Former model Vũ Cẩm Nhung releases her first book revealing dark and bright sides of life. Photo courtesy of Nguyễn Ngọc Thu

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam's first supermodel tells all about the highs and lows of life in the fashion world in her new autobiography, which has recently been published. 

Bao Giờ Là Đúng Lúc (When It’s The Time) is made up of stories from Hà Nội's nascent 1990s fashion scene told by model Vũ Cẩm Nhung to writer Phan Ý Yên.

Nhung was born in 1976 in Hà Nội and at the age of 17, her performance for the Pierre Cardin fashion show put her in the spotlight of fashion magazines. Then she won at the Asian Super Model Contest in Guam in 1994.

At the age of 18, she refused work as a professional model in the UK to enter the National Economics University in Hà Nội. After graduation, she joined a casting to find a model representing a cosmetics brand of Canada. A week later, she was appointed as marketing director of the brand.

Her autobiography is not all about the glitz and glam of the fashion world though. She also tells stories of her mother's battle with cancer and Nhung's difficulties having a child, as she underwent IVF treatment 20 times in nine years and lost several babies. 

“It was the hardest time in my life, I can’t count how many days I was in the hospital, how many injections I suffered,” said Nhung.

She eventually had a son and a daughter and now works and lives in Canada.

“In my life, I always live as a warrior, my only weapon is belief,” she said.

“Through the book, I want to share my story to other people, inspiring them to be determined in their journeys. I encourage young people to live with optimism and healthy lifestyle.

“I expect that I can spread positive energy to all readers of the book,” she said. VNS