Kyle, a South African data analyst who spent 10 years living in and bonding with the S-shaped land, and can communicate in Vietnamese. Photo: Vietnam News Agency Pretoria-based Bureau

After spending a decade living and working in Viet Nam, Kyle Davidson - a South African expat married to a Vietnamese woman - has developed a profound understanding of the country's language and culture. Drawing from his unique vantage point between two diverse nations, he shares his insights on Viet Nam’s cultural diplomacy, the unifying power of traditional cuisine, and the valuable lessons in heritage conservation that both Viet Nam and South Africa can offer the world.

Reporter: What initially sparked your interest in the language and culture of Viet Nam? After a decade of living and working alongside the local people, which cultural traits have left the most profound impact on you, and how do they help bridge the gap between Vietnamese communities and expats?

Kyle Davidson: We have 11 official languages in South Africa, and someone once told me that if you speak to people in English, you speak to their mind, but if you speak to them in their language, you speak to their heart. I never forgot that. So when I went to Viet Nam, the first thing I learned was how to greet people. That small effort opened doors. People wanted to talk, correct my tones, and tell me about their families. Over a few years, those conversations turned into real fluency.

The trait that struck me most was hospitality. I have eaten many interesting fruits and drunk a lot of green tea that people have shared with me. I'd describe Vietnamese people as warm and curious. They ask where you're from, what you eat, and how you're finding things - and they genuinely want to hear the answer. That curiosity is what bridges the gap for expats. When you are met with that level of openness, you stop being a visitor watching from the outside and become part of the conversation.

Despite returning to South Africa, Kyle maintains close ties and frequently interacts with the Vietnamese community, united by their shared profound experiences of the two cultures. Photo: Vietnam News Agency Pretoria-based Bureau

Reporter: From your perspective, which aspects of Vietnamese culture hold the greatest potential to captivate an international audience, particularly younger generations? What strategic steps should Viet Nam take to make these cultural touchpoints more accessible and engaging to people in host countries?

Kyle Davidson: Food travels best, and I've seen it happen up close. My wife's cooking has been a hit with everyone she's cooked for in South Africa. I recently introduced Vietnamese phin coffee to my office, and people kept asking for more. What I notice is that food invites people to ask questions, and those questions lead them to the culture behind it. Younger Vietnamese artists are also mixing tradition with modern sound and design, which gives international audiences an accessible entry point.

In terms of film and music, Vietnamese artists such as Son Tung M-TP already have a large international following. What would help most is adding English subtitles to Vietnamese online content, training multilingual guides, and encouraging creators to explain their culture from an insider's perspective.

Reporter: Bridging your native culture and your life in Viet Nam, what strategies would you recommend for Viet Nam to project its national identity more powerfully on the global stage? Furthermore, how can we best leverage cultural exchange to cultivate trust and long-lasting international friendships?

Kyle Davidson: In my experience, trust comes from repeated, low-pressure interactions - through students, exchange programmes, shared workspaces, and people staying long enough to truly know one another. Since moving back to South Africa, I've made Vietnamese friends here, and some people in the local community have lived here for decades. What makes those friendships work is having shared reference points and experiences, whether that is food or simply talking about what it's like to navigate life between two countries.

Kyle and his Vietnamese wife, Giang, looking radiant in traditional ao dai. His openness to learning his wife's mother tongue helped him touch the hearts of the local community. Photo: Vietnam News Agency Pretoria-based Bureau

For a country that wants to be understood abroad, I think the most credible approach is to let people experience the culture directly through people, food, and art, rather than through top-down messaging alone. Trust grows when visitors and residents leave with their own authentic stories.

Reporter: Viet Nam is increasingly looking to its cultural heritage to drive national development and elevate its global standing. How do you see the role of the overseas Vietnamese community evolving in this mission - from cultural ambassadors to conduits for international expertise and resources? What concrete measures are needed to better synchronize the efforts of the diaspora with domestic institutions?

Kyle Davidson: From what I've seen, the diaspora works best as a two-way bridge. People who have lived abroad understand how the outside world sees Viet Nam, but they also understand the country from the inside. That combination is incredibly valuable, but it only works if the relationship is built on trust and partnership rather than mere appeals for financial contributions or loyalty.

One idea I think would be highly effective is structured mentorship and exchange: short placements where diaspora professionals in fields like heritage, design, or the arts spend time working directly with domestic institutions, and then continue collaborating remotely. The most impactful outcomes arise when individuals are given genuine responsibilities, not just invited to speak at events.

Kyle working alongside colleagues in Viet Nam. The open work environment and the warmth of the people helped him quickly integrate and consider the S-shaped land his second home. Photo: Vietnam News Agency Pretoria-based Bureau

Reporter: Drawing from the heritage conservation and cultural promotion practices in your home country, what valuable lessons could Viet Nam apply? Finally, what mechanisms or support networks should be established to foster stronger collaboration among diaspora artists, intellectuals, and entrepreneurs?

Kyle Davidson: The home I know best is South Africa, so the lessons I can speak to come from there. What stands out is that the places that handle heritage well put ordinary people’s stories at the centre. The District Six Museum in Cape Town was built from the memories of a community that was forcibly removed, and it works because the people who lived the history shape how it’s told. Sites like Robben Island and Constitution Hill show how painful history can become public education rather than something to hide.

The challenge lies in balancing conservation with development while maintaining steady funding. Heritage sites need ongoing investment, not just a launch event. Viet Nam has its own strong examples, such as Hoi An and Hue, and I imagine there are valuable local lessons there on managing tourism and protecting old quarters while residents still live in them.

For support networks, I think the most practical steps would be residencies and small grants for diaspora artists, co-working spaces or funding for entrepreneurs, and regular meetups so people can get to know each other before they collaborate. Keep them modest and specific. Networks like these usually grow organically from a few successful, focused projects rather than a grand launch./.

By Dang Huyen - Trung Kien (VNA’s correspondent in South Africa)