From California to Hanoi: A Fairmont journey across generations

Fairmont alumnus Công Tạ reflects on his education in California and why, years later, he is considering FISV for his daughter’s own learning journey.

Thirteen years after graduating from Fairmont Preparatory Academy in California, former pupil Cong Ta is preparing for his four-year-old daughter to begin her educational journey at Fairmont International School Vietnam.

When Cong graduated from Fairmont Preparatory Academy in 2013, he could scarcely have imagined that his connection with Fairmont would one day be carried on by the next generation of his family.

Currently living and working in Vietnam, Mr Cong and his wife are planning for their four-year-old daughter to enrol in the pre-school programme at Fairmont International School Vietnam (FISV). For him, this decision is not simply based on familiarity with the Fairmont brand. It stems from his own first-hand experience of an education that helped him adapt to a new country, build his confidence and prepare him for life in an international environment.

Finding confidence in a new environment

Coming from Vietnam, Công had to adapt to a different language, culture, and approach to learning when he joined Fairmont Preparatory Academy in Anaheim, California. What he remembers most clearly is the people.

“The teachers genuinely cared about every student. They were approachable, encouraging and always willing to help us improve.”

He also formed lasting friendships with classmates from many countries, an experience that broadened his perspective and helped him appreciate different cultures.

One teacher in particular changed the way Công saw his own ability. Chemistry was initially difficult and he lacked confidence, but his teacher patiently explained the subject and encouraged him to keep trying. By the end of the course, Công had earned an A. The same teacher later wrote a recommendation for his university application.

“That experience showed me how profoundly a dedicated teacher can influence a student’s confidence and achievement.”

Learning for life

Công says the Fairmont experience prepared him well beyond academics. Students were encouraged to think critically, ask questions, and express their own ideas, while teachers supported them according to their individual strengths, needs, and goals.

“It was not simply about achieving good grades; it was also about becoming a confident and independent learner.”

The experience strengthened his English communication, problem-solving, responsibility, and ability to collaborate with people from different backgrounds. Those are skills he says he continues to use every day.

Seeing Fairmont through a parent's eyes

Now that he is a father, Công sees some parts of his own education differently. The care he received from teachers has become particularly meaningful as he considers what he wants from a school for his daughter.

For his family, the priorities are a safe and caring environment, excellent teachers, a strong academic foundation, and opportunities for their daughter to develop English naturally while keeping her curiosity and love of learning.

“As parents, we do not only want our daughter to perform well academically. We want her to become confident, kind, curious and responsible.”

Why FISV feels familiar

When Công and his family visited FISV, he recognised values that had shaped his own education. He describes the teachers and staff as warm and welcoming, while his daughter felt comfortable exploring the classrooms.

“The biggest reason is trust. When Fairmont came to Vietnam, I didn't have to wonder what kind of education my daughter would receive because I had already experienced it myself.”

For Công, the connection is not about expecting every detail to look the same as his school experience in California. It is about recognising familiar educational values: student-centred learning, caring teachers, international perspectives, and development of the whole child.

A new generation

Công hopes his daughter will build strong foundations in English and academics, but his ambitions for her extend further. He wants her to enjoy learning, believe in herself, and grow into someone who is confident, kind, curious, and independent.

The possibility that she could begin her own Fairmont journey in Hanoi also carries deep personal meaning. When Công graduated in 2013, he never imagined that his daughter might one day attend a school carrying the Fairmont name in Vietnam.

“It feels as though our family’s story has come full circle.”

For Công, that full-circle moment is perhaps the clearest expression of Fairmont's lasting impact: an educational experience remembered strongly enough that, years later, a former student is considering it for the next generation.