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Vân Possible's story

Trần Thanh Vân (Vân Possible) brought improv to Saigon and founded Saigon Improv House. From university lecture halls and radio studios to late nights sweeping a theater in New York, she chose to dedicate herself to an art form that helps people drop their guard and dare to be themselves.

“Vân Possible is a name to remind myself that anything can be done.”Vân Possible, Tuổi Trẻ Newspaper 2017

Vân Possible, founder of Saigon Improv House, smiling brightly beside potted plants on a rooftopPossible = can be done!
1988 – 2013Chapter 1

A self-reliant and adventurous youth

Born in 1988 into a small family of modest means, Vân grew used to taking care of everything on her own early on. While studying International Relations at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in Ho Chi Minh City, she was an active student leader and stayed on as a lecturer after graduating.

During those years, she represented Vietnamese youth at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in China, a United Nations youth conference in the US, and the Knowledge & Creative Leadership Program in Japan.

Vân Possible in a jacket smiling and looking upVân Possible smiling and holding a microphone while hosting an event in an auditorium
2014 – 2017Chapter 2

From “Sister Rabbit” to Miss Galaxy

After leaving university teaching, Vân worked in media across journalism and music, hosted events as a bilingual MC, and became the familiar voice of “Chị Thỏ” (Sister Rabbit) on Xone FM - VOV3 radio.

At 26, she launched her YouTube channel Vân Possible (Vanlog), drawing hundreds of thousands of followers with humorous videos on everyday etiquette and environmental protection. Able to speak around nine regional Vietnamese accents and mimic English accents from many countries, she even organized, competed in, and crowned herself the winner of the satirical “Miss Entire Galaxy” pageant.

Vân Possible wearing headphones in front of a studio microphone, photo by Tuổi Trẻ Newspaper 2017Vân Possible in a striped shirt smiling and looking up at the sky
2017 – 2019Chapter 3

Ten years for one ticket

Vân nurtured her dream of studying abroad for 10 years, applying for scholarships and facing rejection many times. In August 2017, she received a full Fulbright Scholarship from the US Government and went to New York for a master’s degree in Media Studies. That journey led to an encounter that changed her entire path ahead.

“Just get started—even if you don't land as a peacock, you'll soar as a phoenix!”Vân Possible, Tuổi Trẻ Newspaper 2017
2019 – 2020Chapter 4 · New York

Magic at the 28th Street theater

In 2019, on the suggestion of a TV host friend in New York, Vân tried an improv class and was instantly hooked. Instead of returning home as planned, she funded an extra year on her own, studying simultaneously at two leading improv schools: Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB) in New York and The Second City.

In exchange for class hours, she worked unpaid from 5 p.m. to midnight at the theater on 28th Street (Manhattan): selling tickets and drinks, setting up chairs, and sweeping floors. Every day meant two hours on the subway, including late-night rides home that didn't feel safe. Yet every time she walked through Times Square, her heart was still full of the “magic” of the unscripted stage.

“When you don't know the local language and culture as well as others do, the only thing you can do is stay calm and be as honest as possible.”Vân Possible, Tuổi Trẻ Newspaper 2021
8 – 12/2020Chapter 5 · Back to Saigon

Waking up at 5 a.m. and opening classes

In August 2020, the pandemic brought Vân back to Vietnam, where she still woke up at 5 a.m. to take online improv classes on US time. After hosting Zoom improv sessions to raise funds for communities in Cà Mau facing drought and saltwater intrusion, she decided to bring the craft to Saigon.

On December 1, 2020, her first class announcement on Facebook filled two classes—32 students—in under nine hours.

Vân Possible practicing with students in an improv class in 2021Vân Possible in a white shirt smiling outdoors in front of green trees
“No matter who you are, you need to PLAY. As a friend of mine put it: ‘It’s great that you’re teaching this—everyone has their guard up so tight these days, we all need to learn how to let go.’”Vân Possible, personal Facebook
2020 – presentChapter 6

Building Saigon Improv House

From those first 32 students, Vân built Saigon Improv House in the spirit of PLAY. LAUGH. LOVE., and went on to bring a performance team representing Vietnam to the Manila Improv Festival 2023 and Singapore Improv Festival 2024.

She continues to study, watch shows, and connect with improv communities in New York, Melbourne, and Europe. In 2023, she took the TEDxĐakao stage to speak about improv and mental health, while also designing applied improv programs for companies and universities.

Vân Possible speaking into a microphone in front of an Improv screen during an improv workshopVân Possible raising her arms in a pose overlooking a panoramic view of Paris
The Saigon Improv House team holding up conical hats on stage at the Manila Improv Festival 2023Vân Possible speaking on stage at a conference, with Saigon Improv House on the screen behind her
In Vân’s words

Quotes by Vân Possible

“Life is like improv—whatever slap it throws at you, you improvise right back!”

“Contrary to what many people picture when they hear ‘improvisational theatre,’ an improv class isn't where we learn to ‘act.’ Quite the opposite—we learn to put down our defensive shields and take off the masks we wear in a judgmental world.”

“The opposite of ANXIETY is not CALMNESS. The opposite of anxiety is CREATIVITY.”

“In my classes, I want us to learn together how to live, how to listen, how to love, and how to be ourselves—whole and kind.”

“NO script, YES to a foundation built through hours of practice, observation, and learning to respond honestly.”

“Theatre is the way we learn. Improvisation is the skill you take home.”

“I’ve always believed each of us is like a shy little mimosa flower... only when we feel safe can we open up and bloom.”

“If something brings you joy, that’s already more than enough reason to do it. Because the older we get, the harder joy is to find.”

“There will be mishaps. There will be magic. Whatever happens, it will be beautiful—because we dared to walk together.”

“At its core, improv is about ‘making others look good’ - paying attention to support your scene partner instead of just focusing on yourself.”

Beyond the stage

What else does Vân do besides improv?

Tâm Lý Ơi Podcast

Co-founded and produced since March 2020 with psychologist Dr. Bảo Trân Nguyễn, exploring mental health.

Vietnam Design Week 2020

First Prize and People’s Choice Award for the piece “Góc Tĩnh Tại”.

Speaker & judge

TEDxĐakao, Forbes Vietnam Women Workshop, YouTube Partner Day 2020, Vietcetera Podcast Contest, Crowdpitch, HKU Vietnam.

Charity work

Fundraising for Quán cơm Nụ Cười, Quỹ Bông Sen, Help A Teacher, Cà Mau drought and salinity relief, and flood relief efforts.

Vân in the media

Come play in class with Vân?

A safe space to let your guard down, laugh out loud, and reconnect with yourself.