In recent years, Asia’s number one economy has faced a severe job shortage and a layoff crisis, especially in the technology sector. Domestic students struggle to find jobs, and opportunities for foreigners are even scarcer. However, a brave Vietnamese girl in her 9X generation has boldly ventured into this market, especially in the tech industry in China, right after stepping out of the university gates in Vietnam.
She does not consider herself exceptionally successful or outstanding, but Shi Nguyen (Nguyễn Thị Thanh Phương)’s journey and achievements in this country are enough to inspire and motivate many.
What brought you to your first job in China?
When I graduated from Hanoi University, my Chinese was still not considered good. In fact, the more I communicated with Chinese friends, the more I felt that my Chinese was lacking in many areas. I realized I needed an environment that used only Chinese to quickly improve this foreign language; I needed to practice and refine my skills. But at that time, my family couldn’t afford to send me abroad for study, so the only option was to seek a job related to Chinese.
I began to search for jobs in China. Although I knew it would be very difficult, I always reminded myself that if I tried something, the probability of success would be 50%, but if I didn’t try, the probability would be 0%. Part of it was luck, because in 2015, China’s economy was growing very strongly. This included the technology and gaming sectors, which developed alongside it, leading to a surge in gaming-related jobs.
At that time, I just wanted to go to China and find a job there; salary was not important, just being able to go was enough. That thought pushed me to act immediately. I prepared my documents, applied to a small tech company in Suzhou, and was fortunate to be accepted. Thus, my journey to work in China began.
How did the process of moving from a regular employee to a director in the land of a billion unfold?
Initially, I worked at a small company in Suzhou, then I did translation, game operations, and later moved to Hangzhou. As I accumulated long-term experience, it became something I was attached to and could excel in. When I first graduated, I thought I would only ever be a translator. But after coming to China to work in gaming, my perspective changed. And thus, I have been “living and dying” with this gaming industry for 10 years.
Another stroke of luck was that I met a good mentor and companion. My boss and colleagues supported me a lot since I first arrived in China. Even when I left, we kept in touch and connected. When the gaming company wanted to expand into other markets, I became the one to help them legally release games in the Vietnamese market. During that process, I learned a lot and opened up many new relationships and opportunities. Later, Lilith—one of the top 3 gaming companies in China—recognized me and invited me to become their Vietnam market director. I then moved from Hangzhou to Shanghai.
I admit I am lucky to have encountered good opportunities. But I believe that seizing opportunities is also an important factor. Seizing opportunities does not mean opportunities will come to you automatically; you must actively seek them out. Opportunities are only for those who are prepared, so I constantly work to improve and enhance myself to be worthy of those opportunities. When I resigned from my job in Hangzhou, I told my former boss that I was truly fortunate to have the company and superiors trust me and give me the opportunity to be where I am today. My boss then said: “No, it’s because you worked hard, that’s why you are lucky.” I felt very touched to be recognized like that.
Relationships and connections in work are indeed very important. What do you think helps you maintain those good relationships?
I believe this comes from sincerity. In reality, I do not have too many friends. I have many social relationships, but deep connections are quite few. I may not be close to many people, and I may not meet them often, but when they need help, I am ready to assist. Likewise, when I need help, there will be people ready to help me. Sincerity is the key to maintaining any relationship.
What difficulties and obstacles did you encounter when you first came to work in a foreign country?
Although during the 201x years it was somewhat better, many of my relatives still thought that going to China was very dangerous. Initially, my parents were also worried and did not want to let me go. But because I have a fairly strong personality, wanting to do something means I must do it, there is nothing to fear, so I went anyway. If I hadn’t gone to China, until I graduated from university, I would have had over 20 years without being far from home. My family is in Hanoi; from kindergarten to university, I only studied in Hanoi. Luckily, most of my colleagues and bosses in China were quite good, so my start was less difficult.
The biggest obstacle at that time might have been getting used to the high-intensity “996” work style in China. The Chinese are very diligent, serious, and put their utmost effort into work. Especially in the gaming, engineering, and technology sectors, it is common to work 12 to 14 hours a day. Initially, I couldn’t accept that. When my boss required overtime, I would disagree. At that time I was still young, quite impulsive, and a bit stubborn; it took me about a year to adjust.
In addition, in the technology and gaming industry, there are definitions and technical terms that are very difficult, to the point where even locals sometimes struggle to understand them. I also rarely played games, so I had to spend a lot of time learning about it. Because in this job, I am the bridge between both Vietnam and China, between the technical side and the players. I have to understand the mechanics and strategies of the games while also describing them to the partners so they can understand and grasp the needs of Vietnamese players. That was one of the difficulties I faced.
Working far from home is also not easy for anyone. After all, I am a girl alone in China, without family or friends nearby, with no one to rely on. I also had to get used to differences in thinking and lifestyle. Here, if I lose my job, I will lose everything.
Was there anything that shattered your illusions or surprised you, different from what you imagined while in Vietnam?
For me at that time, working overtime almost 100% of the time was still something hard to accept. So that was disillusioning. But later, I became a “workaholic” and frequently worked overtime. With all the tech companies here, if you do not work overtime, they do not need you. I think that is one of the things anyone wanting to work in China or in technology needs to be aware of. Of course, now almost every country is fighting against excessive overtime, but that is a reality that cannot change overnight. If you work in this industry, you still have to accept it.
