MC Nguyen Khang interviews an audience member in the Cau Vong (Rainbow) contest held by Vietnam Television in June.

An engineer wins a contest and finds his true calling.

Hic case becomes even more curious when we learn that Khang, born in 1984, is an engineer who graduated from Ho Chi Minh City’s Polytechnic University. Although his career is very different from what he was trained for in college, Khang has no regrets about either. In fact, he is grateful for both.

“It is my mom’s wish that I would find a good school and have a good job. I learnt to think logically in dealing with life’s problems. There is no regret in learning what you will need in the future,” says Khang.

Even while he was at university, Khang began to realize, vaguely at first, and clearly later on, that he did not belong to the field he was being trained to enter – engineering. He began to find his own way out by partaking in social activities like volunteering for the 22nd SEA Games in 2003, traveling in the Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Program (SSEAYP), and working as a communications officer for the APEC – SOM II in 2006. He also took part in several television game shows like Not nhac vui (Happy musical note) and Hat voi ngoi sao (Singing with stars).

These experiences led to his being chosen to attend the International Students Tribunal in Vancouver, Canada, in 2005 as an outstanding Vietnamese student. Besides his social background, Khang also took part in many television game shows

The Cau Vong Contest organized by Vietnam Television (VTV) was actually the second turning point that spun him to his career. He attended the Nguoi dan chuong trinh truyen hinh (Master of Ceremonies) Contest, organized by Ho Chi Minh City Television (HTV) in 2006. He was among the top 10 finalists in the contest, but did not go further ahead.

Two months of tense competition in the Cau Vong Contest that Khang won last month did not exert the kind of pressure on him that it normally would on contestants.

“For the first one, I just thought of the cash prize that would help me cover my tuition,” he laughs. “But then I found my destiny in this profession. Truly, Cau Vong Contest gave me a lot more experience and insights into MC skills - presenting a newscast, working with reality shows and speaking onstage than the first one.

“Actually, my feeling was not of being under pressure. I was just trying not to betray the audience’s affection. I hope I did not disappoint them.”

Khang is considered fortunate in the radio broadcasting business as well working as a DJ on the XoneFM channel of Voice of Vietnam Radio.

“After contests, many people have lots of troubles in looking for a suitable environment to pursue their passion. I have had programs that suit me well. This is really my luck, compared to several colleagues,” said Khang.

Hard lessons well-learnt

Khang’s relatively tough childhood involving many family problems has given him the maturity and strength to pursue his dream, he feels.

“My childhood was not soothing, with the divorce of my parents and my mom’s cancer. This helped me realize that we can do anything with our will. Sometimes, I still get in trouble at my current job, but it does not matter if I compare it to what I have gone through.

“I usually lose my sadness and sorrows in music, an indispensable part of my job. I like to listen to ancient music, go to cabaret shows or the theater. Here I will be able to find some peaceful and serene moments in these activities, together with my mom.”

Frankly baring his viewpoint on love, Khang says a man has to put his career and family first.

“I had a love affair with a Vietnamese girl during a trip to South Korea when I was a student. But then we broke up, she went to Japan and found a new love. Maybe, my family burden has occupied my mind, so I have no time for wholehearted loving. Women always want men to care about career and family.”

The up-and-coming MC’s big dream is to reach international levels.

“I dream of owning a program, for instance, a talk show like Larry King’s. Or Oprah’s. The program’s name could be something like ‘Café with Nguyen Khang’,” he says, smiling.

Reported by Thao Dien