The inspiring journey of Trần Văn Kha,  from lottery ticket seller to top chef

Trần Văn Kha (third, right) and some students of the Việt Nam-Australia Vocational Colleague. — Photo Đỗ Quang Tuấn Hoàng

Đỗ Quang Tuấn Hoàng

SÓC TRĂNG — Trần Văn Kha, 33, who grew up in a poverty-stricken family, has overcome numerous life challenges to receive three full scholarships and nurture a passion for cooking, aspiring to help other impoverished children transform their lives, just as he did.

When Kha was young, his father worked tirelessly transporting rice for a plant, earning just VNĐ20,000-30,000 (US$0.7-1,2) daily. His mother, in poor health, was unable to undertake heavy labour and as the eldest child, Kha spent his after-school hours selling lottery tickets to support his family.

Kha, who lived in Hamlet 5A, Ba Trinh Commune, Kế Sách District in the Mekong Delta province of Sóc Trăng, sold 40 to 50 tickets daily. At that time, each ticket cost just VNĐ2,000 ($0.07).

In 2006, during his 10th grade, the price of lottery tickets increased to VNĐ10,000 ($0.3) each, which improved Kha’s earnings.

However, by the middle of 11th grade, due to severe financial difficulties, Kha had to leave school to support his family.

In 2009, Kha moved to Cần Thơ City and sought help from the Thiên Ân Social Assistance Centre in Long Hòa Ward, Bình Thủy District, hoping to learn a trade.

Recognising his passion for cooking, particularly baking, Trần Bạch Yến, the centre’s director, enrolled him in a short-term cooking course.

Challenges and opportunities

After completing the course, Kha began working at a restaurant in Cần Thơ City.

He earned only VNĐ900,000 ($36) a month, primarily washing dishes and preparing chicken and fish, without the opportunity to cook.

“Once, I opened a chicken coop and accidentally let the chickens escape. I couldn’t catch them and had my wages deducted,” he said.

On another occasion, an oxygen pump malfunctioned, causing the shrimp in a tank to die in the restaurant he worked in. Then he was fired. He was devastated and had to look for another job.

Seeing Kha’s passion and determination, Yến helped him to apply at the Know One Teach One (KOTO) Saigon training centre in HCM City.

In 2010, Kha received his first full scholarship for a two-year culinary course at the centre, which provides hospitality training for disadvantaged youth and issued certificates from the Box Hill Institute in Melbourne, Australia.

After graduating in 2012, Kha gained confidence working at prestigious hotels and restaurants in the city, such as the Reverie Saigon, Windsor Plaza Hotel, and 1960 Club.

Throughout his culinary career in the city, Kha also faced hardships.

Early on, he had to commute by bicycle due to a lack of funds for a motorbike, enduring heavy rain and feeling disheartened. (The distance from his home to the workplace was about 9km).

Fortunately, a restaurant owner gave him a salary so he could buy a motorbike to go to work.

While working at the Reverie Saigon, misunderstandings with the head chef led to disputes, resulting in Kha being moved to the pizza department, but this, too, turned out to be a fortunate shift, as he then mastered the art of making Italian-style pizza.

Success

Trần Văn Kha has a passion for baking. — Photo Đỗ Quang Tuấn Hoàng

In 2016, after years of honing his skills and improving his English, Kha was awarded a full two-year scholarship from the Box Hill Institute to study pastry making in Australia, valued at AUD40,000 ($26,500).

In Australia, Kha combined his studies with work at a fine dining restaurant, Meat and Wine Co, where he also advised on desserts.

Upon completing his studies in 2018, Kha returned to HCM City and achieved significant career advancement.

He progressed from deputy head chef at Pasteur Street Brewing Company, to director of training at the Việt Nam-Australia Vocational Colleague, lecturer in culinary arts and baking and career advisor.

Kha has also supported many disadvantaged youths pursuing careers in cooking and baking at the school through the Jamie Kitchen programme (Jamie being Kha’s Western name).

A vocational centre for poor children

Kha envisions creating a culinary training centre for underprivileged children in Việt Nam.

He said he believed the initiative would provide the children with skills to secure a livelihood and assist those around them.

To realise his dream, Kha acknowledged the need for further knowledge and skills.

In January 2024, Kha applied for a scholarship from the South Australian state administration. In the application, he told them about his dream to build a centre for poor children.

Four months later, he was selected as one of 20 international students to receive a full scholarship valued at AUD45,000 ($29,800) for a three-year bachelor’s degree in Hospitality, Tourism and Event Management.

The course will provide Kha with extensive knowledge in human resource management, financial management, and, specifically, business model management in the hospitality and events sectors.

On July 19, Trần Văn Kha left for Australia for his second study stint.

Kha’s current dream is to establish a vocational training centre for disadvantaged children in Việt Nam, once he has completed his studies in Australia.

Nguyễn Hà Phương, Business Development Director at the Việt Nam-Australia Vocational Colleague, said professionally, Kha had demonstrated exceptional skills through his previous scholarship to Australia and his working time at the school.

Kha said he was always grateful to Yến, who has supported him in pursuing his passion.

So, he regularly returns to the Thiên Ân Social Assistance Centre to share his experiences and assist children in similar situations to his own in the past.

Kha said he hoped to inspire young people with his passion for cooking.

“Pursuing a career in cooking is indeed challenging and demanding. Challenges help us identify and rectify our weaknesses. Dreams fuel our motivation and help us achieve our goals daily,” he said.— VNS