Le Ngoc Mai: Turning her back on an attractive job in Europe, BUV alumna returns to Vietnam to build a thriving wellness community

Leaving a stable, high-paid marketing job in Sweden, Lê Ngọc Mai returned to Vietnam with the determination to start a business in mental health care, aiming to build a community of shared vision and values for a balanced and thriving lifestyle.  

Having travelled through 25 countries, worked in 4 countries, and witnessed her mother shed tears three times, Lê Ngọc Mai—an alumna of British University Vietnam (BUV)—faced numerous life milestones before turning 25. This journey also led her to create the current project focused on developing an ecosystem to enhance and balance body, mind, and spirit health in Vietnam. 

Le Ngoc Mai – BUV alumna and the founder of New Mantra Yoga and Retreats

New Mantra Yoga and Retreats – a wellness tourism model combining Yoga and nature, founded and run by Ngọc Mai – is a project dedicated to improving health. Despite its tranquil and serene essence, the journey of New Mantra Yoga and Retreats has been marked by many challenges and setbacks, all part of the path for this young woman, nicknamed ‘The Flying Mai’. 

Endless Horizons 

“I landed my first job in Vietnam right after graduating from BUV. Like most of my peers, an international degree from a renowned university brought many attractive job offers. It was a decent job with a relatively high salary for a fresh graduate. But within just a few months, I realised this wasn’t the path I had envisioned,” shared the former President of the BUV Dance Club. Not waiting long for an answer, Ngọc Mai decided to quit her job, pack her bags, and head to Sweden to pursue a Master’s degree. 

This bold decision at the age of 21 opened up an entirely new horizon for her. Ngọc Mai spent her youth exploring 25 countries across Europe and Africa, working in various roles in Scotland, Sweden, and Egypt, in fields such as sustainable development, mental health, and gender equality. These diverse experiences, yet strangely interconnected, led Ngọc Mai to discover the concept of mental health, a focus abroad but not yet widely recognized in Vietnam at the time. 

Ngoc Mai (second from the left) with her students

In Sweden, Ngọc Mai juggled both studying and working in marketing, earning a monthly salary in the tens of thousands of USD, alongside leaders she describes as “role models.” Ngọc Mai still remembers a quote from her boss: “Women always have more than one choice. What matters is that they are aware of it.” This statement made Ngọc Mai reflect on her past and what lay ahead, realizing that something still felt incomplete. 

At BUV, Ngọc Mai, like many graduates, was equipped with not only academic knowledge but also the resilience to face challenges and make bold decisions. The university nurtures students to think critically, adapt quickly, and pursue their passions with confidence, ensuring they are ready to navigate the uncertainties of life and the professional world. This foundation empowered Ngọc Mai to take risks and shape her own path, demonstrating the power of resilience in achieving personal and professional growth. 

Tool of the Mind 

This led to her second turning point, when she left behind a dream job in Europe, returned to Vietnam, and started from scratch. Along with a wealth of colourful experiences, Ngọc Mai brought back with her a less-than-ideal mental state. She spent the first six months in Vietnam focusing on restoring her mental well-being and experimenting with psychological tools, including Yoga. 

It was also during this time that Ngọc Mai realised that young people in Vietnam between the ages of 25 and 35 lacked the tools to regulate their emotions. This sparked the idea for a like-minded community, which later took shape under the name New Mantra Yoga and Retreats. Derived from Sanskrit, “manas” means mind, and “tra” means tool. Mantra can be loosely understood as “a tool for the mind.” 

Ngoc Mai (centre) in a class with her students

“I remember the faces of so many of my students. One woman shared that after a six-month course with me, she no longer needed antidepressants. Or the thank-you letter from the daughter of a client at a major diplomatic agency after she observed her mother practising meditation and yoga with me and said that one day she wanted to do what I do. Moments like these deeply moved me and made me realise that the impact of my work was greater than I had imagined,” Mai shared. These experiences not only encouraged Ngọc Mai to continue on this path but also reminded her of the true value of the work and the community she was building. 

“The hardest part of this job is keeping my own emotions balanced, always being the ‘full cup’ to pour into others. But every time I help someone, I feel that my own cup is filled even more,” Ngọc Mai reflected. 

Learning and Growing Everyday 

“Switching between fields is not easy; it forces me to adapt, be flexible, and set a clear vision and goals. More importantly, it’s about leveraging the solid marketing skills I learned at BUV,” Ngọc Mai shared. 

Running her own business, Ngọc Mai has been learning and working nonstop for the past three years. Her most important skills are people management and inspiring motivation in every team member. 

A class at New Mantra Yoga and Retreats

“No job is too trivial, from developing operational strategies to laying out yoga mats for clients before each class. Every role and task contributes value to the process of delivering the most complete and high-quality service to our clients. I always try to ensure that every team member understands the value of what they’re doing,” Mai explained. 

To meet customer demand and expand her market, Ngọc Mai recently moved to the tourism paradise of Hoi An to research the market and establish a new branch. This marked the third time her mother shed tears because of Mai, after the previous turning points when her “stubborn” daughter refused to settle for a stable path and once again left home to take on big responsibilities alone. 

“Because of the choices I made in my youth, I once lost connection with my parents. But this journey of going far away actually brought me closer to them when I proved that my choice was the right one and came from genuine passion. Now, my parents understand and feel more at ease about me, and those moments make me truly proud of what I’ve accomplished,” Ngọc Mai reflected. 

“I don’t often see my projects as huge successes or anything like that. The joy doesn’t lie in the destination; it lies in the journey itself. It’s the simple happiness of connecting with people who also love animals, enjoy minimalist living, embrace travel, and have purpose and dreams,” Ngọc Mai shared. 

Growing through bold decisions, Ngọc Mai sees a clearer future with each milestone. Looking at her efforts and achievements, it becomes clear that when you view every experience as a lesson—from university to life—you’ll always have more than one choice to reach your goals, as long as you have resilience and determination.