Nga is an extremely accomplished woman. Currently holding the title of General Manager at Pots ‘n’ Pans and with a very impressive background in high-end hospitality, Nga is the consummate success story, and her immaculate, professional demeanor reflects just that.
This wasn’t always the case. Born in Hanoi, Nga dropped out of high school at the age of 13 to work full-time as a candle maker. With only her mother to look after her (her father having disappeared years before and her brother a heroin addict, who has now passed away), times were tough for the two women as they tried to make ends meet.
She was 20 years old when she first heard about KOTO, and subsequently joined the program in March of 2001. She trained as front of house, learning everything from folding napkins to first aid, and graduated in October 2003.
Nga describes her time at KOTO as amazing: an apt phrase, considering Nga’s achievements since becoming one of the alumni elite.
Not only has she worked at some of the most prestigious hotels and restaurants in the capital, she has also been the Director of Operations for a restaurant start-up and, in 2008, came second in a national hospitality competition, involving the whole of Vietnam. This was a major triumph in the fiercely competitive world of hospitality — and one that she is, quite rightly, very proud of.
Nga is a woman who inspires. She has set herself lofty goals and has fearlessly gone about achieving them. However, this would not have happened had she not been given the chance to realise her true potential, from people who had the power to make a difference.
