Vietnamese Student Opts for Tsinghua Over Western Universities

Nguyen Khoa Vu, an 18-year-old student from Hanoi, has decided to pursue his higher education at China's prestigious Tsinghua University, following his sister's path, despite his initial strong preference for Western institutions. Tsinghua University, consistently ranked among the world's top universities, is often referred to as "China's MIT." Vu secured a 50% tuition scholarship to Tsinghua's Zhishan College. Zhishan, established in 2024, is a college focused on social sciences, offering majors such as economics, sociology, political science, public administration, international politics, and statistics. Annual tuition at Zhishan is CNY26,000 (approximately $3,900 USD). His older sister, Nguyen Vu Tue Giang, was admitted to Tsinghua on a scholarship in 2025. Initially, Vu, who is accustomed to Western culture and passionate about basketball, vehemently refused his mother's suggestion to follow his sister to Beijing. "At one point I told my parents straight out: 'either the U.K. or the U.S., or I stay home,'" he recalled. However, during a trip to Beijing in August 2025 for his sister's enrollment, Vu was impressed by Tsinghua's modern facilities, swimming pool, basketball courts, and the interactions with Vietnamese students there, which led him to reconsider his decision. "Everything felt right, and I realized this was the environment for me," he stated. Vu's application included his transcripts, language certificates, recommendation letters, a personal essay, and a self-introduction video. He also submitted scores from the China Scholastic Competency Assessment (CSCA), a new standardized test for international undergraduate applicants, in both mathematics and Chinese. He maintained an average score above 9 out of 10 throughout high school and achieved an IELTS score of 7.5 and HSK 6, the highest level of the Chinese proficiency test. In his essay, Vu expressed his intention to set aside his dream of playing professional basketball to focus on academics and economics. He wanted to demonstrate that despite his passion for sports, he could prioritize another goal. He chose economics, citing his mother's business acumen as an influence, and has previously engaged in importing trendy toys and selling sneakers online while still in school. During the interview process, Vu faced questioning from three professors on a range of topics and was required to solve math problems on the spot. He credits his honesty, including admitting when he didn't know an answer, for his success. Hoang Lan Chi, a lecturer at Hanoi University of Languages and International Studies who guided him, noted Vu's remarkable ability to handle pressure, advancing from HSK 4 to HSK 6 in just six months. She highlighted that Vu meets the university's admission criteria, being well-rounded academically, musically, athletically, and possessing determination, perseverance, and discipline. Their mother, Mai Dung, mentioned that while Giang was self-motivated, Vu, though capable, could be easily distracted. She closely monitored him, often pointing to successful role models and steering him toward his sister's example. She believes in allowing her children to experience things, take responsibility, and face failure early, while subtly creating situations that spark their passion. She feels that bringing Vu along to his sister's enrollment and allowing him to interact with Tsinghua students helped him discover his own aspirations. Source: VnExpress International