Left Vietnam in 1971 to study in New Zealand on the Colombo Plan Scholarship. Graduate Bachelor of Food Technology with Honors at Massey University; MA in Economics at San Jose State University; Ph.D. in International Economics at UC Santa Cruz; Faculty member at University of Phoenix.

A Socio-political activist, she has been campaigning for human rights in Vietnam, testifying before congresses of nations, working with foreign politicians and journalists, and editing Vietnam Insight publication and Internet service to promote democracy for Vietnam.

She's been speaking at many universities and public forums worldwide; and also hosting radio talkshows to promote gender equality, health, Vietnamese culture and history, volunteerism, diversity and various social/political/cultural/economic issues; a volunteer member of the Santa Clara County Charter Review Committee in 1998, volunteering for WEAVE (Women Escaping a Violent Environment), other non-profit organizations and community activities. Currently, she's the program director for Radio TNT in Sacramento.

She was nominated Woman Of The Year in 2000 by Thoi Bao, a popular Vietnamese newspaper in Northern California and featured by Bao Nha, a popular magazine in Sacramento, California, on its 2004 New Year Issue

Brain drain or the permanent loss of talented, skilled workers to the developed world has been an increasing concern for the less developing countries in the past decades. This brain drain scare, is it real or hyped? What are the causes and consequesnces of brain drain? How does a less developing country get out of the vicious cycle of losing their best and brightest - the key engine for economic growth and other developments - due to poverty, yet can foster economic growth in order to plug its brain drain?