Hanoi female student gets accepted into both Tsinghua and Peking University.

Thao Nguyen, 18 years old, was accepted into the law programs at three prestigious Chinese universities: Tsinghua University, Peking University, and Fudan University.

VnExpress•22/05/2026

A few days ago, Nguyen Ngoc Thao Nguyen, a 12th-grade student from Newton Secondary School (Hanoi), was overwhelmed with joy upon receiving her acceptance letter from Peking University. Prior to this, she had already secured admission to two other prestigious universities: Tsinghua and Fudan. These are three of the best universities in China according to the THE 2026 world university rankings.

"I'm very happy because these are all big goals that I've been dreaming of for a long time," Thao Nguyen shared.

Thao Nguyen's intention to study in China began in 10th grade. Initially, the girl born in 2008 was attracted by the language and culture through television programs. The turning point came after family trips , when Nguyen became interested in observing the differences in how legal systems operate between countries.

"I realized that each country has its own way of operating. A stable legal system will create a foundation for economic and social development, so I wanted to learn more about this field," Nguyen said.

Female students choose China because of its highly competitive and dynamic academic environment.

Hanoi female student gets accepted into both Tsinghua and Peking University.

Thao Nguyen in her school yearbook photo. Photo: Provided by the subject.

To achieve her goal, Thao Nguyen outlined a strict roadmap: dedicating the first two years of high school to accumulating extracurricular activities; at the beginning of 12th grade, she would focus all her efforts on "hunting" for international certificates including HSK (Chinese), IELTS (English), and the CSCA (Chinese proficiency test).

To master two foreign languages simultaneously, Nguyen created her own learning environment by watching movies and listening to podcasts. She used bilingual subtitles: when watching Chinese movies, she used English subtitles, and vice versa, to improve her reflexes. In addition, she diligently practiced and reviewed exam questions, combining this with learning new vocabulary.

Nguyen makes use of every free moment to study. As a certification exam approaches, she focuses more on reviewing.

The constant studying and exams put Nguyên under pressure. To regain her spirits, she often turned to music. Since childhood, Thảo Nguyên has participated in dancesport performances and competitions, and knows how to play three musical instruments: piano, violin, and guzheng (Chinese zither).

According to the student, exposure to art helped her develop focus, discipline, and the ability to balance her studies with her life. Learning to play the guzheng also helped her understand more about Chinese culture.

Nguyen's personal essay, approximately two A4 pages long, focuses on her personal development journey, academic achievements, extracurricular activities, and motivation for pursuing a career in Law.

Instead of listing achievements, Nguyen wanted the school to see that he had a clear direction, leadership abilities, and had grown from his experiences.

The female student, who is the head of the finance committee for the school's media and arts clubs, organized the "Mid-Autumn Festival of Love" 2024 charity program to support approximately 100 children affected by Typhoon Yagi in My Duc district (Hanoi). Over three weeks, the group raised more than 50 million VND along with books, stationery, and essential supplies.

"It was my first time leading a project, so it was quite stressful. However, I learned how to bring people together, delegate tasks, and take responsibility for the team," Nguyen said.

Hanoi female student gets accepted into both Tsinghua and Peking University - 1

Thao Nguyen, with her aspiration to be admitted to Tsinghua University, is pictured in her class yearbook photo. Photo: Provided by the subject.

After passing the application screening, Nguyen proceeded to the interview round at Tsinghua and Fudan Universities. The admissions committee questioned him in both English and Chinese, and also tested his thinking skills through mathematical questions.

Meanwhile, Peking University requires applicants to pass an exam consisting of three subjects: Mathematics, English, and Chinese. Applicants then draw a random topic and must engage in continuous argumentation and debate with other candidates.

"The exam was very long, requiring rapid, macro-level thinking, critical reasoning skills, and the ability to handle high pressure," Nguyen observed.

Mr. Nguyen Tien Hau, homeroom teacher of class 12G0, commented that his students are gentle, sociable, and enthusiastic about group activities.

"Thao Nguyen is always self-motivated and proactive in her studies, often achieving high results in school exams," the teacher said.

Currently, Thao Nguyen is waiting for the scholarship results and is still undecided between Tsinghua University and Peking University. In the long term, she plans to specialize in economic law and hopes to work in a multinational environment.

Source: https://vnexpress.net/nu-sinh-ha-noi-do-ca-thanh-hoa-va-bac-dai-5076765.html