Navigating Culture Shock and Love in a Vietnamese-American Story | S14 E3 Hoa Chanh

I absolutely loved recording this episode with Hoa. We first met through my Tuesday night quiz at Rabbit Hole, and her warmth, wit, and honesty always stood out. This chat went from laugh-out-loud moments to some truly eye-opening reflections about culture shock, navigating visa bureaucracy, and the sometimes ridiculous expectations placed on Vietnamese women, especially when they marry foreigners.

I had a lot to talk about, from Grab drivers not understanding northern accents to what it’s like going through a U.S. visa interview during a pandemic, and why Vietnamese weddings feel more like family transactions than personal celebrations. Hoa brought raw honesty, insight, and that cheeky energy that makes her so much fun to talk to.

Key Talking Points

• What it’s like to experience culture shock as a Vietnamese person moving from Hanoi to Saigon
• The bureaucratic nightmare of getting a U.S. tourist visa—and how Hoa finally got approved
• Hoa’s candid take on being judged for marrying a foreigner (and how she clapped back)
• The emotional toll of career burnout and planning a 500-person wedding
• The hilarious and bittersweet origin story of her nickname “Chang”
• Observations on American vs. Vietnamese culture, kindness, and food portions

Chapters and Timestamps

• 01:00 – Hoa's journey: from Hanoi to Saigon and why she “ran away”
• 08:00 – Hanoi vs. Saigon: culture clash & accent issues
• 14:30 – The U.S. visa nightmare and awkward interview questions
• 23:00 – First time in the U.S.: kindness, sticker shock, and scooters
• 31:00 – Career burnout, moving cities & dealing with depression
• 38:00 – Vietnamese weddings: stress, scale, and social expectations
• 41:30 – Stereotypes of Vietnamese women & being married to an American

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The full list of winners is here.