Hoang Do Thao Nhi, a student of class K66 Korean Studies, Faculty of Oriental Studies, is the valedictorian of the April 2025 graduating class of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.
Thao Nhi received a certificate of merit for outstanding graduating students from Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dang Thi Thu Huong - Vice Rector of VNU-USSH.
The girl, born in 2003, is currently working at a South Korean company in Hai Phong city, having been selected through a talent recruitment program jointly organized by the company and the school.
Sharing with a reporter from the Vietnam Student News section of Tien Phong newspaper, Thao Nhi said: “I was very surprised and happy to hear that I was the valedictorian. When I entered university, I set a goal of getting an excellent degree, but I never thought I would become the valedictorian in this early graduation ceremony.”
From a young age, Nhi knew about South Korea through television dramas. In middle school, she started listening to K-pop and became a fan of the popular boy band BTS. Through this, Nhi gradually developed a fondness for and a desire to explore more deeply, not only the entertainment industry but also the people, culture, and society of this Northeast Asian nation.
In 2021, Nhi was admitted to her first-choice program, Korean Studies, with a score of 28.03 for the D78 subject combination (Literature, English, Social Sciences). This was also the program with the highest admission score at VNU-USSH and had previously caused a nationwide sensation with a record-breaking cutoff score of 30/30 for the C00 subject combination in that year's exam.
Thảo Nhi brought photos of BTS members to her graduation ceremony in April 2025.
As a former student of the Literature specialized class at Le Hong Phong High School for the Gifted in Nam Dinh province, Nhi already possessed a strong academic foundation. In university, she maintained her excellent academic performance, consistently achieving a GPA of 3.6/4.0 or higher, with her highest semester reaching a perfect 4.0/4.0. Nhi received scholarships from the university in 6 out of 7 semesters, as well as corporate scholarships from KF-Samsung and SJ Tech Oesol.
"I don't differentiate between general subjects and specialized subjects, nor do I have any special study methods. I just try my best to complete the assignments given by the professors," Nhi said.
On her very first attempt, Nhi successfully conquered the TOPIK Level 5 advanced Korean language proficiency certificate, almost three years after she began learning the language. At that time, she was studying the Advanced Korean Comprehensive 6 textbook, the highest level in the six-volume series for her Korean Studies program.
The female student shared that grammar was the most difficult part of learning Korean. This is because the language has many grammatical structures with similar meanings but different usages. To effectively memorize Korean grammar, Nhi often creates tables comparing the similarities and differences between them, as well as using specific, relatable examples.
With her outstanding academic achievements, Nhi was accepted into the Student Academic and Scientific Research Club of the Faculty of Oriental Studies, which helped her develop critical thinking, research skills, and teamwork abilities. She also had the opportunity to expand her academic knowledge and improve her analytical and synthesis skills.
Thao Nhi with lecturers and classmates from the Korean Studies department, Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Social Sciences and Humanities.
Having completed almost all her courses over three years, Nhi wrote her graduation thesis in the first semester of her final year with the topic "The Success and Influence of Kpop on Promoting the National Image of South Korea in the US (2017-2023)," supervised by Dr. Ha Minh Thanh.
According to her, with the trend of globalization and international integration, countries around the world are increasingly prioritizing building, promoting, and enhancing their national image. South Korea is a leading country in this trend with its soft power strategy, using K-pop as a tool for cultural diplomacy. This has contributed to promoting and enhancing the image of South Korea internationally, especially in the United States.
Recognizing this as an interesting topic, Nhi spent a lot of time researching and chose it as her thesis topic. Because she had long admired BTS and witnessed their success in the American music market, Nhi was even more determined to conduct research closely related to her idols.
The top-scoring student also shared her regrets from her student days, such as not having participated in scientific research, especially at a research-oriented university like VNU-USSH. Nhi is also working hard every day with the determination to soon pass the highest level Korean language proficiency test, Topik 6.
Thao Nhi and her parents at her university graduation ceremony.
Currently, Nhi wants to focus entirely on her work to gain practical experience. She is also seeking opportunities to study in South Korea to broaden her knowledge and have more exciting experiences during her youth.
"Everyone has difficult times, but if we believe in ourselves and put in our best effort, we will surely receive the results we deserve one day," Thao Nhi emphasized.
Vietnam Student Newspaper:
Valedictorian graduates early from the Faculty of Humanities with a thesis on Kpop.
