That was what Nguyen Minh Tien, a Fulbright alumnus of the Art and Media Studies major, confided in me. Embarking on his Fulbright journey at 21, Tien found himself “lagging behind” his peers by three years.
Having spent three years at another university in Ho Chi Minh City without true happiness, Tien contemplated starting afresh. At that time, as a 21-year-old, his greatest fear was being left behind by his peers. However, Tien’s fervent desire for an enabling academic environment where academic freedom flourishes eclipsed his apprehensions. Despite obstacles, Tien enrolled in the undergraduate program at Fulbright University Vietnam in 2020 while completing his first bachelor’s degree at another university.
Tien attended the University Debate Champion 2021 during his first year at Fulbright. Photographed by Tien
Long school commute around the city every day
To attend two universities simultaneously, Tien struggled with both the long distances and the time it takes. Every morning, at 5:30 AM sharp, Tien rode his motorbike from District 7 to District 1, parked his bike, and took a bus from District 1 to Thu Duc City for his first class at 7 AM. By 11 AM, he took the same route to return to District 7 in time for his afternoon class at Fulbright, which started at 1:30 PM.
The commute of over 50 kilometers for each school trip lasted for a year until Tien completed his first bachelor’s degree. Time raced by. On June 8, Tien officially became a Bachelor of Art and Media Studies at Fulbright University Vietnam. Holding his second bachelor’s degree, Tien reminisced about the months wandering around Ho Chi Minh City streets, determined to accomplish his educational goals.
“I used to think that attending a university meant attending a ‘top’ university. But now, I care more about what I truly want and enjoy. Choosing a university is like choosing a long-term ‘companion.’ That companion shares my mission, direction, and interests, encouraging me to create more impactful values for my future, my companion, and my society.”
Minh Tien walked the stage to receive his bachelor’s degree during Fulbright Commencement 2024. Photographed by Tien
Hip-hop passion and aspiration to develop street art knowledge in Vietnam
Contrary to his outward introversion, Tien has a “burning passion” for Hip-hop culture. With extensive experience as a program coordinator at the Vietnam Women’s Publishing House and strong research abilities, he has produced many articles and publications exploring the influence of Hip-hop in contemporary Vietnamese society. In 2021, while a sophomore at Fulbright University Vietnam, the young researcher Minh Tien completed a book chapter titled “The Formation and Development of Rap Music in Contemporary Vietnamese Culture.” This chapter was printed in the book “Cultural Diversity in Contemporary Social Life,” published by the Social Sciences Publishing House.
In 2023, Minh Tien’s article, titled “For Ho Chi Minh City-based hip-hop collective Joker Rock Crew, street dance is the homeland of freedom of expression,” was issued in the Colors x Studio editorial column, an influential music performance platform worldwide. That year, Minh Tien and Viet Hiphop also launched the podcast series, “In the Culture,” which features many renowned figures discussing new perspectives on vibrant issues within the Vietnamese hip-hop community.
Minh Tien (right) conversed with B-boy Son Clown in an episode of the podcast series “In the Culture,” founded by Viet Hiphop. Photographed by Tien
Referring to the motivation behind these projects, Tien candidly expressed, “I feel that we are living in an era of generational transitions, at the intersection of globalization and localization. It is an opportunity to be exposed to knowledge from the larger world, but at the same time, it is also a challenge when we face the question of ‘how do we find the unique voice of Vietnamese youth in the global youth community?’ In the sea of knowledge, I choose street art to answer this question.
For me, academic knowledge is the most important foundation to sustain and enrich any form of culture. I want people to learn more about street art in Vietnam by presenting its history and development, highlighting what makes Vietnam unique in this genre. I have been and will continue to learn how to reconcile research and practice to further amplify my voice.”
Minh Tien interacted with audiences at the event “Rap Viet & Folk Culture Flow,” part of the “Kien Dau Tai ” activities, organized by Vietnamme. Photographed by Tien
Bachelor’s degree with one major, two minors, and a zeal for lifelong learning
Recently, Tien proudly walked the stage alongside 128 Class of 2024 students to receive his second bachelor’s degree. A familiar teaching assistant for many classes at Fulbright over the past four years, Tien graduated with an excellent GPA, majoring in Art and Media Studies with double minors in History and Social Studies. For Tien, the knowledge gained at Fulbright is not confined to specific disciplines; instead, it soundly complements each other, allowing him to shape a comprehensive perspective on art within various historical and social contexts.
“I argue that, in addition to situating an artwork within the binary aesthetic distinction of beauty and non-beauty, it is critical to analyze the social context in which it was created. This element contributes to a better comprehension of the artwork’s substance, thereby addressing the question, ‘How does an audience appreciate art?’
The History minor additionally taught me about the history of many art forms, which helped me recognize how colonial aesthetic standards continue to influence the public’s contemporary perspective on art. Therefore, understanding the historical backgrounds of artistic elements resolved my question of how art should be practiced.”
Minh Tien presented his artwork capstone “Illuminating Dislocations” during Spring Showcase Day at Fulbright University Vietnam. Photographed by Tien
This April, Tien got accepted to the master’s program in Theatre and Dance, focusing on Performance Studies, at the University of Hawai’i, Manoa, US. He received a fully funded scholarship covering tuition fees and accommodation expenses. When asked about his feelings, Tien laughed and replied, “I’m grateful that the mountains and rivers have heard my manifestation.” For Tien, the dedication to knowledge acquisition and pay-it-forward attitude nurturing keep shining lights on his journey for self-discovery. Learning is now his duty to showcase the Vietnamese youth identity to friends and intellectuals worldwide.
Bon voyage to your next chapter, Minh Tien!
Như Ý
