Nestled among the rolling hills of Bao Lam, in the highlands of Bao Loc, Anne’s Garden was chosen by Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam as the setting for this issue’s cover story. Roses spill across stone pathways, hydrangeas bloom in abundance beside emerald lawns, all paying tribute to a flower at the height of its radiance: Dr. Di Ai Hong Sam.
Without theatrical gestures or ostentatious displays, the accomplished Vietnamese-American entrepreneur, who owns multiple businesses across the United States, exudes the quiet composure of a woman who has weathered life’s many seasons and discovered serenity in the choices she has made.
Full look: DMC by Do Manh Cuong.
Born into a family of imperial physicians in Hue, Dr. Di Ai Hong Sam immigrated to the United States to pursue a career in Natural Medicine. She went on to build an extensive ecosystem of healthcare and cosmeceutical enterprises, becoming the first Vietnamese American to be honored by the City of Frisco, Texas, with the designation of “Sam Nguyen Day.” She has also twice received the The President’s Lifetime Achievement Award, under President Barack Obama in 2015 and President Joe Biden in 2022, an honor many aspire to.
Full look: DMC by Do Manh Cuong.
Yet, during her conversation with Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam, Dr. Di Ai Hong Sam spoke far less about awards or business accomplishment. Rather, she gushed about her children, the nearly two-decade journey of the S.A.M Foundation, and the philosophy that has guided her life: Living is Giving.
Full look: DMC by Do Manh Cuong.
The roots of compassion
Whenever Dr. Di Ai Hong Sam reflects on her childhood, she begins with one place: Hue.
Dress: DMC by Do Manh Cuong.
“I have always considered being born into a family with a long tradition of imperial physicians in Hue to be a very special blessing,” she said.
Her early years were shaped by stories of medicine, inherited remedies, and lessons about the profound responsibility physicians bear toward human life. “More valuable than anything else was the spirit of putting patients first, the dedication, and the compassion that previous generations carefully preserved.”
Dress: DMC by Do Manh Cuong.
In her memory, the culture of Hue and the values instilled by her family nurtured a lifelong commitment to learning, humility, and service. They became the foundation upon which she learned to bridge the wisdom of traditional medicine with modern scientific knowledge. “I believe those traditional roots not only nourished my soul, but also provided the foundation that allows me to connect the essence of traditional medicine with contemporary knowledge, in the hope of contributing more to people’s health and quality of life.”
Dress: DMC by Do Manh Cuong.
A Vietnamese woman’s journey in America
When she left Vietnam to begin a new life in the United States, ambition was the most precious item that she brought with herself. “I carried with me the desire to prove that Vietnamese people can succeed and leave a meaningful mark on the international stage through competence, integrity, and perseverance.”
The path was never easy. As an immigrant woman building a career in the highly competitive healthcare industry, she encountered challenges at every turn. Cultural differences, language barriers, market dynamics, and unfamiliar operational systems became relentless tests of resilience. “Every challenge became a source of motivation, pushing me to keep learning, innovating, and improving myself”, she recalls of those early years.
Today, Dr. Di Ai Hong Sam oversees six companies. Yet she views this achievement not as a measure of scale or status. “Managing six companies simultaneously was never about proving numbers or size. It is the result of building an ecosystem centered around health, beauty, and the quality of human life.”
Full look: DMC by Do Manh Cuong.
When asked about distinctions such as Frisco’s proclamation of April 5 as “Sam Nguyen Day” or receiving two The President’s Lifetime Achievement Award, she speaks not of personal triumph but of gratitude. “The first thing I felt was not pride, but profound gratitude”, she tells us. To her, such recognition belongs not only to herself but also to the wider Vietnamese community abroad.
More importantly, these honors have never been the destination. “I see them as recognition of sustained contributions to healthcare, community service, and philanthropy. But awards are not the end goal, they are reminders of the responsibility to continue contributing even more.”
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The Mother to more than 300 children
In 2009, Dr. Di Ai Hong Sam established the S.A.M Foundation to support homeless youths and orphans. The decision emerged after years of witnessing lives deprived of opportunity. “I realized that there were so many young people who possess talent, dreams, and aspirations, yet they lack opportunity, a person who believes in them, or a helping hand at the right moment.” One question lingered in her mind: What if these children were given one more chance? Could their lives take a different direction?
The S.A.M Foundation was born from that question.
“I wanted to build an organization that would provide not only material support, but also confidence, guidance, education, opportunities for long-term growth, and above all, love. Because in my view, only genuine love can truly transform a person.”
Nearly two decades later, the moments that move her most are not the tears shed during difficult times, but the sight of children growing into adulthood.
During our conversation, her voice softened as she recalled a young boy who once felt utterly lost and believed he would never accomplish anything meaningful. Years later, he graduated from university, secured a stable career, and returned to volunteer alongside the foundation. “One day, he hugged me and said, ‘If it had not been for the S.A.M Foundation, and if Mother Sam had not believed in me, my life would have been very different’. I was deeply moved.”
For Dr. Sam, this is the greatest reward life could offer. “The greatest reward of my life is not titles or awards. It is witnessing children who once needed a helping hand become strong enough to support others.”
The glow of a fulfilled woman
Throughout her life, Dr. Sam has stepped onto many stages of beauty and achievement. She has earned titles including Miss Saigon, Miss Asia Woman of Achievement International (WOA), and Ms. National United States Women of Achievement. Yet to her, a crown has never symbolized glamour alone.
She has also been a steadfast supporter of major beauty pageants, including Miss Vietnam and Miss World Vietnam, viewing such platforms as investments in future generations of female leaders. “I always hope that every future titleholder will see her crown as a responsibility rather than a distinction.”
The sentiment reflects her broader understanding of modern womanhood:
“In my view, a fulfilled and happy woman is not someone who possesses everything, but someone who understands her own worth, knows what she wants, and has the courage to live according to her convictions.”
Full look: DMC by Do Manh Cuong.
She believes true happiness lies in maintaining balance: between self-love and love for others, between personal ambition and responsibility toward family and society.
“Success may bring pride, but inner peace is what creates lasting happiness.”
Perhaps this is why her personal style mirrors the same philosophy, elegant without ostentation, refined yet unmistakably individual. At an age when many begin to focus on enjoying the fruits of their labor, Dr. Di Ai Hong Sam continues to expand community initiatives, inspire younger generations, and live by a simple conviction: that the greatest value of a human life lies in its ability to create a positive impact on others.
As our conversation comes to a close, she leaves us with a thought that feels less like a conclusion and more like a lifelong credo. “I have always believed that a person’s life should not be measured by what they accumulate, but by the value they create and share with others.”
Full look: DMC by Do Manh Cuong.
*** Team Credit***
Model: Dr. Di Ai Hong Sam.
Photographers: Nguyen Du & Pham Pham.
Stylist: Phan Quynh Chau.
Makeup Artist: Nguyen Chanh Tinh.
Producer: Cory Couture.
Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam
