22-year-old Cao Duc Anh will receive his honors degree in law this weekend. According to Dr. Phan Hoai Nam, Vice Dean of the Faculty of International Law, Duc Anh is the university's highest-scoring graduate to date, dubbed the "valedictorian of valedictorians."

"I feel satisfied that the opportunities and support I received were not wasted. Sometimes, I can't believe I made it this far," he shared.

He views the valedictorian title as a small milestone in a long journey, from a struggling middle school student to days spent juggling lectures, a part-time job, and late-night research.

Cao Duc Anh, from Hanoi, is the top graduate of 2025 at Ho Chi Minh City University of Law. Photo: Provided by the subject

Cao Duc Anh, from Hanoi, is the top graduate of 2025 at Ho Chi Minh City University of Law. Photo: Provided by the subject

Duc Anh recounts his playful childhood, occasionally skipping class to play basketball, with only average academic performance. His move to Ho Chi Minh City with his family in 9th grade marked a turning point. With increased focus on his studies, Duc Anh joined the Geography team at Luong The Vinh High School and won first prize at the city level in 12th grade.

With a passion and aptitude for social sciences, he considered both teaching and law. However, captivated by portrayals of intelligent and skilled lawyers in films, he chose Ho Chi Minh City University of Law.

Drawn to the high-quality program with numerous specialized courses taught in English and opportunities for international academic exchange, Duc Anh enrolled. He recalls his family's concerns about the 40–70 million VND annual tuition. To persuade them, Duc Anh promised to secure scholarships to cover the costs.

"This was both a motivation and a pressure that pushed me to achieve high scores. The scholarship for outstanding students covers 150% of tuition, and I received it for all eight semesters," Duc Anh said.

He explained that his high goals led him to challenge himself by volunteering as class president and group leader for assignments. He never missed a class in any subject, always sat in the front row, and actively participated to earn high marks for class participation.

"I treat studying like a job, approaching it with the same seriousness and dedication as a working professional," he stated.

Beyond discipline, Duc Anh delved deeper into the subject matter to find inspiration. He noted that many perceive law as dry due to its theoretical nature. To counter this, he sought to understand and interpret the evolution of law.

"Law reflects life. When you understand how a law was established in the past and why it has changed, the knowledge becomes much more engaging," Duc Anh explained.

He studied course materials before class, listened attentively during lectures, and noted down expanded points and explanations from his professors. He also read recommended materials and court decisions, comparing theory with practice to identify discrepancies in legal reasoning.

When preparing for exams, instead of simply searching for answers, Duc Anh role-played as a judge or lawyer, making decisions based on his legal perspective and reasoning. He then compared his decisions with legal precedents to see if his sense of justice aligned with established legal principles, consulting his professors for any remaining questions.

"Role-playing as an adjudicator in different cases helped me develop sound legal reasoning and quick thinking in various situations," Duc Anh said.

Duc Anh (in the white ao dai) at a university seminar in June. Photo: Provided by the subject

Duc Anh (in the white ao dai) at a university seminar in June. Photo: Provided by the subject

During his second year, he proactively sought an eight-month internship at a law firm, beyond the university's requirements. In his third year, he continued with a nine-month internship at the Vietnam International Arbitration Centre (VIAC). During these two years of balancing studies and internships, he occasionally relied on friends for support with coursework when overwhelmed.

"I wanted to create opportunities for myself to gain experience and early exposure to real-world practice, making my studies more practical," he explained.

Thanks to his excellent academic record, Duc Anh was allowed to write a thesis in lieu of the mandatory internship. During this time, free from classes, he enrolled in a six-month exchange program at Tallinn University of Technology in Estonia. He took several courses on technology law and data law, applying this knowledge to his thesis on cybersecurity, which received a score of 9.5 from the evaluation committee.

Dr. Phan Hoai Nam, who taught and supervised Duc Anh's thesis, was impressed by his proactive nature and eagerness to learn from his first year, particularly his involvement in scientific research.

"He possesses sharp analytical thinking, strong discipline, excellent self-learning abilities, and good foreign language skills. These attributes have enabled him to grasp legal knowledge comprehensively," Dr. Nam commented.

According to Dr. Nam, Duc Anh's active participation in international exchange programs and scientific conferences demonstrates his adaptability and effective learning.

Due to his outstanding achievements, Duc Anh has been offered a position at the university as part of their talent recruitment program. The Hanoi native will work as a teaching assistant before pursuing a master's degree in law, specializing in technology, data, and cybersecurity next year.

"Looking back, I've come a long way and have been fortunate. Everyone has a different starting point, and it's never too late to change if you truly want to," Duc Anh shared.

Le Nguyen