After spending more than four decades living and working in Europe, especially in Switzerland, Truong Dinh Ngo and his wife, artist Camille Huyen (a descendant of Hue’s former royal family), chose to return to their homeland—the central city of Hue. This move is not just about seeking a peaceful retirement life but a dedicated journey—from founding the “Thank the Perfume River” group to clean the waterway, to developing Ben Xuan Theater as an international cultural center. In this interview with The Saigon Times, Ngo and his wife share their views on transforming Hue into a city that is green, clean, beautiful, peaceful, and elegant, where growth and the quality of life for its residents go hand in hand.
The Saigon Times: Both of you enjoyed a stable life in Switzerland. What was the main motivation that made you decide to return and settle in Hue as your permanent home and workplace?
Truong Dinh Ngo: I lived in Europe and Switzerland for 44 years, contributing to the securities model in the Swiss financial technology industry. The question I asked myself was: In the rest of my life, what can I do to give back to my homeland, based on my life experience?
Regarding my wife, artist Camille Huyen (who comes from the royal lineage of Hue), she has long dreamed of building the Ben Xuan Theater, whose construction started in 2008 and finished in 2017. This is a major contribution to Hue’s international cultural tourism sector. Additionally, although Hue is not a large city, it has a rich landscape of rivers, mountains, and the sea. Because of my family’s roots in Hue’s former royal lineage, this place was the most natural choice for our return.
What worries did you have about living in Vietnam when you came back home?
We had four main concerns: healthcare, legal paperwork, public security, and food safety. Hue exceeded our expectations in healthcare, thanks to the University of Medicine and Pharmacy and the hospital system. Doctors here are often trained abroad, possess Western cultural knowledge, and are very dedicated. Personally, the care we received was, to some extent, better than in Switzerland, and I want to sincerely thank the doctors in Hue.
Regarding legal matters and paperwork, we always feel supported and understood by the Department of Foreign Affairs and the City Police in resolving issues such as land, housing, and even the complex matter of French pensions. Concerning security, our house on the Perfume River is 60 meters long and needs no fencing. The sense of safety is entirely comparable to Switzerland.
However, food safety remains a significant concern. Producers’ awareness of maintaining clean raw materials has not yet reached standards, and effective control mechanisms are missing. We sincerely hope the local government will continue to lead the way in making Hue a place that is green, clean, beautiful, and food-safe.
We understand that the Perfume River was a big concern for you when you returned. What were your first impressions of the river, and how has your personal connection to it changed?
When we arrived in Hue in 2015, we were deeply saddened to see the poetic Perfume River and the beautiful Thuan An beach become dirty. Garbage, votive paper, and offerings were being casually dumped into the river.
Thanks to the efforts of the people and the government, the river water has become clear again, and the two riverbanks have been cleaned up and look absolutely beautiful. Locals and tourists are now enjoying relaxing and walking along the riverbanks more than ever. The people of Hue no longer just love the Perfume River through poetry; they genuinely embrace and interact with the river as a living entity.
You founded the “Thank the Perfume River” group with the dream of making Hue as green and clean as Switzerland, and you now say that “that dream has been realized.” Could you share a specific moment or achievement that made you feel this goal was accomplished?
The “Thank the Perfume River” group began with about 10 young tourist guides and some friends in Kim Long. We funded ourselves, made our own nets, and crafted tools to pick up trash from the river and along the banks. This small effort made a difference in the community, leading the government to launch unprecedented large-scale programs such as “Green Sunday” and “The Four Seasons of Flowers City.”
While perhaps not yet on par with Switzerland, Hue now boasts the greenest and cleanest public spaces in Vietnam. Many of the young tourist guides from the group are now successful young entrepreneurs. These represent significant shifts, from awareness to action and economic growth.
In your opinion, what was the most critical factor in achieving this impressive change: the decisive guidance of the authorities on planning and waste management, or the increased environmental awareness of the people?
The first and most sustainable factor must stem from people’s awareness. It is vital to have pioneering, resilient groups willing to act and confront indifference and apathy towards environmental pollution. The most crucial factor is having government leaders who align closely with the aspirations and initiatives driven by the people.
The combination of planning and waste management, along with the companionship and support of the citizens, has created the enduring strength behind Hue’s impressive transformation to this day.
You compare the Perfume River’s banks to the city’s “living room.” As an overseas Vietnamese, what specific recommendations do you have for enhancing this “living room” to establish a unique sense of “serenity and refinement” for Hue in the coming years?
The Perfume River is a treasure that must be preserved as green, clean, and beautiful. Hue’s “living room” should not be a chaotic and noisy place. The riverbanks need to be free of noisy bars and karaoke venues that cause noise pollution. Instead, peaceful and refined services, such as the afternoon tea boats that have appeared on the river, should be encouraged.
The walking path along both banks should not be just a simple promenade. Along Kim Long and Thuy Bieu, there should be intentional development of small, charming, high-end cafes and restaurants where tourists can stop to enjoy Hue’s culture and refined cuisine. Eco-tourism development should be coordinated and not only focused in the city center.
For example, the routes along Kim Long and Nguyen Phuc Nguyen streets, continuing to Van Thanh Street, and Huyen Khong Son Thuong Pagoda should be planned as a beautiful, continuous pedestrian zone. We need to quickly establish attractive, targeted promenade development along the riverbanks, connecting environmental culture throughout the entire city and surrounding rural areas.
You believe that creating beautiful public spaces is “a direct investment in community health and happiness.” Besides environmental cleanliness, what other quality-of-life improvements are you eager to participate in or advocate for?
Yes, the fact that people are exercising, reading, and swimming in the clean, green spaces along the river is a major contribution to community health and happiness. It helps reduce stress and illness, thereby supporting economic growth.
However, achievements in the “living room” (riverbanks) need to be expanded to the “bedrooms” (residential areas). Two major issues that must be fully addressed are noise and fine dust. Currently, many production facilities that generate noise, fine dust, and toxic waste (such as wood cutting and PU painting) still operate right next to homes. These facilities need to be relocated away from residential areas. Likewise, excessively loud karaoke from neighbors is a serious issue that impacts residents’ health and peace.
Building on your successful experience of returning and making a positive impact, what advice would you give to other overseas Vietnamese who are thinking about coming back to contribute to the community?
Returning has been beneficial for me personally and has brought positive effects to my homeland. However, each overseas Vietnamese must decide for themselves why they are returning. Reintegrating at retirement age is not easy.
We believe it is crucial to have a clear purpose and activities. I dedicated myself to the environment and to building Ben Xuan Theater, organizing cultural exchanges with international tourists (Camille). This work keeps us busy all day, connects us with more international friends and locals in Hue, and helps us feel accepted in this new society. Essentially, retirement is about having time to do more of what you love.
