Venus (English teacher and translator extraordinaire) was serving as helmsman on this particular interview. She guided us to Cua Lo’s newly minted Minh Quoc Kindergarten. We were there to meet Nguyen Thi Thuy (an erudite educator who speaks of Montessori and Rudolf Steiner with the ease of reciting the ABCs). I was immediately impressed by two things: The opulence of the campus and the grace and passion of the woman behind it.

“I was born and raised in Ho Chi Minh City, surrounded by a family of engineers,” Thuy explained. “I received my degree from the University of Transport and Communications in Hanoi. You might say, I was following a family tradition by pursuing a career in engineering. But my real passion had always been in education.”

Thuy went on to provide a timeline: After graduating, she married Le Van Duc and moved to his hometown of Vinh City, where she put her Engineering degree to work (while still pining for a career in education). With the support of Duc (who had a degree in Education and was managing a school in Vinh) she eventually enrolled in Vinh University. “For the first year I kept my job while pursuing my degree. During my second year of studies, I quit the job so I could focus exclusively on my degree and fulfilling my dream of becoming an educator.”

After graduation, Thuy opened Diamond Kindergarten Montessori Pre-School in Vinh City (which she operates to this day).

The mother of three (ages 15, 9 and 6), Thuy had an early desire to create a quality, educational environment for all children (including her own). As a result, Thuy and Duc opened Xanh Tue Duc in Cua Lo Beach in 2020 (an elementary and secondary school). When the most recent baby was born, Thuy realized she needed to open a pre-school/kindergarten in their hometown of Cua Lo.

            On the importance of early childhood scholastic development, Thuy had this to say: “I believe the education of children from birth to six-years old is very important because it is the period of forming a child’s personality and psychophysiology. The stage when the child’s brain develops to 80% of its adult capacity. Therefore, the method of teaching children at this earliest stage is extremely important. I wished to build a good environment for children to develop and learn.”

Minh Quoc school is certainly a step-above—nothing is understated, from the playground equipment, to the swim pool, to the kitchen, to the 9 ultra-modern classrooms. And while State mandated curriculum is used, the school (like Xanh Tue Duc), utilizes Montessori methods and other progressive teaching techniques (with a particular focus on English language learning).

            Perhaps the most compelling aspect of Minh Quoc (especially for parents who desire consistency in the education of their children), is that kids from ages 1-4 can enroll. Once they “graduate” onto secondary school, they can move seamlessly into Xanh Tue Duc (aka The Green School). Even more encouraging is Thuy and Duc’s plan to open a high school in the near future. Imagine K-12 under the umbrella of a world-class learning institution.

            When asked about staffing, Thuy’s smile became both proud and playful. “We actively recruit both teachers and administrators—seeking the best. And while a great deal of emphasis goes into skillset and experience. I’m looking for passion, the ability to laugh—for people who possess the genuine desire to enhance a student’s educational experience.”

            There is no doubt that all three schools (Diamond, Xanh Tue Duc and Minh Quoc) are labors of love—the result of a passion for education, the knowledge of advanced learning techniques and a sense of obligation to the children of Cua Lo Town and Vinh City.