Meet the VLSH Team

Julius Cường Phạm, MD PhD

Founder/Director

I'm a first generation Vietnamese immigrant who has been in the United States since 1977. I'm worried about the loss of the Vietnamese culture, both in our kids and in the community here in Hawaii. I hope our school helps to preserve the Vietnamese heritage and strengthens the Vietnamese community here in Hawaii.

Annie Tôn Nữ Ngọc Lan Madar

Founder/Director

I am a mother of three American born Vietnamese children with a passion for preserving our culture. My dream for VLSH is to create a Vietnamese community that my children will be excited and proud to be a part of. I am dedicated to this mission and thrilled to be on this journey

Thu Nguyen

Treasurer

Thu Nguyen is a CPA with over 10 years of experience auditing nonprofit organizations. She’s currently working for the Hawaii State Department of Education. Her family immigrated to Hawaii when she was 11 from Hanoi. Her passion is traveling and enjoying delicious home cooked meals with family and friends.

Cô Hà Đinh

Course Instructor

Since joining VLSH, I have brought a fresh perspective and teaching approach to the school. I have over 30 years of experiences as an educator and principal in Vietnam. I am committed to providing students with a strong understanding of their cultural background

Thầy Chuẩn Đinh

Course Instructor

I am proud to be a teacher with VLSH and have a true passion for working with young learners. Helping each child progress in all areas of language development is a challenge that I am honored to accept. I will strive to create an environment that will nurture each student.

Cô Thảo

Director/Course Instructor

Thao is an MA graduate from Second Language Studies department at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa . She held a BA in Economics from the Foreign Trade University in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. She has taught Viet101 at University of Hawaii Manoa and VNT 101 at Arizona State University. She loves to facilitate students’ Vietnamese learning via various technology-based practices in the classroom.

Cô Mai Vy Lê

Course Instructor

My name is Mai Vy. I’m 16 years old and currently a junior at James Campbell High School. I was born in Hawaii but spent 11 years living and studying in Vietnam. Returning to Hawaii, I was fortunate to be introduced to VLSH, and I’m grateful to be part of this community. VLSH is dedicated to preserving Vietnamese language and culture for those eager to learn and for future generations of Vietnamese Americans. With the given chance, making the school dream become a reality is my important mission here!

Cô Hoa Trần

Course Instructor

Aloha! My name is Hoa. Originally from Hanoi, Vietnam, I have called Hawaiʻi home since 2023 and bring over a decade of experience in education. At VLSH, I teach Vietnamese to young children and adults. Through play, stories, songs, and everyday conversations, I help students build confidence and connect with Vietnamese language and culture. My goal is to create a welcoming classroom where learning is joyful and meaningful, while helping preserve and share our language with the next generation and the wider Hawaiʻi community.

Cô Hiền Bùi

Director/Course Instructor

Greetings to the parents and students of VLSH school, My name is Hien (Hana). I have about 15 years of expertise in education in Vietnam. My mission is to contribute to transforming education. Specifically, I aim to preserve and maintain Tiếng Việt for Vietnamese children who live abroad. With the VLSH Team, I am dedicated to encouraging children to comprehend, cherish, and feel pride in their homeland when having a lot of fun in our class.

Cô Dung Trần

Course Instructor

Xin chào mọi người, my name is Mỹ Dung. I was born in Da Nang City and grew up in Sai Gon. I have known VLSH for a long time but I haven't had a chance to cooperate with our school. At present, I am very excited to help and encourage students who are interested in Vietnamese culture and language. I will do my best to contribute my value to our school! Xin cảm ơn!

Cô Cát Tường

Course Instructor

Aloha! My name is Cát Tường, though many people know me as cô Kat. I am currently a master’s student in Travel Industry Management at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, where I also earned my bachelor’s degree in the same field. I was born and raised in Vietnam and moved to Hawaiʻi to pursue my passion for tourism management. Being a Vietnamese teacher at the Vietnamese Language School of Hawaiʻi has been an incredibly rewarding experience, and I’m proud to share my culture and language with the community.

Cô Chúc Anh

Course Instructor

Chúc Anh (Chanh) was born and raised in Hanoi, Vietnam, and is currently a second-year student at Hawaiʻi Pacific University. With a strong passion for education and a genuine love for working with children, she is deeply committed to preserving and sharing Vietnamese culture through teaching and community engagement. As an aspiring educator, Chúc Anh (Chanh) hopes to contribute to the development of a supportive and thriving Vietnamese community in Hawaiʻi by empowering younger generations through learning and cultural connection.

Cô Trâm

Course Instructor

Aloha, my name is Trâm. I have been living in Hawai‘i for over a year. As a Vietnamese student who grew up in Hanoi, I am always looking for ways to stay connected to my culture and community, even while living abroad. I hope to contribute my best to teaching students more about Vietnamese culture and language, and to share the beauty and diversity of Vietnam with everyone.

Cô Trung Anh

Course Instructor

My name is Trung Anh, and I have been living in Hawaii for three years. I have seven years of experience in education in Vietnam and a strong passion for teaching and helping students grow. I hope to contribute to the Vietnamese language school by helping students develop their Vietnamese language skills, explore Vietnamese culture, and build a deeper connection with their heritage.

Board of Trustees

Meet the Board of Trustees at the Vietnamese Language School of Hawaii. Our team is committed to providing quality education and promoting Vietnamese language and culture. Get to know our board members.

Cynthia Isenbarger

Attorney, wife and mother.

Lisa Truong Kracher

Robert Duong, MD

Regina Nguyen, DDS

Lisa Truong Kracher is president of Staffing Solutions of Hawaii, Inc. (SSOH) and Na Kahu Malama Nurses, Inc. (NKMN) and Vice President of Array Corporation. In 2012, Lisa was recognized as one of Pacific Business News’ Forty Under 40 which honors up-and-coming business leaders in Hawaii. Lisa currently serves as a Board of Director on the Arthritis Foundation Committee and Oahu Workforce Development Board. Her spare time is devoted to creating memories with her family and friends, traveling, fine dining, and shopping.

Dr. Duong is a practicing board-certified radiologist at Hawaii Pacific Health. He is a first generation American, who was born in Saigon, Viet Nam, but emigrated to the U.S. when he was 7 years old. Robert’s joy and pride are his family, including his wife and two beautiful daughters. His main goal is to raise his daughters to appreciate that they are blessed to be Americans, with deep tradition/heritage/culture of Vietnam and Japan. Their languages help define where they came from, who they are, and where they will be.

Dr. Nguyen is a practicing dentist at the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center. I brought my three children ages 3, 4 and 6 to learn Vietnamese and we have gained so much more. We are part of this wonderful community. VSLH gently reminds me and my husband to consistently speak Vietnamese at home. VSLH has been such a wonderful addition to our lives and our kids can’t wait to attend class online and in person! The teachers make it so interactive and fun.

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