Our Story

I was born into a large family with eight brothers and sisters in Hue, Vietnam. Like many families at that time, life was not always easy. When I was sixteen, my mother gently encouraged me to enter a convent. She believed it would offer me a peaceful life dedicated to God—a life free from the responsibilities of marriage and raising a family.

I accepted her wish and entered the convent.

At that time, around sixteen young women of similar age were living and studying together. We were preparing ourselves to become Catholic sisters, dedicating our lives to serving God and the community.

Life inside the convent was simple, disciplined, and peaceful.

Each of us had a small bed, a modest corner for our personal belongings, and a daily routine centered on prayer, study, and service.

Every morning began at around 4:30 a.m. with prayer and Holy Mass, followed by school, spiritual formation, and practical training. We learned not only theology and religious life but also cooking, music, piano, singing, dancing, and many other practical skills according to each person’s abilities.

As we progressed, we entered a period of discernment. The sisters carefully observed each of us to determine who was truly called to continue the religious vocation. Those who were not suited to convent life would return home and begin a different path.

During those years, the sisters encouraged me to study English seriously. They believed it would one day become a valuable gift in serving both the Church and society. Inspired by their advice, I later chose English as my major at university.

Although I was rarely allowed to visit my family, I was genuinely happy in the convent. While many of my university friends dreamed of moving to larger cities to build careers and earn a living, I was preparing for a very different future—a life devoted to God.

I often asked myself one simple question:

“What does God truly want me to do?”

Five months before making my final commitment, I made one of the most difficult decisions of my life.

I chose to leave the convent.

The sisters lovingly encouraged me to stay, believing that I could continue serving the Church through religious life. But deep in my heart, I felt another calling. My family needed me, and I believed that God was leading me toward a different way of serving others.

I trusted that if I remained faithful, God would continue to walk beside me—even outside the convent walls.

Leaving did not mean leaving my faith.

Instead, it became the beginning of another journey.

For the next years after, I worked as an English-speaking tour guide. Every day I met people from around the world, listened to their stories, shared the beauty of Vietnam, and discovered how meaningful genuine human connection could be.

In 2012, I founded my own travel company, welcoming international visitors to Vietnam. Through tourism, I have had the privilege of introducing thousands of travelers to the beauty of my country, its culture, its people, and its rich spiritual heritage.

Then, in 2020, the world suddenly changed.

Like millions of people around the globe, my tourism business came to an unexpected standstill because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It was one of the most uncertain periods of my life.

As I watched the world slow down, I found myself asking another important question:

“If one door closes, what new mission is God opening for me?”

The answer came unexpectedly.

I returned to the countryside of Hue and spent time with traditional craft villages. There, I met many rural women whose remarkable weaving skills had been quietly passed down from one generation to the next. Their craftsmanship was extraordinary, yet many struggled to earn a stable income.

At the same time, I realized that one of Hue’s precious cultural treasures—the more than 500-year-old Lepironia grass weaving tradition of Phò Trạch Village—was slowly disappearing.

That moment changed my life.

I realized that my next mission was not simply to build another business.

It was to preserve a heritage, create sustainable livelihoods, and restore hope.

In 2021, I founded MARIES, a premium handcrafted lifestyle brand born in Hue, Vietnam.

MARIES is much more than a fashion brand.

It is a social enterprise built on the belief that business can create positive change.

Every handcrafted bag, hat, and accessory begins with natural Lepironia grass harvested in central Vietnam and is carefully woven by skilled artisans before being transformed into contemporary designs through hand-painted artwork and modern craftsmanship.

Behind every product is a much bigger story.

A rural woman earning a stable income.

A traditional artisan continuing a family craft.

A village preserving its cultural identity.

A younger generation discovering that heritage still has value.

At MARIES, our mission is simple:

Preserve the Grass. Preserve the Craft. Preserve the Village.

Today, MARIES proudly welcomes visitors to our flagship store in Hue while sharing Vietnamese craftsmanship with customers from around the world.

Our work goes beyond creating beautiful products.

We are committed to preserving traditional weaving techniques, empowering rural women, supporting artisan communities, promoting sustainable living, and introducing the cultural beauty of Hue to the international community.

Looking back, I now understand that COVID-19 did not end my journey.

It redirected it.

God transformed one of the most difficult moments of my life into a new calling—one that allows me to serve people not only through travel, but also through culture, craftsmanship, meaningful employment, and hope.

Alongside MARIES, I also founded Vietnam Catholic Tours, a project that brings together the two things closest to my heart: my love for Vietnam and my Catholic faith.

This website was created with one simple purpose:

Connect & Share

I hope to connect Catholics from all over the world with Vietnam—its churches, convents, pilgrimage sites, local communities, and the people who live their faith every day.

Whether you come as a pilgrim, a traveler, or simply someone searching for peace, I hope you will feel welcomed here and experience God’s love through the people you meet.

Sharing is equally important to me.

Part of every journey helps support charitable activities, disadvantaged children, families in need, rural women, artisan communities, and Catholic organizations throughout Vietnam.

I believe that travel becomes truly meaningful when it creates hope, strengthens communities, and brings people closer together.

When I was sixteen, I believed that serving God meant living inside a convent.

Today, I have discovered that my vocation is much larger.

I serve Him by welcoming travelers, preserving a centuries-old craft, creating opportunities for rural women, supporting Catholic communities, and sharing the beauty of Vietnam with the world.

Every chapter of my life—from the convent, to becoming a tour guide, to founding a travel company, to building MARIES—has taught me one lasting truth:

God has always been with me.

And I believe He will be with you, too.

Thank you for being here.

May God bless you, your family, and every journey you take.

With love,

Lan (Marie)
Founder of MARIES & Vietnam Catholic Tours