Hoang Minh is currently a student in class 12G1 of the Global Citizen Bilingual Program at Greenfield School (Ecopark Campus). In this year's admissions season, he turned heads by winning a 70% tuition scholarship—valued at over 2.2 billion VND - from VinUniversity’s College of Business and Management, where he will major in Hospitality Management.

Discovering True Passion Through Extracurriculars

To secure a high-value scholarship from VinUniversity, applicants must clear two rigorous evaluation rounds: an online portfolio review and a face-to-face interview with faculty members. Beyond strong academics, candidates must showcase a vibrant extracurricular profile and present clear developmental goals aligned with VinUniversity’s educational philosophy.

Hoang Minh’s journey with VinUniversity began in the 10th grade during career-orientation field trips co-organized by Greenfield School and the university. Setting his sights on VinUni post-graduation, he mapped out a meticulous plan. At just 16, he actively engaged in a wide array of extracurricular activities, stepping into various leadership roles.

He served as the Head of the Orange Tiger House and Head of the Purple Eagle House, leading peers in school sports events. In his 11th grade, he boldly ran for President of the Greenfield School Student Council, winning the election with 70% of the votes. During his term, Minh helped steer the strategic direction of over a dozen school clubs and organized the "Blue Clouds Winging Knowledge" charity project, which donated books to build libraries for children in remote highlands.

These experiences allowed Minh to connect with diverse groups of people from various backgrounds. Listening to their life stories and insights broadened his societal perspective, ultimately inspiring his choice to major in Hospitality Management—a field that opens doors to meeting and serving people from cultures worldwide.

Additionally, dedicated guidance from the school’s Career Counseling Department, industry workshops with experts, and field trips to universities and businesses solidified his path. Consequently, Minh’s VinUni application was not merely a checklist of achievements, but a genuine reflection of his academic capability, leadership, communication skills, critical thinking, resilience, and passion fostered throughout his high school years.

Explaining his decision to study Hospitality Management at VinUniversity instead of studying abroad in developed nations like Switzerland, the US, or France, Minh shared: "I chose VinUni because of its Ivy League-standard curriculum, liberal academic environment, international faculty, and practical exposure at major restaurant and hotel chains in Vietnam. Furthermore, I believe experiencing university in Vietnam will help me mature further in both thought and action."

Balancing Academics, Sports, and Well-being

Contrary to the stereotype of a "scholarship hunter" who burns the midnight oil, Minh describes himself as far from a bookworm. He proactively previews course materials before the school year starts and dedicates about two weeks before exams to review and bridge any knowledge gaps. This efficient study method allowed him to maintain a GPA above 9.2 while achieving an IELTS score of 7.0, all without being overwhelmed by studying.

Outside the classroom, Minh is a passionate athlete. He set a school record by bagging seven Gold Medals at Greenfield School’s 2022–2023 Olympics. Remarkably, his "all-gold" streak spanned multiple disciplines, including football, basketball, badminton, swimming, archery, and track and field.

Despite his impressive trophy collection, Minh admits that his journey has not been without setbacks. He placed second in the A-Level Entrepreneurs competition (2021–2022) and took third place in the "Let’s Debate!" tournament. Yet, these near-misses served as crucible moments that forged his resilience, driving him to push harder until he clinched the prestigious scholarship today.

Looking back on his 11-year tenure at Greenfield School, Minh views it as more than just an educational institution; it was the ecosystem where he truly grew and carved out his path. "The competitions, sports tournaments, and field trips organized by the school provided a free, creative space for students to take the initiative in exploring and developing themselves across diverse fields," Minh said.

In the future, Hoang Minh aspires to build his own hotel chain—a vision he outlined vividly in his VinUni admission essay: "I want to build a hotel chain where luxury is not defined by modern architecture or five-star ratings. Instead, true luxury will reside in the comfort and empathy every guest experiences the moment they step into that space.

Having grown up witnessing the daily hardships of my family and various underprivileged communities, I want my hotels to welcome them with a bespoke hospitality tailored to each individual. My hotels will be a sanctuary for them—a place to rest, slow down, breathe, and recharge. That is the deepest driving force behind my desire to become a successful hotelier."

While a long road lies ahead before Minh can realize this grand ambition, his resilience, fierce passion, and innate creativity—coupled with the world-class foundation at VinUniversity—leave little doubt that he has what it takes to achieve great things.

May Hoang Minh find early success and happiness on the journey ahead!