Minh Ha's 25 gold medals come from various events, ranging from district and city levels to national competitions. Her peak achievements include winning the U16 national championship and the National Phu Dong Sports Festival. These successes led to her selection for the Vietnam national team, participating in the U16 Asia basketball qualifiers last summer.

The 26th gold medal eluded Minh Ha when her Viet Duc team did not reach the final of the VnExpress Youth Basketball Tournament. In the semi-final last weekend, Minh Ha scored a game-high 11 points, but it was not enough to overcome defending champions Phan Dinh Phung.

Her journey in the Hanoi tournament has concluded, but Minh Ha's basketball path, along with her teammates, is far from over. At 16 years old, Ha has many tournaments ahead, offering numerous opportunities to further enhance her already impressive personal achievements. Behind these shining medals lies a demanding journey of sweat, effort, and resilience for a grade 10 student.

Minh Ha (number 46, yellow) during the Viet Duc vs. Phan Dinh Phung match in the semi-finals of the VnExpress Youth Basketball Tournament, at Hanoi Children's Palace facility 2, on 30/11. Photo: VYB

Minh Ha did not start her basketball journey in professional training academies at a young age. She only began focusing seriously on basketball during middle school, initially aiming to lose weight. However, her athletic talent was soon evident, prompting Minh Ha to commit more deeply to the sport.

With a training schedule that is almost daily, spanning from school courts to clubs, and from student competitions to the national team, Minh Ha has rapidly developed in the sports environment. At 16, she has competed in many provinces and cities, including Hai Phong, Da Nang, Quy Nhon, Binh Dinh, and TP HCM, and has traveled abroad with the Vietnam national team to Thailand and Singapore.

Notably, Minh Ha has never been alone on this journey. She shares that her parents have always been her most steadfast companions. From daily training sessions to distant tournaments, her parents consistently arrange their work to accompany her, waiting outside the practice court and cheering her on from the stands. This support, quiet and unassuming, has been her greatest source of mental strength, enabling her to stand firm against competitive pressure.

Amid such a demanding competition schedule, academics present a significant challenge. Observing Minh Ha's journey, one is easily impressed by her 25 gold medals, her national team jersey, and her domestic and international competitions. However, her deeper value lies in the late study sessions after practice, the moments of slumping over her notebooks from exhaustion, the times she had to question whether to continue or stop, and ultimately, choosing to persist.

Minh Ha in the Vietnam jersey, during the U16 Asia basketball qualifiers in 5/2025. Photo: NVCC

Minh Ha explains that to keep up with her studies, she must focus intently in class, utilizing every break between lessons to complete assignments. While she cannot always balance everything perfectly, Minh Ha ultimately excels in both academics and sports.

Minh Ha's academic journey is as persistent and diverse as her athletic one. In primary school, she attended a specialized mathematics class. In grades 6 and 7, she studied specialized English at Archimedes school. In grades 8 and 9, Minh Ha transferred to Vinschool's Cambridge program, maintaining an average score above 9,0, with most IGCSE subjects earning A and A* grades.

Entering grade 10 at Viet Duc high school, despite a busy training and competition schedule, she maintains scores above 9,0 in her subjects. Beyond academics and basketball, Minh Ha enjoys playing the piano, cooking, baking, and is a YouTube content creator. She also shows interest in business, finance, and culture. She embodies a generation of students who are well-rounded in intellect, physicality, emotion, and social responsibility.

For Minh Ha, studying is not just about achieving good grades; it is also a foundation that allows her to confidently pursue her passion. She understands that elite sports have limits, so she always prioritizes her education as a path to more future choices.

Regarding her future, Minh Ha openly shares the genuine concerns of a young athlete. She acknowledges that she does not have a significant physical advantage and has not had sufficient time to train from a young age like many professional athletes. Therefore, although basketball is an integral part of her life, she is uncertain about pursuing a long-term professional athletic career.

Instead, Minh Ha harbors another, more mature dream: to study abroad to delve deeper into the field of sports, possibly sports science, sports management, or related disciplines. Minh Ha expresses a desire to return to Vietnam with a solid knowledge base to contribute to women's basketball in a more sustainable way, not only as a player on the court but also as a professional, manager, or organizer.

Minh Ha dribbles the ball in the Vietnam vs. Thailand match, during the U16 Asia basketball qualifiers. Photo: NVCC

In today's educational landscape, where students have many opportunities to access sports, arts, science, and international integration, Nguyen Vu Minh Ha's story is a clear testament to a young generation that dares to live fully with their passions without neglecting their academic foundation. She did not choose the easy path, but instead chose to balance dreams and duties, passion and future.

Medals will eventually be stored away. Matches will pass. But what will endure longest in Minh Ha's basketball journey is likely her unyielding spirit, her ability to adapt under pressure, learning to rise after each setback, and her dream of contributing to Vietnamese women's basketball with the knowledge and heart of someone who grew up on the court.

Vy Anh