Speaking
Practice

An adventurous person I know is my friend Khoa. We met at university, and he is the kind of person who actively looks for new experiences rather than repeating the same routine.

I have known him for about five years. He enjoys outdoor activities, travelling and learning skills that make him step outside his comfort zone. However, he is not careless. He usually researches an activity properly and prefers to take a calculated risk rather than doing something dangerous just for attention.

Last year, he took a solo trip through several northern provinces. He travelled by bus, stayed in small guesthouses and joined a guided hiking route for two days. Before going, he checked the weather, planned his transport and shared his schedule with his family. He said the most difficult part was not the hiking but making decisions alone when plans changed. Since then, he has also tried kayaking and a beginner climbing course.

I think he likes taking risks because new situations make him feel more alive and independent. He enjoys testing what he can do and learning from unfamiliar experiences. I admire that quality because he combines curiosity with preparation, which makes his adventurous side seem responsible rather than reckless.

An interesting older person I once met was an elderly gentleman named Mr Binh. I met him about two years ago while visiting a small historical site in my hometown.

He was sitting near the entrance and talking to one of the staff members. I asked a simple question about an old photograph on display, and he joined the conversation because he had lived in that neighbourhood for most of his life. We soon struck up a chat.

Mr Binh was full of stories about local history. He explained that the street outside had once looked completely different and described several shops that disappeared decades ago. He even pointed to one photograph and said he remembered the building before it was renovated. We walked slowly through part of the exhibition, and he connected the official information with his own first-hand experience. One story about travelling across the city by bicycle for work was especially memorable because it made daily life in the past feel very real.

I found him fascinating because he could bring the past to life in a way that signs and dates could not. He was also curious about younger people's lives, so the conversation went both ways. Meeting him reminded me that older people can be valuable sources of personal history.

A person I know who I think is very intelligent is my cousin, Thao. She is a software engineer, but the main reason I consider her intelligent is not her job title; it is the way she approaches unfamiliar problems.

We grew up in the same extended family, so I have known her all my life. She has always been a quick learner and likes understanding how things work. She thinks logically, but she is also patient when other people need more time.

A good example happened when I was having trouble with a spreadsheet project. I expected her to give me the answer immediately, but instead she asked the right questions and helped me identify where my logic was wrong. She then explained the difficult part using a simple example rather than technical language. Within half an hour, I understood the problem and could solve the rest myself. I have seen her use the same approach with work, technology and everyday decisions.

I admire her because she can explain complex ideas clearly and solve problems efficiently without making other people feel less capable. I look up to that kind of intelligence because it combines knowledge with patience and communication.

A famous person I think can be a good role model for young people is a successful athlete from my country. I first learned about this person through major competitions and sports news.

What makes the athlete stand out to me is not only success but also discipline and a strong work ethic. Professional sport involves pressure, injuries and periods of poor performance, so an athlete has to be resilient. I also respect public figures who stay grounded and use their platform responsibly.

Over the years, I have watched interviews in which the athlete talked about training routines, mistakes and the importance of consistency. Rather than claiming that talent is enough, the person often explains how progress comes from repeating basic work every day. I also like the fact that they have supported youth sports activities and encouraged children to stay active. Those actions make the message more convincing because it is not only about personal fame.

I think this person can inspire young people because the example is realistic: success requires effort, patience and recovery from failure. That is a healthier message than simply becoming famous quickly. For me, a good role model should set a positive example through behaviour, not just words.

An interesting person I have never met in person but would like to meet is a documentary filmmaker whose work I have followed online. I know of this person mainly through travel and nature documentaries.

Over the past few years, I have watched several of the filmmaker's projects and interviews. What interests me is the combination of creative work and careful research. The documentaries are visually attractive, but they also explain local communities, wildlife and environmental issues in a clear way.

One project followed a small coastal community through different seasons. Instead of focusing only on beautiful scenery, the filmmaker showed daily work, changes in weather and how local people were adapting to environmental pressure. I later watched a behind-the-scenes interview and learned that the team had spent months preparing before filming. If I met this person, I would ask about the career journey, how topics are chosen and what happens when a planned story changes during production.

I would especially like to learn more about the decision-making behind the scenes. I am curious about how someone balances an interesting story with accuracy and respect for the people being filmed. That combination of creativity, travel and responsibility is what makes the person fascinating to me.