Despite having secure jobs and stable incomes, Nguyen Vo Minh Tam and Tran Le Dang Thoai, a young couple born in the early 1990s, have remained steadfast in their shared dream of making a difference through education.

Both Tam and Thoai graduated from respected universities in Ho Chi Minh City, with Tam from the University of Economics and Thoai from the Banking University.

Thoai’s passion for teaching began while she was still a student, and she nurtured a strong desire to become a teacher, even as she pursued a finance-banking degree.

Driven by this dream, Thoai saved up, borrowed money, and bought essentials to start her first small classroom: two desks, five chairs, and a whiteboard.

However, she quickly discovered that teaching required more than just knowledge and enthusiasm.

After only a few days, her initial class had to close, which marked her first setback.

Undeterred, Thoai decided to take a pause, focusing on her studies and planning for the future.

She attended several courses to sharpen her teaching skills and, while working in finance, also pursued a degree in English.

Tam, meanwhile, found his way into education by chance.

Working for the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group, he began tutoring English to his colleagues’ children and neighbors as a way to keep his skills sharp and earn extra income.

His playful, engaging teaching style quickly gained popularity, and the number of students in his class grew steadily.

In late 2016, Tam and Thoai married, and their educational dream felt more achievable than ever.

By day, Tam continued his job while Thoai managed her growing classes.

In the evenings, while Thoai attended additional training, Tam would take over her classes.

Despite the fatigue, they motivated each other, keeping their shared passion for education alive.

With their classroom’s success came a steady increase in student enrollment, leading Tam to leave his job to fully support their shared educational mission.

Navigating COVID-19 with technology

The couple launched their first official center, ‘Tam Thoai Edu,’ where they served hundreds of students from a small location.

As their student body grew, they relocated to a larger office building to improve teaching quality.

However, just as they settled in, COVID-19 hit, bringing operations to a standstill.

Faced with this challenge, Tam and Thoai approached it with a calm resolve, viewing it as a test of their passion.

When in-person gatherings were restricted, they transitioned their classes online, digitizing lessons to offer virtual sessions.

While attracting students to online classes was more challenging than traditional methods, the couple remained committed.

They reassured parents that with online classes, they could easily monitor their children’s learning and track the center’s teaching quality.

This adaptive approach not only helped them survive the pandemic but allowed them to re-establish their center’s reputation.

Today, their venture, now known as ‘TTE - The Learning Center,’ has expanded with two new locations in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, serving nearly 400 students per course.

The center has also become a ‘home’ for dozens of teachers, with a mission to not only strengthen students' knowledge of core academic subjects but also help them develop essential soft skills.

"We always encourage our teachers not just to be instructors, but to be mentors, guiding and uplifting students as they work toward becoming the best version of themselves every day," Tam said.

This commitment is why teachers and students at the center frequently participate in community activities, often collaborating with the local Red Cross Society.

For students facing financial difficulties, the center provides scholarships to ease the burden on their families.

Tam and Thoai’s journey reflects a dedication to their educational dreams, one that continues to inspire both students and parents alike.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on X to get the latest news about Vietnam!