We recently connected with Tuan Huynh and have shared our conversation below.

Tuan, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I first knew I wanted to pursue a creative path professionally when I felt my art can resonate with people.

Tuan, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a refugee from Vietnam. I came to the US at the age of 3 and grew up in government housing. I was involved in gangs and drug dealing as a teen. Three weeks after my 18-year-old birthday I shot and killed a young man and was eventually convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. I was eventually released after 15 years and went back to school. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in conceptual design and was recruited to Chicago, IL to work for an ad agency called Leo Burnett. I eventually left my corporate job after 7 years to start up my coffee business with Robusta beans that my family grows and harvests on my family farm in Vietnam. From plant to sip, we’re sharing our story every day through the love of Vietnamese coffee and making an impact on our surrounding community.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I am a refugee from Vietnam. I came to the US at the age of 3 and grew up in government housing. I was involved in gangs and drug dealing as a teen. Three weeks after my 18yrs old birthday I shot and killed a young man and was eventually convicted of first degree murder and sentence to life in prison. I was eventually released after 15 years and went back to school. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in conceptual design and was recruited to Chicago, IL to work for an ad agency called Leo Burnett. I eventually left my corporate job after 7 years to start up my coffee business with Robusta beans that my family grows and harvests on my family farm in Vietnam. From plant to sip, we re sharing our story everyday through the love Vietnamese coffee and make an impact to our surrounding community. Besides serving coffee, we provide opportunities and resources to under-served communities of the Westside of Chicago. Particularly, Garfield Park where I live with my wife and two daughters. We have worked to partner with schools on the West and South side to support families and students by providing tangible resources ranging from laptops and school supplies to groceries, winter coats, and medical exams. We want to use Vietfive coffee as a mean to connect, serve, and empower our community.

Can you share your view on NFTs? (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)

My view on Non-Fungible Tokens is that it is an artist’s asset that allows for the creator to have ownership of their body of work. It welcomes a community that can build a legacy into their creativity. In the space of Web3 your art not only represents the artist but also owns the representation of their creative power.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.vietfive.com
• Instagram: @vietfive
• Facebook: @vietfivecoffee
• Twitter: @vietfivecoffee

Image Credits
All photos are owned by Vietfive, LLC. and shot by the owner Tuan Huynh