Dr. Vi Chi Thanh: Keep going to overcome obstacles.

(NLĐO) - From a student with weak English skills to a lecturer at the International University, Dr. Vi Chi Thanh chose to "just keep going" to overcome obstacles and pursue brain-computer technology.

From a student at a private school with limited English skills and a physique that once drew teasing from friends, Dr. Vi Chi Thanh – a lecturer in the Faculty of Information Technology, International University (Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City) – has persevered for over 25 years to achieve seemingly unattainable goals. When asked about his secret to overcoming obstacles, he simply smiled and said, "Just keep going, even if it's slow, as long as you keep moving."

Choosing a university simply to prove, "I can do it."

Born in 1984 in Phu Tho, Vi Chi Thanh was a student in the elite class at Luong The Vinh High School ( Hanoi ) – Vietnam's first private high school founded by teacher Van Nhu Cuong. At the age of 18, when his friends had already clearly defined their dreams, Thanh admitted that he… didn't have a specific goal yet.

Dr. Vi Chi Thanh

He didn't have a clear dream, but he knew he excelled in science subjects. In the late 1990s, engineering was a popular choice for many talented students, with Hanoi University of Technology and Hanoi University of Architecture known for their high competition rates. Thanh applied to eight universities simultaneously.

As a result, he was accepted into three universities: Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Hanoi University of Civil Engineering, and Hanoi College (now Hanoi University). The 18-year-old's final decision was quite simple: he chose Hanoi University of Science and Technology because "I heard it's the leading technical university in the country."

"At that time, I was a bit competitive and wanted to test myself in the most challenging place to prove myself," he recalled.

Upon entering the Polytechnic University, after completing the general studies, Thanh chose Electronics and Telecommunications – considered the most challenging major at the time. "Back then, I was a bit reckless, always choosing the difficult to challenge myself," he laughed. Looking back, however, the foundation in mathematics, signals, and systems from Electronics and Telecommunications became a crucial stepping stone when he switched to Information Technology at a higher level of study.

Study for a master's degree in the UK with an IELTS score of 5.5.

Graduating with an engineering degree at the age of 23, Vi Chi Thanh faced a new crossroads. During his university years, he discovered his passion for programming and decided to switch to information technology – a "hot" field at the time.

He applied for and won a full scholarship from the British Government to pursue a master's degree at the University of Bristol – one of Europe's leading centers for computer science and human-computer interaction.

Vi Chi Thanh is pursuing a master's degree at the University of Bristol.

But the journey was far from easy. When he arrived in England, his IELTS score was only 5.5. His weak foundation in information technology, the entirely English-language academic environment, the harsh weather, the cultural differences… all contributed to a major shock.

"There were times I thought I'd fail a few subjects and have to repeat a year. Everything was stressful," he recounted.

The first three months were the most challenging. He set himself a goal each day to try a little harder: read more, ask more questions, and do his assignments more thoroughly. "After about three months, I started to get used to English in the UK, and to the intensity of studying. The more I studied, the more passionate I became, so I continued, from master's to doctorate," he shared.

At the doctoral level, he pursued a research area that was quite new at the time: electroencephalography (EEG) and brain-computer interfaces (BCI). Initially, he thought this was just a tool to help people with disabilities communicate with computers. But the deeper he delved, the more he realized the enormous potential of connecting the brain to digital devices.

"The brain is a complex world. If we understand it correctly and utilize it properly, we can unlock many new applications for medicine, education , and life," he said.

Returning to Vietnam means starting over from scratch.

After completing his PhD, Vi Chi Thanh had a stable job in England, a good income, a small family with a house and a car. Life seemed settled.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 made him reconsider. His longing for family, Vietnamese culture, and a desire to make a more tangible impact on the community prompted him to consider returning.

He spent nearly a year researching the research environment in Vietnam. When he learned about the International University (Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City) – where training and research are conducted entirely in English – he realized this could be the right environment to continue his academic career.

In 2023, he and his family decided to return to Vietnam, choosing Ho Chi Minh City over Hanoi – where he had lived for so long. Three years later, he affirms that it was the right decision. "The people here are very enthusiastic. The dynamic and open lifestyle of Ho Chi Minh City helped my family adapt easily. As for the weather, there's almost nothing to complain about," he said.

In a small laboratory in Ho Chi Minh City, surrounded by sensors, brainwaves, cloud data, and machine learning algorithms, he and his colleagues pursue the goal of applying brain-computer technology to mental health care.

Dr. Vi Chi Thanh (standing) with the Focus+ device.

Beyond academic research, he also laid the foundation for Brain-Life – a startup developing BCI solutions that combine artificial intelligence to support stress management, improve concentration, and enhance quality of life.

"What I want is not just to publish scientific papers, but to bring technology into real life," he shared.

On February 6th, in Hanoi, Dr. Vi Chi Thanh – a lecturer at the International University (Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City) and CEO of Brain-Life Link Technology Joint Stock Company – officially announced that his startup had received a strategic investment of 10 billion VND from the international venture capital fund IDGX. This is considered a significant milestone, opening up opportunities to bring "make-in-Vietnam" neurotechnology to the global market.

Funding from IDGX will be focused on key areas to accelerate the product's commercialization. First, the company will finalize and optimize the hardware and software versions of the Focus+ device. Simultaneously, it will standardize and register for international quality and safety standards. Brain-Life also plans to launch mass production and conduct large-scale testing with approximately 300 initial users in early April of this year, before officially releasing the product to the market in the summer of the same year.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/ts-vi-chi-thanh-cu-di-de-vuot-rao-can-196260213222047999.htm