May 09, 2024 • bachelor insider
Bachelorette Jenn Tran Answers Fan Questions About Vietnamese Heritage for AANHPI Month
Opening up.
Bachelor Nation fans got to know and love Jenn Tran on Season 28 of “The Bachelor,” and now she’s on her own journey to find love filming Season 21 of “The Bachelorette.”
As she got ready for one of her dates, she answered fan questions about her Vietnamese background in an exclusive Q&A with Bachelor Nation.
May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, so we loved getting to learn more about Jenn’s culture in this Q&A.
Check out her answers below and see the full video of Jenn’s GRWM here.
Question: Can you talk about your cultural background?
Jenn Tran: Both my parents were born in Vietnam and immigrated over here. My brother was born in Vietnam and immigrated over here with them. They had me over here in New Jersey, so I am a first-generation Vietnamese American.
Q: What does your Vietnamese background mean to you?
JT: I am so incredibly proud of my Vietnamese background and where I came from. My parents came over here with practically nothing in their pockets, no career. They had a career over there, but to come over here and start all over and try and make something of themselves is something that I’m so proud of. I’ll never forget how hard it was for them to build themselves up and give me the life that I have today.
Q: What is your favorite thing about Vietnamese culture?
JT: My favorite thing about the Vietnamese culture is that as I’m getting older, I’m learning so much more about it every day. I don’t know everything, but I feel so much more in touch with it as I’m growing as a person. It’s something that I want to pass on to my kids. I am trying to learn every day more about it all and I’m so proud of it.
Q: Do you celebrate Vietnamese traditions?
JT: I don’t have the biggest family, but I do want to be able to pass my Vietnamese culture on to my kids, and all the traditions. There is so much to Vietnamese culture: food, traditions, going to temple, religion, and everything. I want to be able to continue celebrating it all throughout my life through my future kids.
Q: What is your favorite Vietnamese dish?
JT: My favorite Vietnamese dish is called Bún Bò Huế, it’s basically a different kind of soup. Everybody knows Phở, but this is a different kind of Vietnamese soup and it’s so delicious.
Q: What was Asian-American representation like for you growing up?
JT: Asian representation for me growing up was honestly really scarce, and I didn’t see a lot of people like me on TV. It was really hard for me to figure out where I belong and who I can resonate with. So, to be here today and to be in this position and be able to inspire so many people — I’m so incredibly grateful.
Q: What do you wish people knew better about Vietnamese culture?
JT: I honestly really wish that a lot more people talked about why people immigrate over here and talked more about Vietnamese culture and representation. We’re not all born here, and it took a lot for my parents to come over here and to work their way up. I wish that their stories were celebrated more because it took a lot of hard work and it’s not an easy thing to do. I’m just so proud of them.
Hear more from Jenn in BachelorNation.com’s exclusive interview here.