We had the good fortune of connecting with Vivian Nguyen-Do and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Vivian, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
I would attribute my success to my family, friends, and mentors. Holding a leadership position is a great deal of responsibility and to me, in order to be a good leader, one must be a team player, a good listener, and open-minded.

My family has always supported me from the start by encouraging me to pursue my interests and guiding me through my milestones. They are the ones who have pushed me to partake in Vietnamese cultural practices and learning the language so that I can use that knowledge to connect with those in my community. Additionally, it become part of my platform as Miss Vietnam San Diego because I wanted to be an example for the younger generation to learn and uphold the language and culture. I also am grateful for my parents who drove me everywhere and made sure that I had everything I needed.

My friends are also a significant part of my success. Bad days are unavoidable in life and I am lucky to be able to turn to my friends who were my support system by listening, talking me through any issues, and offering their advice. They were there the night I got crowned and continued to show their support at my events, whether it be in person or over the phone.

Lastly, my mentors played an influential factor that I am fortunate enough to have gained. My mentors include my pageant directors, workshop leader, and community figures who provided me with skills that I continue to use in my academic and work career. Everyone has something different and unique to bring to the table because everyone comes from different walks of life. They have served as role models by teaching me how to communicate my ideas and connecting me with different organizations in the city. Networking is a valuable tool because it allocated me to collaborate, ask for help, and utilize resources that I needed.

Being able to work with so many wonderful people and learn from them has been a gratifying experience and I still carry these lessons with me today alongside the comfort of knowing that my family and friends will continue to support my future endeavors.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am currently a nursing student at National University. Healthcare has always been a career that I envision myself in because I feel that I am someone who can listen, advocate, and care for those around me. Those characteristics are things that I carried with me during my reign as Miss Vietnam San Diego 2022 in order to bring awareness to my platform and I continue to build upon them today.

It has been a long, difficult road just to even be in nursing school because of how much commitment, work, and processes there are. There were times where I felt like I was behind my peers or even unsure of my own abilities to pass a class. It was hard avoiding comparing myself to my classmates and even harder after finding out that I got rejected from the schools I applied to. At the time of reading those rejection letters, I remember feeling angry, sad, and disappointed. It seemed like I had tried so hard only to be let down and I wondered if nursing was really the right road for me. National University was actually the last school I applied to on a whim and to my surprise, I was invited to be interviewed and consequently accepted into the program.

The biggest lesson I learned comes from Miss Universe 2018, Catriona Gray. “….On your path you are never denied, and only redirected.” This is a quote I hold onto because there is always another opportunity out there down the road. Even if one path doesn’t work out, there is something out there for everyone and it may turn out even better than you expect. I thought that being rejected from a handful of schools meant that I didn’t measure up to the standards they were looking for but things worked out in the end when I landed that interview. I would like to reassure people that it is ok to ask for help and learn from one another. There is nothing wrong with seeking help and having a strong support system is a key resource to abide by. I also want to let people know that they have valid stories and something unique to bring to the table and you never know what life can bring. We can only keep trying.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
No matter how short or long the trip is, I think the Convoy Cultural District of San Diego is the best for food. There are so many different cuisines available just on that long road and countless options to choose from. Whether it be Korean comfort food, fusion food, or boba and dessert shops, there’s something that will appeal to everyone. Some of my favorites in that area are Cake de Partie, CHAKAA, Flama Llama, and bbq Chicken. Another honorable boba mention is OMOMO in Del Mar Highlands.

Balboa Park is a staple for those coming to San Diego and even as someone who was born and raised here, I’m still in awe every time I visit. It’s a picturesque spot for locals and tourists and there’s a wide variety of museums, activities, and sights to see. The Japanese Friendship Garden is a personal favorite and I have a lot of fond memories of visiting Balboa Park with family and friends.

San Diego beaches is one you can’t miss. I love taking friends to Torrey Pines for the hiking, fresh air, and simply enjoying the landscape. Coronado is another gorgeous spot because you get to cross the bridge and check out the boutiques, hotel, and scenery.

I’m also from North County San Diego which sometimes seems far from the rest of the city. However, there are some gems here including the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Botanic Gardens, wineries, and two of the best taco shops in my opinion: Tacos Alex and Frida’s Taqueria.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Miss Vietnam San Diego Pageant Team Vietnamese American Youth Alliance
Vietnamese Federation of San Diego
Nguyen/Mai/Ton Family

Website: sdtet.com

Instagram: Miss Vietnam San Diego: https://instagram.com/missvietnamsandiego?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA== San Diego Tet Festival: https://instagram.com/sandiegotetfestival?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==

Facebook: Facebook: Miss Vietnam San Diego: https://www.facebook.com/missvietnamsandiego?mibextid=LQQJ4d San Diego Tet Festival: https://www.facebook.com/sandiegotetfestival?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Other: Inquiry Email: vivian.nguyen-do@sdtet.com

Image Credits
Sydney Tran Photography Long Truong Photograhy

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutSocal is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.