Top 10 outstanding young talents in Vietnam who persistently chase their Harvard dream

Tôn Hà Anh, born in 1992, is a former student of Hanoi Amsterdam High School. From an early age, Hà Anh had a strong passion for learning. With the dream of studying abroad, he began focusing on English in 9th grade, committing to learning over 150 new vocabulary words every day. Alongside, he practiced reading, writing, solving problems, and preparing for the SAT exam. After a month of hard work, Hà Anh scored around 2280 on the SAT. Due to his consistent academic achievements, he received offers from five prestigious U.S. universities, including Harvard, Columbia, Princeton, Brown, and Wellesley. Ultimately, he chose Harvard as his academic destination. In his first semester, Hà Anh earned four A's, impressing his peers from around the world at Harvard. Achieving this in a demanding environment like Harvard was truly challenging. Currently, he is a senior student majoring in Economics. Hà Anh aspires to return to Vietnam and contribute his knowledge and skills to the country. In addition to his academic commitments, Hà Anh dedicates time to sports and extracurricular activities. He is a member of four school sports teams: field hockey, swimming, fencing, and tennis. He is also actively involved in charity work and holds several key positions within these initiatives.

Tôn Hiền Anh is the younger sister of Hà Anh. Following in the footsteps of her sister’s remarkable success, Hiền Anh worked tirelessly to earn a full scholarship worth $320,000 (over 7 billion VND) from Harvard University. Like her sister, her primary goal in attending Harvard was to fulfill both her own dreams and those of her parents. Her parents, both passionate about learning, were unable to afford the opportunity to attend Harvard due to their financial limitations. Motivated by this, Hiền Anh dedicated herself to her studies with 200% effort. Every day, she worked on improving her English, writing essays, and preparing for the SAT. Hiền Anh is an introverted individual, so while she may not be the most outwardly active in extracurricular activities, she is deeply attentive, listening carefully and reflecting to find paths for her future growth. In April 2016, she arrived in the U.S. to attend Harvard and realize her dream.

Tường Vân is a remarkable young woman who has received four commendations from U.S. President Obama for her outstanding academic achievements and scholarships from seven prestigious American universities, including Harvard, Yale, and Stanford. Born in 1995, she moved to the U.S. at the age of 12 and began receiving awards from the President and the Governor of Florida shortly after. Currently, Tường Vân is a freshman at Harvard University, majoring in Statistics. Despite facing early challenges, including homesickness and language barriers, she persevered in learning English and excelled. By the end of her first year, she was named the top overall student. Preparing for Harvard was no easy feat, but Tường Vân did not attend formal prep courses—she taught herself using online resources. Her hard work paid off when she scored 2310 out of 2400 on the SAT. A dynamic and confident individual, Tường Vân is passionate about experiences and is actively involved in charitable activities. She founded the IM Venture project—a nationwide program that educates young people about the cultures and customs of different regions in Vietnam. IM Venture aims to help participants reflect on themselves, connect with their communities, and experience the world around them.

Hồ Ngọc Nhi is a well-known figure who has received scholarships from six prestigious U.S. universities: Yale, Harvard, MIT, Brown, UCLA, and UC Berkeley. With six incredible offers, she confidently chose Harvard to pursue her dreams. Born in 1994, Nhi has always been passionate about biology. By the age of 22, she had already achieved impressive milestones: graduating as valedictorian from Santa Monica High School, founding and chairing the Harvard Robotics Club in 2013, and currently working on numerous projects. Nhi is steadily moving closer to her dream of becoming a doctor and a researcher in the field of biomedical sciences. In addition to her academic pursuits, Nhi is involved in various activities, including fundraising for heart disease research, organizing film screenings, and leading a club that helps African children.

Minh Khuê is a calm and modest young woman who earned an impressive $320,000 scholarship from Harvard University. Born in 1996, she is the daughter of the renowned writer and journalist Hồ Thị Hải Âu. Not only is Minh Khuê intelligent, with an exceptional academic record, but she is also a versatile individual. She is a talented pianist, fluent in English, and a gifted artist. Minh Khuê held a solo exhibition showcasing 20 oil paintings and 2 silk paintings. Her dedication to earning a scholarship is admirable—she spent countless hours refining her application, discarding 50 drafts before submitting the final version. Before being accepted into Harvard, she also impressed a senior professor during an interview, who was completely convinced by her passion and talents.

