagainbackin Vietnam?Whichisdefinitelynotthemostidealplace forskateboarding.
Dudeeeee,It’sbecauseImetyou.Rememberwemetat that skateboarding event that I went with my girlfriendandfriendsjusttogetdrunk.Thenwe wentskateboardingafterwardandit’ssofuntoskate withyoudude.Notonlyareyousogoodandstylish, butwepusheachothertolandtricksorfilm,which iswhyskateboardingissofun.
Also,there’samaximumofhoursIcansitina coffeeshopduringtheweek-end…Hahaha
Howwouldyoudescribetheskatesceneherein Vietnam?DoyoumissanyaspectoftheQuebecskate scene?Itmustbefunnytowatchsomeofyour childhoodfriendsnowbeingsupersuccessfulwith DimeandorganizingtheDimeContestChallengewhile you’reherejusttryingtofindadecentspot.
TheskatesceneinVietnamisverysmallcomparedto thesceneinCanada,especiallyinMontrealwherewe havemultiplecrewsthatareknowninternationally (forexampleDimestore).However,nowthatthereisa skateparkbothinHanoiandHoChiMinhCity,Iam positivethescenewillgetlargerrapidlyandmost ofall,theVietnameseskaterswillbecomesogood.
Thekidshereareafraidofnothing,andwhenthey likesomething,theygo100%toreachtheirgoals.
There’sonethingIhopewillalwaysstay,nomatter howtheindustrygrows,ishowhumbletheVietnamese kids (and people) are. Rich, poor, successful, suffering,smart,slow,theVietnameseneverjudge peopleandwillalwaystreatothersasequalandbe thereforeachother.Ihopethatnoonewillchange theirattitudeoncetheystarttobesponsoredand recognizeinternationally.That’soneofthemain weaknessesIhavewitnessintheCanadianscene.
IftheThien San fromnow, soontobe adad, successfulatworkandbacktoskatecouldtalkto theyoungThienSanskatinginCalifornia,whatwould youliketosay?
Dude,continuetohavefunman.Skateboardingwill bringyouthebestmemoriesandfriendsinyourlife. Butonedaywhenyou’vehadenough,gobackto universityandgetadegree.Lifehasothertypeof memoriesandhappinessthatyouwillenjoyasmuch, ifnotmore.You’llsee,havingenoughmoneytolive comfortablyisgreat.
Ahhhh,andinsteadofgoingto4skateboardingtrips ayear,replaceoneandgoback-packing.
Thanksfortakingthetimeforthisinterview,is thereanythingyouwouldliketoadd?
Thanksforthisinterview,Malo,itmeansalotto me,andgotmetorelivemymemoriesthatIdidn’t thinkofforalongtime.I’msupergladImetyou andgettoskateandenjoyitsomuch.
IamveryhopefulaboutVietnam’sskateboardingscene futureandwiththeskateparksthatbeingbuilt-up aroundthecountry,Iknowwehavesomuchgreat talentsheretobeonthemapsoon!
LoveVietnam.
