Guides
Saigon Sentinel · Section
Explainers and how-tos — practical guidance written for Vietnamese-American readers navigating life in the US.
- Guides
Building Personal Brand for Vietnamese Business Owners: The Secret to Customers Remembering Your Face, Trusting You, and Coming Back
Personal brand is not something reserved only for celebrities or CEOs of large corporations. If you are running a nail salon in Orange County, opening a pho restaurant in Houston, or selling insurance to the Vietnamese c…
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Mental health in the Vietnamese community: Understanding it correctly, letting go of prejudice, and knowing where to seek help
Mental health is an inseparable part of overall health — just like the heart, liver, or kidneys. Yet in the Vietnamese community, this topic remains shrouded in silence, embarrassment, and no small amount of prejudice.…
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Mental health in the Vietnamese community: It's time to speak up
Depression is not "weakness." Anxiety is not "overthinking." And seeing a mental health professional does not mean you are "crazy." These are things that millions of Vietnamese people — both in Vietnam and in the United …
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Passive Investing for Beginners: How to Build Safe Wealth for Vietnamese Families
Passive investing is a method many Vietnamese families in the U.S. are using to build wealth without having to constantly monitor the market every day.…
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Ancestor Veneration Day in Vietnamese Families in America: Significance, Practice, and Tips for Preserving Tradition Across Generations
Ancestor veneration day is one of the most sacred customs of Vietnamese people — and for many Vietnamese families in America, it is also one of the greatest challenges when living far from home.…
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Credit Score in America: Understand It Correctly, Build It Right, and Optimize It for a Easier Life
A credit score is one of the most important numbers in your financial life in America — yet it's something many Vietnamese people aren't taught when they first arrive.…
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Finding the Right Doctor in Your Insurance Network: A Practical Guide to Avoid Unexpected Bills
Every year, thousands of Vietnamese Americans receive shocking medical bills — not because they lack insurance, but because they accidentally visited a doctor who is out-of-network.…
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Choosing the best internet and mobile plans for Vietnamese families in the US: Real savings, not false economy
Every month, the phone and internet bill for an average Vietnamese family in the US can range from $150 to over $300 — a significant expense.…
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Building a Professional Network in the United States: Practical Tips for Vietnamese People Seeking Career Advancement
Networking is one of the most important skills for career advancement in the United States — but it's also something many Vietnamese people find most difficult to do.…
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Volunteering and Nonprofits: How Vietnamese Americans Are Building Community from Within
The Vietnamese American community in the United States is known not only for business success and academic achievement — but also for an incredibly strong network of volunteers and nonprofit organizations.…
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Buying a House or Renting: Which Is the Smarter Financial Choice for Vietnamese Families in America in 2026?
In 2026, with interest rates still high and home prices remaining elevated in many major cities, the question of "buy or rent" is putting many Vietnamese families in America at a critical crossroads.…
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Business Licenses and Local Regulations: Understanding Them to Avoid Legal Trouble
Opening a nail salon, pho restaurant, or convenience store in the U.S. — the first step is not buying supplies or renting a space. The first step is legal paperwork.…
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Learning Vietnamese Online: The Best Apps and Digital Resources to Preserve Your Native Language for the Next Generation
Preserving Vietnamese for children growing up in the United States is one of the most practical challenges that most overseas Vietnamese families face.…
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Beyond Lunar New Year: Vietnamese Festivals and Cultural Events Worth Knowing About in America
The Vietnamese community in the United States organizes dozens of festivals and cultural events each year — extending far beyond Lunar New Year.…
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Regular health checkups and disease screening: Why young Vietnamese people shouldn't wait until they're sick to see a doctor
Many young Vietnamese people in America only visit a clinic when they have obvious symptoms — pain, fever, unbearable exhaustion. This is a more dangerous habit than you might think.…
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How Vietnamese Parents in the US Can Help Their Children Overcome Academic and Cultural Pressure
Raising children in America with Vietnamese roots is a journey full of contradictions: wanting your child to succeed the American way, yet also wanting them to preserve their Vietnamese identity.…
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Effective Recruitment and Employee Management: A Practical Handbook for Vietnamese Small Business Owners
If you're running a nail salon, restaurant, grocery store, or any small business, this article will show you how to find the right people, keep them for the long term, and avoid the costly legal pitfalls that many Vietna…
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Free or Low-Cost Legal Support: Where Can Vietnamese People Find a Lawyer When They Can't Afford One?
Finding a good lawyer while facing financial hardship is not impossible. This article shows you exactly where to find free or very low-cost legal support — and how to access those resources most effectively.…
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Vietnamese Family Conflicts in America: How to Speak Honestly Without Hurting Each Other
Every Vietnamese family in America has their own "time bomb" — sometimes it's about money, sometimes about relationships, sometimes just about who washes the dishes after Tet dinner.…
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From F-1 Student Visa to Green Card or H-1B: The Legal Path to Staying in the US for Vietnamese Students
If you are studying in the US on an F-1 student visa, or have a family member who is, this article is for you. We will explain clearly — without confusing legal jargon — the legal pathways to transition from an F-1 visa …