The youth in China are currently experiencing a new trend called “juan” or “nei juan” – slang for competition and rivalry in study or work, even though outwardly they seem indifferent. Unlike the “tang ping” (lying flat) trend, a segment of young people dedicates more time to studying and working, silently striving to outperform their peers. My Chinese colleagues are very “juan”, but now I am even more “juan” than they are.
The Chinese tech industry is famously associated with the “35-year-old curse,” and the labor market often faces severe unemployment crises. Have you ever felt afraid you would fall into that wave of layoffs?
Of course, I am always afraid. But I think that is a part of everyone’s life. You cannot do one job for your whole life. Everyone must eventually change or take a different path, so you have to face that fear. When the economy is not good, everyone fears losing their job, but being afraid does not solve anything. You must be proactive, multitasking, and quickly grasp the trends that will happen and take new steps to prepare for it. You should not be a pawn but a chess player.
I believe that whether working in Vietnam or China, I must always stay updated on everything as quickly as possible, especially in the tech industry. Today is like this, tomorrow will be different. Today Chat GPT might be the best, but tomorrow there could be something else. The world is constantly changing. I, too, am like a game. If that game does not update, it will become a “dead” game. Therefore, we must always learn more. And especially, if you are a woman wanting to work in technology in China, you must always strive harder than local women.
Is that why you decided to leave large companies to start your own business?
Exactly. As you just mentioned about the “35-year-old curse,” I am already 33 years old. Therefore, before facing that crisis and possibly being laid off, I think it’s time for me to invest in my own career where I can “hold the reins.” In life, every step requires preparation. I do not think I can stay in one place forever. At Lilith, I felt I had enough experience in this field and social relationships within the industry in both China and Vietnam. Now, I need to take the next step and start my own game.
How do you think the gaming industry in China and Vietnam will change in the next five years?
Gaming falls under the entertainment sector, and entertainment is not necessarily a critical need in life, so it is heavily influenced by the economy. When the economy declines, the gaming industry will also be significantly affected because people will not have much money to spend on entertainment services.
I have noticed that in the past 2-3 years, the gaming industry has not seen much growth; it is currently in a stagnation phase. Furthermore, over generations, people’s gaming preferences have also changed. Some games that were once very popular are no longer played. Therefore, I cannot predict anything. Those who make games only have one option: to constantly update market trends and economic situations to create games that best suit user preferences.
Do you have any goals for yourself in the next 5-10 years?
I often tell myself that I am not a dreamer, but a person with goals. Those may not be long-term goals, but they are goals I can achieve. Once I set a goal for myself, I will seriously take steps to accomplish it. Dreams may be far away, but goals are right in front of me.
Just like when losing weight, initially, I did not emphasize needing to lose a certain amount of weight in a year but only set a goal to lose about 1 kg per week. Gradually, I managed to lose 20 kg within a year. Whether the goals are short or long-term does not matter; what matters is whether I can achieve them.
How do you feel you have changed from age 23 to 33? What changes have you noticed in your thoughts and personality?
The one thing that hasn’t changed is that I always give my all to everything. I see that my younger self was sometimes too blunt. Now I am still straightforward, but I have become more tactful. I think that is also a part of growing up. I will express what I think in my head, but I will use a more palatable and acceptable way, not to offend others. The biggest change is that I have become less headstrong and more contemplative, less showy and arrogant. Additionally, I have learned to view situations more objectively and from multiple perspectives, rather than having a narrow view as before.
Your posts on social media give the impression that your life is very happy, comfortable, free, and joyful. Have you ever faced setbacks or significant shocks in reality?
About 5-7 years ago, I often shared my experiences working in China on social media and received many mixed opinions. The criticisms then were quite harsh and could be considered “online violence.” At that time, I thought I was right to share like that and had helped many people looking for job opportunities abroad. But looking back now, I realize there were mistakes in my words.
I recognized that the more I share my thoughts, the more vulnerable I become to online violence. So before sharing opinions on social media, you must be prepared for differing views. In the end, I find it’s not too difficult to accept, nor do I place too much weight on those words, because I have too much else to focus on in life.
Regarding what I post on social media, I only want to share joyful things with everyone; I never share sad stories or my struggles with others. I think others do not deserve to be the place where I unload my negativity in life. In times of sadness, I will “digest” it by traveling. Going to new places and then diving back into work upon returning helps me get over my sadness. That’s why you can see that my Facebook only shares joyful things. I hope to transmit positive energy to those who always follow me.
In your opinion, what is the most important thing for a woman after 30?
I think the most important thing is that we must not “lose ourselves.” Whether you are 30 or 40, I still hope to remain like I was in my 20s, passionate about my work and life. Those who do not plan to marry can still do what they want. Or for those who are married and have children, I hope they can be more than just a mother or a wife, but can still shine by their own name. Never lose yourself; always love yourself to the fullest.
Do you plan to return to Vietnam to develop in the future?
I am still working simultaneously in both Vietnam and China. Many people think I have settled in China, but in fact, I always hope to develop well in the Vietnamese market. I always guide Chinese businesses to invest in Vietnam in a legitimate way. That is also one of my future work orientations.
Currently, it’s a time when I’m no longer “lucky”; the economic crisis has also led to a crisis in the tech and gaming industries. Therefore, my two-year-old startup is facing certain difficulties. But I, at the age of 33, will still be like I was at 23 when I first set foot in China, passionate and unafraid of anything.
I usually do not regret much because once I decide to do something, even if I do it poorly, at least I have experienced it. If I hadn’t done it, I would feel even more dissatisfied and regretful.
Thank you for the conversation today. I wish you success in your new “game” of life!