An awarding ceremony of European Vietnamese - Stellar (EV Stellar) contest.

For Vietnamese in other countries, Pham Ha My, a teacher and opera singer is well-known for her dedication to preserving traditional culture abroad.

Born and raised in Nam Dinh, Pham Ha My showed her talent for music and language from a young age. In 2005, the girl moved to the Czech Republic with her family.

"When I came to the Czech Republic, I was not used to the new culture and did not have many new friends. I miss the familiar streets and buildings in my hometown, the Nang Tinh intersection, the Vong Cung Pagoda, the Provincial Post Office, the smell of milk flowers, the lion dances, and dragon drums every Mid-Autumn festival. Even in my dreams, I felt like I was still with my classmate in Tran Dang Ninh Secondary School."

Over time, encouraged by her family, Ha My adapted to her new life. She learned the Czech language by herself. After a year, she passed the entrance exam to Gymnasium School, one of the top schools in Karlovarsky Kraj, Czech Republic. She then got to ZUS Antonina Dvoraka School of Arts and the International School of Music and Fine Arts Prague (ISMFA). While studying at ISMFA, she joined Sao Mai, a singing contest by Vietnam Television. Though ended up in the European final round, she found her motivation to follow a career path in music.

Pham Ha My moved to London in 2019 to study Opera at London College of Music. "The high living expense in London was a big challenge. I earned some extra money by performing at several stages."

As soon as she could ensure a stable income, Ha My opened free Vietnamese and singing classes for children. "It was when the Covid-19 pandemic began, I had to switch from in-person to online classes. Now, I have students who are Vietnamese and non-Vietnamese," said the young teacher.

In 2023, she founded Hamy Academy, a low-profit social enterprise aiming to develop artistic talents, preserve European-Vietnamese culture, and bring British education to children worldwide. With Hamy Academy, she organizes contests to connect overseas Viet and foreigners who love Vietnamese culture. She was the chief organizer to European Vietnamese - Stellar, a singing and piano contest for children and teenagers. The contest, most participated by Vietnamese in Europe and citizens of European countries, was a part of a series of events to celebrate Vietnam-UK's 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

Despite her busy work schedule, Ha My is working on her master's thesis on “Bringing Vietnamese Music Closer to Vietnamese Children in Europe,” an elaborate work containing her passion for preserving the Vietnamese language and music in overseas communities. After 20 years of living far from her hometown, Ha My always keeps in her mind good memories of Nam Dinh - her peaceful hometown with a tradition of studiousness, the source of inspiration for her to keep on moving forward and connecting more overseas Viets.

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