Cover Director Viet Tu has created an inspiring home workout space (Photo: Huy Nguyen)
Director Viet Tu has created an inspiring home workout space (Photo: Huy Nguyen)
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Viet Tu is a businessman behind major artistic projects, but few know of his sports passion and multi-purpose home gym.
Viet Tu is often recognised as a director and businessman behind major artistic projects. However, few know of his passion for sports or that he has curated a multi-purpose gym at home—seamlessly blending fitness with his collection of hypebeast memorabilia.
If the performing arts have shaped Viet Tu’s career and reputation, then sport is the lifelong discipline that has underpinned his journey. He began exercising as a child, initially just for fun. “My grandfather was a professional swimmer,” he shares briefly of his legacy of talent and dedication that spans generations in his family. Over time, this childhood pastime evolved into an enduring habit for the multi-talented director. “The success of top athletes such as Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Cristiano Ronaldo has motivated me to train consistently, ensuring both my health and career longevity.”
Above Owning a home gym allows the director to balance his time across multiple priorities (Photo: Huy Nguyen)
Owning a home gym allows the director to balance his time across multiple priorities (Photo: Huy Nguyen)
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Although much of his time is dedicated to work, Viet Tu’s greatest priority remains his family. Exercising at public gyms can be challenging due to limited opening hours, so his home gym allows him to maintain a consistent routine while inspiring his children to develop healthy habits from an early age. Striking a balance between work and family commitments led him to reconsider the intensity of his training, ensuring a sustainable approach to fitness. Once drawn to high-adrenaline adventure sports, he has since shifted focus to endurance-based activities such as marathon running and gym training—disciplines that offer greater flexibility.
For Viet Tu, exercise is a cornerstone of a well-balanced life. He divides his workouts into a structured yet adaptable routine: “I schedule my training by day—for example, three running sessions, two gym sessions, and the rest as ‘relaxed’ workouts.” He also encourages others to adopt a more fluid approach to fitness: “Rather than setting a fixed schedule, try to work out whenever you have free time.”
Above Director Viet Tu (Photo: Huy Nguyen)
Director Viet Tu (Photo: Huy Nguyen)
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Whether in sport or the arts, discipline, consistency, and perseverance are essential to reaching the ultimate goal—health, happiness, and success.
Beyond physical well-being, Viet Tu believes that endurance is the key to all aspects of life. Exercise fosters both mental and physical resilience, which in turn enhances his professional discipline. “It is particularly valuable in developing execution skills, making quick decisions under pressure, and, most importantly, maintaining composure in Vietnam’s still-evolving professional landscape,” he reflects.
The director’s passion for sport has naturally influenced his relatives and friends, many of whom are inspired by the images of his home gym that he occasionally shares on social media. “It’s a small space with basic training equipment, but quality is a top priority to minimise the risk of injury. The design of both the space and equipment should also be aesthetically pleasing to create motivation.”
For sports enthusiasts, a home gym is an invaluable asset. From the moment he conceived the idea, Viet Tu set a clear goal—this would be his ‘second gym’, complementing the public gyms he frequents. With the guidance of his long-time trainer, he carefully selected essential equipment, transforming the space into a place “where you can work out at any time, especially on days off” when he wants to prioritise time with his family.
With the help of his long-time trainer, he selected the necessary equipment, turning the room into a place “where you can work out at any time, especially on your days off” when you want to spend time with your family (Photo: Huy Nguyen)
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"Having a gym membership anywhere in the city centre allows me to train flexibly, while a home gym solves the remaining challenges. If I justified the home gym simply as a necessity for my workouts, that wouldn’t be entirely true. It’s a practical solution for when I’m too busy, but even without it, I would still find ways to exercise every day. More importantly, it helps my children develop a habit of fitness from an early age," he explains.
For generations, exercise has been a natural part of his family’s daily routine. “Training is a healthy habit that keeps us thinking and living optimistically. Sport also cultivates a positive mindset, clear thinking, and self-discipline,” Viet Tu shares.
At first glance, the worlds of art and sport—or the balance between dreams and reality—may seem at odds, yet Viet Tu finds strength in both. “Whether in sport or the arts, discipline, consistency, and perseverance are essential to reaching the ultimate goal—health, happiness, and success.” In his artistic endeavours, he is known as a pioneer with bold ideas, and sport has become the driving force that helps him stay the course and achieve his ambitions in a way that is uniquely his own.
Article published in Tatler Vietnam, October 2024 – Family & Legacy
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Photography: Huy Nguyen
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