Recently, 18-year-old Phung Minh Phuong completed enrollment procedures for the School of Economics and Management at Tsinghua University, securing a 50% tuition fee scholarship. Although she regretted it, the Hanoi student had to decline offers from the other two institutions. These three universities are among China's best, ranking within the top 12-36 globally in THE's 2026 world university rankings.

"I applied with a 'nothing to lose' mindset, so receiving the results was both surprising and exhilarating", Phuong shared. "I consider myself fortunate, but also proud that my efforts have yielded results".

Phung Minh Phuong in her yearbook photo at the Foreign Language Specialized High School. *Photo: Supplied by interviewee*

Phung Minh Phuong began studying Chinese in 6th grade, following her parents' guidance. She recalled that at the time, she hadn't envisioned it as a long-term path, so her studies were casual. It wasn't until early 9th grade, when she decided to apply for a specialized Chinese language class, that she began to study systematically.

Phuong still remembers her early days of learning with Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong Nhan, a lecturer at the University of Foreign Languages. She couldn't read Chinese characters, made numerous grammatical errors, and her pronunciation was incorrect. Her teacher even discussed with her family whether she should continue the course. Phuong's mother requested a three-month trial period, agreeing to explore other options if it didn't work out.

"I consider it fortunate that my mother didn't relay the teacher's and family's concerns to me. This allowed me to simply believe I was slightly behind my peers, enabling me to attend class lightheartedly and confidently", Phuong recounted.

In the following days, through Ms. Nhan's teaching methods, Phuong gradually made fewer mistakes and began receiving praise for her pronunciation. She easily passed the 'trial period', developing a fondness for the language and a desire to commit to it.

In summer 2023, Phung Minh Phuong was admitted to the Chinese language class at Foreign Language Specialized High School, achieving a score of nearly 8.5 in her specialized subject.

Upon entering the school, Phuong dedicated herself entirely to Chinese, practicing exercises, speaking, learning vocabulary, and listening to podcasts daily. Despite achieving the HSK 6/6 (highest level) international Chinese proficiency certificate in 10th grade and winning second prize in the national excellent student competition for Chinese in 12th grade, she still harbored doubts when applying for overseas study.

"Seeing older students in my school gain admission to top Chinese universities motivated me to try. I thought I would fail, so I was hesitant for many people to know, applying only in secret", Phuong stated.

In her essay, Phuong described observing her father managing the family's business of gemstones and feng shui stones. Each visit to the store, her father taught her marketing strategies and the importance of maintaining customer trust. These experiences inspired her to pursue careers in business, economics, and finance.

International students applying to China must pass the CSCA entrance examination. This was a new requirement, causing her initial anxiety, but after familiarizing herself with the exam structure, Phuong realized she could prepare independently using online resources.

This period coincided with her preparations for the national excellent student competition, followed by final exams at school, and another entrance exam for Peking University. Phuong noted that each exam presented unique challenges, forcing her to adapt her study methods and manage her time effectively, thereby cultivating her adaptability and composure.

The interview round at Peking University resembled a debate, where groups of five candidates defended their viewpoints while demonstrating their language proficiency and argumentation skills. Phuong observed that this format made rote learning or practicing by template difficult, instead requiring a strong vocabulary and quick thinking.

At Tsinghua University, the interviewers posed direct questions, not only about the finance major she applied for but also across various other fields. Initially, Phuong felt stressed but quickly composed herself, breaking down each question and answering point by point based on her understanding.

The student attributed her experience as a teaching assistant and Chinese tutor throughout her three years of high school to developing her communication skills and interview demeanor, which helped her succeed in these examinations.

Phung Minh Phuong with her parents and younger brother. *Photo: Supplied by family*

Dr. Bui Quynh Van, a lecturer in the Chinese Language Department at Hanoi University, served as Phung Minh Phuong's advisor throughout her overseas application process, starting from 10th grade.

According to Dr. Van, her student possessed outstanding Chinese language and math abilities. The lecturer also noted that the most challenging period was when Phuong prepared for Tsinghua University's interview round and Peking University's entrance exam, due to the immense volume of knowledge and tasks. Nevertheless, Phuong remained steadfast in her goals and determined to achieve them.

From her journey, Phuong believes the greatest lesson is daring to step out of one's comfort zone to seek opportunities.

"What you do may or may not succeed, but if you don't try, there will certainly be no outcome", the student concluded.

Thanh Hang