Meet Kytu Khong

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kytu Khong. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kytu below.

Kytu, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

My resilience comes from my mother. She was born in Vietnam in 1959 and grew up during the war. Although she came from a well-off family, life became incredibly difficult after she got married and started her own family. Determined to seek a better future, she attempted to escape Vietnam several times—but failed each time.

Eventually, she succeeded in fleeing the country, but after escaping, she had a vivid dream: she saw me, her youngest and only daughter, reaching my hands out to her. She returned to Vietnam, fully aware of the risks and the possibility of failure, for me.

I have two older brothers and I can’t imagine the heartbreak of a mother having to decide which child to take and which to leave behind. But she came back for me—I’ll always be grateful.

We escaped Vietnam by boat, but during the journey, pirates forced us off at gunpoint, leaving us to swim to shore. From there, we were led through Laos, only to be captured by local police and sent to a refugee camp in Thailand, where we remained for three years.

We had unknowingly arrived just one day after the official cut-off date, which meant we were placed in a completely different camp. Despite this setback, my mom managed to communicate with my grandfather in Vietnam, who helped gather the necessary documents for us to meet a critical requirement for U.S. immigration. Out of 300 people, only six—including us—passed the examination which allowed us to come to the US in September of 1992.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I’m the co-owner of cafe columbia, we opened in the midst of the COVID. Our mission has been to create a welcoming space where people can connect—whether over a crepe or a cup of coffee.

On July 18, 2025, we celebrated our three-year anniversary, and the café has since become known as the community spot. That’s what excites us most—seeing how it’s grown into a place where people feel comfortable, whether they’re catching up with friends or simply enjoying time alone. We’ve gotten to know so many of our customers on a personal level. Many have become more than regulars—they’ve become friends and extended family.

Over the years, we’ve hosted a variety of community events at the café—from Small Business Saturdays and Fall Fun Runs to Community Holiday gatherings and Chinese New Year celebrations. These events have helped foster a vibrant and diverse community.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

I’ve always had a natural ability to connect with people, no matter where I am. I love talking with others, getting to know them, and sharing personal experience. I believe one of my greatest strengths is my ability to truly see people—not just on the surface, but recognizing when someone might need a bit of kindness.

If I don’t know something, I’m not afraid to admit it—and that openness has helped me build trust. When we were opening the café, there were many things I didn’t know. But by being honest and asking for help, I was able to learn and receive support from the various departments I worked with. That experience reinforced the value of humility, connection, and community.

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?

When I feel overwhelmed I take time away for myself and recharge. It’s a number of things—being in nature hiking, go for a long run, taking a yoga classes or go on a yoga retreat, reiki meditation, acupuncture and massages. I am also a 200hr yoga instructor and reiki practitioner so I collaborate with others on wellness workshops that helps others relax and reconnect with themselves. In helping with others, I help myself.

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Image Credits

Photos taken by me and others.

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