With a score of 3.62/4.0, Nguyen Thi Thu Hai is the valedictorian of the 2025 graduation class of the Religious Studies major, Faculty of Anthropology and Religious Studies, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU-USSH).
Female valedictorian on college graduation day
The 22-year-old girl was born in Thai Binh province (old) in a family with a tradition of Mother Goddess worship. Hai's father is a Chau Van singer and her mother is a Thanh Dong. She herself is also a child of the Tam, Tu Phu Mother Goddess worship, a Thanh Dong who practices this belief.
Talking to a reporter from the Vietnamese Student Page of Tien Phong Newspaper, Hai shared: “I grew up with traditional rituals rich in identity and always wanted to understand more deeply about the indigenous beliefs of the nation as well as other religions present in our country. Not only to understand but also to contribute to preserving and promoting the beauty of a Mother religion - both sacred and deeply humane of the Vietnamese people”.
Thu Hai and her mother received the valedictorian award from the teachers in the school's Board of Directors.
Learning from the classroom to practiceAfter three years of studying block A00 (Math-Physics-Chemistry), Hai changed direction at the last minute to take block D01 (Math-Literature-English) because she wanted to study religion systematically. When she first entered school, she was often confused by the general subjects that were heavily academic in social sciences. Hai doubted her own choice, not knowing if she had the ability to pursue a major about people, emotions and beliefs like Religious Studies.
“I gradually discovered something very valuable, which is the intersection between the analytical thinking of natural sciences and the empathy of social sciences. It helped me have a unique perspective when approaching religious phenomena - both systematic and rich in humanistic depth,” Hai recalls.
Hai when performing the Hau Dong ritual, an important ritual in the Mother Goddess worship.
Overcoming initial difficulties, Hai gradually shined in her specialized subjects. She often approached religious phenomena with the method of 'one foot in, one foot out' - that is, being a participant, immersing herself in the religious space, while keeping a certain distance to observe and analyze from a scientific perspective. Academic knowledge was no longer dry but became more lively, closer and more applicable.
Among the specialized subjects, Hai was very impressed with the subject Festivals in Beliefs and Religions in Vietnam taught by Dr. Tran Thi Hang, who is also the academic advisor of the K66 Religious Studies class of which Hai is the class monitor. What made Hai love this subject was the way the lecturer "brought festivals to the classroom" with vivid images, valuable documentary videos and stories from field experiences.
Those lessons opened up a rich world of spiritual culture, helping Hai better understand the relationship between religion, beliefs and community in Vietnamese life. It was also from this subject that Hai began to cultivate a serious academic spirit, gaining more motivation to research more deeply about festivals and folk beliefs.
Dr. Tran Thi Hang with Hai and classmates in class K66 Religious Studies.
In addition to book knowledge, Hai also learned from teachers outside the classroom. They were people who practiced folk beliefs, mediums, and incense keepers. They shared with her a lot of valuable knowledge from practice, helping her have a more multi-dimensional view when approaching religious phenomena and beliefs.
Hai also had the opportunity to meet friends of many different religions, to exchange and discuss the cultural and spiritual values of each individual. These conversations not only broadened Hai’s worldview, but also helped her understand the diversity, tolerance and humanity of religion in life.
“The combination of academic thinking, practical experience and the spirit of continuous learning has helped me maintain my motivation to study throughout my university years,” Hai affirmed.
Hai and his friends in the scientific research group with Meritorious Artisan Nguyen Tat Kim Hung (in black shirt), head priest of Nguyen Khiet Linh Tu temple, Hanoi.
Every time I introduce myself as a student of Religious Studies, many people express surprise, doubt and ask questions: "What can I do with this major?", "Is it difficult to study such an abstract major?".
For Hai, those questions were an opportunity for her to explain and spread the excitement of this field of study. After the conversation, many people expressed their curiosity and wanted to learn more, which made her very happy. She believes that Religious Studies is not only for academic purposes but also helps in understanding oneself, people and society.
Some pictures of class K66 Religious Studies on the field trip.
Understanding Religion for Sustainable DevelopmentSince her second year, Hai has been involved in scientific research. She has won second prize at the school level twice and is the author of a key student scientific research topic. She has had two articles published in the Journal of Religious Studies and the Journal of Cultural Studies.
“I still remember the days when the whole research group went to the highlands, slept together in local houses, attended festivals and folk rituals to gain a deeper understanding of local religious life. There were nights when our assignment deadline was near, we stayed up all night to collect documents and discuss enthusiastically every little detail in the research manuscript,” Hai shared.
Hai's graduation thesis, titled Tiger God Worship at Mother Goddess Temples and Saint Tran Temples in Private Homes, was conducted under the guidance of Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Thi Kim Oanh - former Head of the Department of Religious Studies.
