Mrs. Đặng Ngọc Ánh: Slow down to Reflect, let go to Lighten.

bởi: Mỹ Anh 11 Tháng 09, 2025

Looking back on the journey so far, I see that within every difficulty lies an opportunity. Like the principle of yin and yang, every problem has two sides. However, I do not deny that difficulties are still difficulties; we still have to find ways to overcome them.

sympathy - empathy

You ask me how to always be happy and optimistic? I learned that living lightly is when we can look at everything with sympathy and empathy. Sympathy is when we understand that person is sad, is suffering, and we feel for them. Empathy is when you put yourself in their shoes to understand why they behave that way and feel their emotions. I practice looking at others with sympathy and empathy so that I blame less, get angry less, and feel sad less - naturally, life will seem more joyful, lighter, and living will be much more peaceful. One more thing, don’t hesitate to set ambitious goals for yourself (but still within your capabilities) so that you feel proud when you achieve them and avoid being distracted by unnecessary things.

unconditional love

Family is the most precious treasure to me. We show our children that they are always surrounded by unconditional love. In parenting, my spouse and I “sing the same song” in both words and actions, understanding that “leading by example” is key in education. Knowing that their grandparents are always there, the children will be braver in solving their own problems.

the joy of simplicity

In my youth, I lived fast and hurriedly. I married early, became a mother early, and continuously changed careers in Switzerland, Africa, and Hong Kong. Now, I take time to reflect more, or in other words, to slow down.

As a multicultural person who loves shopping and collecting art pieces, I brought home many wonderful items that meant a lot to me at the time. However, as I grew older, I had to learn to let go and gradually give things away. This has brought me great joy, the joy of simplicity.

humility, patience, tolerance

Like many other Vietnamese women, I lead a busy life, juggling work and children while experiencing many ups and downs. My mind is always in a state of having to think and organize many things at once. It wasn’t until I turned 65, when I decided to retire and settle in Vietnam, that I began to learn Tai Chi. I found a resonance in knowing that this practice has a philosophy that emphasizes humility, patience, and tolerance. Tai Chi requires you to set aside all distracting thoughts, breathe deeply, and relax, which is perhaps the hardest thing for someone like me when starting with Tai Chi.

仁 ren

I love reading, especially books about language and Chinese literature. At the age of 12, I happened to have a teacher explain the term “humanity” (in Chinese, “嬬 ren”) to me, and I was extremely impressed by the depth of this language, where just one word can have many layers of meaning. I learned to write in Chinese characters and frequently read classical Chinese texts. Recently, I have been reading poetry from the Tang dynasty, particularly the works of Li Bai. The aesthetics of the Ming dynasty have also influenced my choices in furniture and the collection of decorative art for my home.

ao dai anytime, anywhere

My lifestyle changes with each phase of my life. While abroad, I often wear the áo dài to express my Vietnamese identity and spirit. The áo dài is elegant and suitable for all occasions, from everyday life to important events. I must also mention the woman who has influenced me, Ms. Tuyết Nguyệt – a friend of mine in Hong Kong and the founder of the magazine Arts of Asia. She always wore the áo dài in every situation.

the sofa from leftover fabric

Many years ago, I visited Vietnam and happened to discover TimTay while shopping on Lê Thánh Tông Street. TimTay touched my heart with its elegant, discreet, and comfortable style, as well as the meticulousness in each product. Since then, TimTay has become a favorite shopping brand for me every time I return to Vietnam, even just to chat with the young people behind the brand. When I visited the store, I was very impressed by the hand-embroidered sofa made from leftover fabric, but unfortunately, they didn’t want to sell it because they wanted to keep it as a memento!