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Life


Yes, I Thrift. No, That Doesn’t Make Me Better.
People like to put thrifting on a pedestal. It’s cheap, it’s sustainable, it’s “better” than fast fashion. But here’s the truth: I...
Ly Hoang
Aug 305 min read


What Does It Mean to Be Vietnamese?
In Vietnam, being Vietnamese is often described in poetic phrases: “yellow skin and red blood,” or “descendants of dragons and fairies.”...
Ly Hoang
Aug 284 min read


Why I chose Lily
I couldn’t help but wonder… how much power could possibly be tucked into six little letters? The stamp inside my passport doesn’t say...
Ly Hoang
Aug 133 min read


The Question I Get Asked the Most Abroad (and Why It’s Complicated)
“Where are you from?”It sounds like small talk, but it never is. Yesterday was Reunification Day in Vietnam — my home country. Back...
Ly Hoang
May 12 min read


Six Minutes and Out
I recently had a job interview that lasted all of six minutes. Six. That’s barely enough time to brew a proper cup of tea, let alone...
Ly Hoang
Feb 192 min read


I Built Everyone Else’s Brand but Forgot My Own
Somewhere between campaigns, algorithms, and helping companies grow — I realised I’d left myself behind. In 2019, I was too shy to dance...
Ly Hoang
Jan 82 min read


This Trip Wasn’t on My CV But It Should Be
I didn’t go to Spain solo for 10 days to “find myself.” There was no Eat Pray Love soundtrack playing in the background. I went because I...
Ly Hoang
Sep 11, 20242 min read


The Sweetest Transaction
They say you can’t put a price on love, but sometimes it’s £1.50, scanned through on a Tesco till. Working in a Tesco next to a block of...
Ly Hoang
Feb 20, 20242 min read


The Silent Sandwich Cart
There is a breakfast cart near my house. On normal mornings, it’s a chaotic little corner, students from the school opposite queuing up,...
Ly Hoang
Dec 28, 20192 min read
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