Tran Ngoc Ha

Ha grew up in a family of three children in Hanoi. Her father is an engineer and her mother works in Communications at the US embassy. Both parents were dedicated to providing the best education possible to their children according to their economic ability. Ha developed a proficiency in English from her mother. Ha was accepted into a talented and gifted school where she found that she had a gift for academics, particularly communications, to broaden her connection. 

Ha considers herself a generalist rather than a specialist. She is interested in communications to find common ground among people with diverse backgrounds and experiences. 

She chose VinUniversity because it is a start-up university that provides an international experience. Being a start-up university is important because she feels more freedom to connect to people and shape the university. She has a level of connection with faculty, staff and leadership that would not be possible at other universities. “I wouldn’t have had the chance to have coffee with the Provost and then sell him my homemade granola”  

She values VinUniversity’s inclusiveness and welcoming culture. The professors are more attentive and have the energy to engage with each individual student. They not only take the time to discuss ideas but they also take time to provide emotional support. 

Communication is the tool she uses to connect with people across disciplines. She also values the role that events play in communications and bringing people together. “I am curious. I want to discover as many things from as many people as possible” “I use communications to unlock all the ideas in peoples’ heads” to understand different cultures, traditions and perspectives in the most diverse group possible. 

Without her scholarships, she would be attending a public university where she could not have the depth of individual and international connection she values with VinUniversity. She also recognizes that her family could not afford to send her to a university with international experience. She also appreciates not putting a financial burden on her parents so they can better contribute to her siblings’ education. But without the scholarship, she would miss the individualized attention and support.

Her long-term goal is to use communications to promote healthy lifestyles. She is the single owner of Howdy Homemade Greek Yogurt and Granola. After graduation, she plans to pursue a master’s education and gain experience in a media firm. She wants to change people’s consciousness and behaviours through her health lifestyle message. She hopes to travel across the globe to deliver her message. To build an international communications/marketing business that promotes healthy lifestyles is like “a blue ocean of opportunity”.