Hello, my name is

Thao Nguyen.

Vietnamese American female holding two durian fruits above her shoulders in front of a tree with red and green round leaves and a white Honda cry in the background

Born and raised in New Orleans, I’m a Vietnamese-American who loves durian. I’m a writer and an avid scuba diver by ancestral calling.

Having lived in four different countries—the U.S., Singapore, Indonesia, and Viet Nam—gave me a world view on how to create a more colorful and fulfilling life.

Most of my travels were academically funded during my college career at the University of Wyoming. 24 countries later, I have no plans to stop. Welcome to ThaoTalks, and I hope to find and create a community of like-minded travelers. Travelers who focus on sustainability, local people, and expanding one’s mind and heart for every visit beyond home. Travelers who care about the impact they have on the place they’re visiting.

Visit National Geographic’s Geotraveler’s page
More about GeoTourism

“Geotourism is defined as tourism that sustains or enhances the distinctive geographical character of a place—its environment, heritage, aesthetics, culture, and the well-being of its residents.”
— National Geographic

 FAQs

  • Born and raised in New Orleans, Louisana, USA.
    Bouncing between Wyoming and Texas for the last 13 years.

    For the people who are trying to ask about ethnicity or race, I am a daughter of Vietnamese emigrants.

  • 22

    Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba England, Canary Islands, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Macao, Mexico, Malaysia, Netherlands, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Scotland, Singapore, Thailand, United States, Vietnam, & Wales

    • Native English speaker

    • Bahasa Indonesian (intermediate conversationalist) from UKSW in Salatiga, Indonesia

    • Vietnamese (conversant)

    • Stories about 22 countries I’ve traveled

    • My love for scuba diving

    • Marine Conservation policies and progress

    • Personal development in this wild and precious journey that is my life

  • University of Wyoming for both:

    • Bachelor’s degree in Political Science

    • Master’s of Arts in:
      (1) Political Science
      (2) Environment & Natural Resources

  • SCUBA DIVING

    • Scuba Schools International (SSI): Specialty Diver– Stress & Rescue, Specialty Course – Science of Diving, React Right – First Aid, CPR, AED, Over 70+ Dives

    • Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI): Open Water Certification – Advanced Open Water Certification

    SAFETY

    • OSHA 30-hour training for the construction industry

    • HAZWOPER 40

    • First aid, CPR, and AED Trainer - National Safety Council

    • International Marine Conservation Conference 5, Sarawak, Malaysia – “Local perception of conservation in Karimunjawa National Park, Central Java, Indonesia”

    • Fulbright Regional Enrichment Conference, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Innovative and Resilient ASEAN Communities

    • American Indonesian Exchange Foundation, Surabaya, Indonesia – “National tourism policy and local perception in Wakatobi National Park, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia”

    • Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang, Indonesia – “Environmental change in the U.S. and Indonesia”

    • Universitas Brawijiya, Malang, East Java, Indonesia – “Identity politics in the United States”

    • Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Conservation, Wangi-Wangi, Indonesia – “Conservation and tourism careers”

    • University of Wyoming Board of Trustee Haub School, Laramie, Wyoming – “International education and collaboration”

    • U.S. State Department Fulbright Student Researcher

    • U.S. State Department Critical Language Enhancement Award

    • Center for Global Studies Excellence Research/ Fieldwork Grant

    • UWYO Graduate Assistantship

CONTACT