Diệu Liên became widely known during the recent admission season. The daughter of a janitor, Diệu Liên defied all odds and earned a remarkable 7 billion VND scholarship to Harvard University, demonstrating extraordinary perseverance. Born in 1997, her resilience and determination have made her a source of admiration. As the eldest of two children in a family where her father worked as a billboard maker in Saigon and her mother was a janitor, Liên’s humble beginnings never hindered her. Instead, they served as motivation to pursue her dreams. Throughout high school, Diệu Liên earned numerous scholarships, excelling in academics and scientific research. She also taught at an orphanage, a role she cherished deeply. With limited financial resources, her scholarship application was entirely based on her own hard work. A passionate advocate for the sciences, she continued her studies in this field at Harvard. In the U.S., armed with only her unyielding effort and determination, Diệu Liên serves as a shining example of overcoming adversity through academic excellence and an unrelenting passion for knowledge.

Tiến Anh was born in 1983 in Cầu Đơ, Hanoi. In 2003, he realized his dream when he received an invitation from Harvard. By 2006, he had earned an Asian Scholarship to study in Singapore. During his years abroad, Tiến Anh focused on mastering languages and natural sciences, laying the groundwork for his dream of attending Harvard. With a foundation built on hard work and a deep passion for his goals, he achieved his dream. Tiến Anh went to Harvard not for the prestige, but for the opportunity to grow and experience life on his terms. He became a prominent figure among Vietnamese students studying abroad, and he actively helped fellow international students pursue their own scholarship opportunities. After graduating from Harvard, Tiến Anh went on to work at an American financial firm.

Born in the sun-drenched province of Ninh Thuận in 1992, Châu Thanh Vũ earned a full PhD scholarship at the age of 24. His scholarship, valued at approximately $79,000 per year, covered tuition, accommodation, healthcare, and living expenses. In addition to Harvard, Châu Thanh Vũ received full PhD scholarships from seven other prestigious universities, including Yale, Stanford, Chicago, Minnesota, Columbia, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Vũ grew up in a civil servant family in Phan Rang, Ninh Thuận. In 2009, he was awarded a full scholarship to the UWC school in New Mexico, USA, where he studied from 2009 to 2011. During his middle school years, Vũ was passionate about information technology, but after two years at UWC, he chose to pursue economics. In 2011, he entered Princeton University, known for its top economics program. In December 2014, he applied for a PhD scholarship at Harvard, and with his relentless effort and excellent achievements, he received the reward. Beyond academics, Châu Thanh Vũ is a multi-talented individual with interests in classical guitar, music composition, and singing in Vtone, an a cappella group at Princeton. His photography skills are also remarkable, as seen in his beautiful self-portraits on his Facebook page. Châu Thanh Vũ is a model of embracing challenges and opportunities, choosing his own path in life and shaping his future.

Nguyễn Hoàng Khánh, born in 1993, earned an 80% financial aid scholarship to Harvard Law School. To achieve this remarkable success, Khánh overcame several challenges. In addition to meeting the usual academic standards, he had to complete an entrance exam for law candidates. The test assessed his ability to quickly comprehend various texts and his knowledge across a wide range of subjects. Khánh excelled in this challenge, achieving a score higher than 98% of all the test takers. Beyond academics, Khánh is deeply involved in social activities. He served as the president of the event evaluation board for two consecutive years at St. John's University. His other notable contributions include managing an international student support program for four years, assisting with research on children with developmental delays, and translating for two social studies projects on Vietnam for the psychology department at St. John's University. Khánh is also the first Vietnamese student to receive a PhD scholarship in law from the prestigious Harvard University.

Born in a village in Quy Nhơn, Trương Phạm Hoài Chung is a prime example of overcoming adversity to achieve his dreams at Harvard. Growing up in a rural setting, his ambition to explore the world was nurtured from a young age. In high school, Chung excelled in Literature and English at the prestigious Lê Qúy Đôn High School, which led to a full scholarship to Singapore. In 2005, he applied to Harvard for the first time but faced rejection. However, he was awarded a scholarship to Williams College, a renowned institution in the U.S. After 10 years of hard work and determination, his perseverance paid off. In 2015, at 31, Trương Phạm Hoài Chung received his acceptance letter from Harvard, proving that his relentless pursuit of his goals was truly commendable. Alongside his academic journey, Chung has a great passion for singing. He has written over 60 songs, many of which he performs with his clear, beautiful voice. In 2011, he released an album titled 'The Language of Love,' which showcased his talent as both a composer and performer. Beyond music, Chung is deeply committed to charitable work. He co-founded KIDS Vietnam, an organization supporting underprivileged children. He is also involved in numerous initiatives such as 'Shoes for Children in Sa Pa,' fundraising for students in Bình Định, and inspiring others through his 'Lighting the Hope of Vietnam' campaign.