Hoang Tu Duy
Hoàng Tứ Duy | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1971 Saigon, Vietnam |
| Other names | Duy "Dan" Hoang |
| Alma mater | University of California, Davis (BA); University of Chicago (MBA) |
| Occupation(s) | Advocate for democracy, former investment banker |
| Years active | 2001–present (activism), previously over 10 years in investment banking |
| Known for | Executive director of Viet Tan, pro-democracy activism in Vietnam |
Hoàng Tứ Duy, also recognized as Duy "Dan" Hoang, is a Vietnamese-born American advocate for democracy and currently serves as the executive director of Viet Tan, a pro-democracy political movement in Vietnam that operates without government approval. Prior to dedicating himself to activism, he accumulated more than ten years of experience in investment banking. Hoang has provided testimony before various US Congressional committees concerning human rights issues and has contributed articles to the Wall Street Journal, Asia Times Online, as well as prominent Vietnamese-language media outlets.
He is based in Washington, D.C.
Early life and career
Originally from Saigon, Hoang left Vietnam at the age of three in 1975. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Davis and earned an MBA from the University of Chicago.
In his professional career, Hoang acted as a principal financial officer at the International Finance Corporation, where he managed financing programs in local currencies across Asia and Eastern Europe. In 2007, he was named to head Deutsche Bank's investment banking division in Vietnam; however, reports indicate that he was denied entry by Vietnamese authorities.
Hoang has demonstrated significant leadership within the Vietnamese diaspora community, holding board positions and organizing roles in multiple organizations. He co-founded and previously co-chaired the Vietnamese American National Gala (VANG), an annual event that honors Vietnamese culture and accomplishments.
He also helped establish VOICE, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting Vietnamese refugees and addressing community concerns. Furthermore, he served on the board of the Vietnamese-American Public Affairs Committee, an organization focused on empowering Vietnamese Americans through political participation. As part of VPAC, he testified before the House Committee on Ways and Means regarding trade relations between the US and Vietnam.
Pro-democracy activism
In 2007, Duy transitioned from his investment banking career to work full-time with Viet Tan. Having been involved with its leadership since 2001, he presently holds the position of spokesperson.
He actively campaigns against environmental risks such as bauxite mining in Vietnam's Central Highlands and has presented testimony before US Congressional bodies on human rights matters, advocating for international backing of democratic changes in Vietnam.
Amid increasing Internet penetration in Vietnam and intensified government suppression of bloggers, Viet Tan initiated the Internet Freedom Campaign. Within this initiative, Duy promotes unrestricted online access. He has spoken at Congressional briefings focused on Internet freedom and participated in conferences discussing methods to improve digital connectivity in Vietnam.
Publications
- May Vietnam Follow South Africa, Chicago Tribune, May 20, 1994
- A Damaged Brand, Wall Street Journal, November 15, 2007
- South China Seizure, Wall Street Journal, February 6, 2008
- Uncomfortable anniversary in Vietnam, Asia Times Online, September 10, 2008
- Mr. Obama, Set Vietnam Free, Wall Street Journal, January 30, 2009
- Vietnam bauxite plan opens pit of concern, Asia Times Online, March 17, 2009
- China rift opens in Vietnam, Asia Times Online, January 14, 2009
- Vietnam teeters towards a currency crisis, Asia Times Online, September 22, 2009
- Hanoi’s Problems Run Deeper Than The Dong, Wall Street Journal, February 11, 2010
- A Rights Agenda for Vietnam, Wall Street Journal, July 20, 2010
- A sinking ship in Vietnam, Asia Times Online, April 6, 2012
- Vietnam to target social media, The Diplomat, April 25, 2012
- Rights before weapons for Vietnam, Asia Times Online, August 20, 2014
See also
External links
- Research Papers
- Duy Hoang, Angelina Huynh, and Cuong Nguyen. Vietnam’s Blogger Movement: An Online Civil Society Amidst Government Crackdown. Viet Tan, April 1, 2009
- Michel Tran Duc and Duy Hoang. Cyberattacks by the Vietnamese Government: Denial of Service. Viet Tan, April 27, 2010
- Duy Hoang and Angelina Huynh. Rule by Law: Communist Vietnam’s Suppression of Political Dissent. Viet Tan, November 18, 2010
- Duy Hoang and Trinh Nguyen. Facebook and Acts of Civil Disobedience in Vietnam. Viet Tan, March 4, 2011
- Presentations
- Address at the 2006 Rafto Symposium – Bergen, Norway. November 3, 2006
- Congressional Briefing on Internet Freedom in Vietnam - Washington, D.C., October 14, 2009
- USIP/ICNC 2010 Course: Democracy Advocates, Diaspora Communities, and Diplomats - Washington, D.C., November 23, 2010
- Wired for Change: Reclaiming Democracy Through Technology - New York City, February 16, 2011
- Keynote Speech at the Sixth International Vietnamese Youth Conference - Manila, Philippines. August 16, 2011