From a life-changing scholarship to teaching English to rural children

From a life-changing scholarship to teaching English to rural children

Empowered by the RMIT Vietnam Opportunity Scholarship, Ha Viet Tinh has not only fulfilled his dream of attending university but also realised a promise he made to himself four years ago.

Waking up at 5:30am to catch a 30-kilometre bus ride from his home in rural Chuong My District to RMIT’s Hanoi campus in Giang Vo ward, followed by classes, group work, and extracurricular activities, before another two-hour bus journey home in the late afternoon – this was Ha Viet Tinh’s daily routine throughout his three years as a Bachelor of Business student at RMIT Vietnam.

For the now 27-year-old Tinh, the long commute gave him even more reason to make the most of his time on campus. “Because it took such a big effort to get to campus, I was even more motivated to study well. I often used the commute to revise past lessons or work on my assignments,” Tinh said.

Ha Viet Tinh with an RMIT photo boothThe RMIT Vietnam Opportunity Scholarship bolstered Ha Viet Tinh’s dream to go to university in 2020. (Photo: RMIT)

Studying at an international university like RMIT Vietnam was a dream come true for Tinh. After graduating high school and getting accepted into two universities in 2017, Tinh chose to enter the workforce to gain experience and support his family, who at that time were relying on farming income and had been living below the poverty line for many years.

Tinh tried his hand at various jobs, from working at a chicken farm to a garment factory. Thanks to a vocational training course at REACH, a non-governmental organisation supporting disadvantaged youth, he landed a role as a retail salesperson for a beverage company. It was also through REACH that he first heard about RMIT’s scholarship program.

In 2020, with REACH’s recommendation, Tinh successfully applied for an Opportunity Scholarship. The scholarship covers tuition fees for both English and higher education programs, as well as a monthly living stipend and other allowances.

He began his RMIT journey with the UniSTART program at the School of English & University Pathways (SEUP), which helped him hone his English proficiency and academic skills such as teamwork and presentation. In late 2021, he officially started his undergraduate degree.

Tinh (standing, far left) working with teammates during the RMIT Global Leadership Experience program in 2022 in HanoiTinh (standing, far left) working with teammates during the RMIT Global Leadership Experience program in 2022 in Hanoi (Photo: RMIT)

“At first, I was worried because I came from such a different background compared to my peers. But the year I spent in SEUP gave me the perfect stepping stone and much more self-confidence,” he said.

In group assignments, Tinh often took the initiative to contribute his strengths, such as conducting research and finding presentation templates for the whole team to add content to. He also made it a habit to finish assignments three or four days ahead of deadlines. His proactive and professional attitude quickly earned him the trust of his classmates, many of whom asked to work with him again.

Beyond the classroom, Tinh was well-known as an enthusiastic and dedicated member of the RMIT community. He served as a Student Ambassador and was a core member of RMIT Event Drive (RED), volunteering to support dozens of campus events. He also worked as a concierge at Student Connect, helping RMIT peers with enquiries, and took part in organising activities for international students on exchange at RMIT, among other roles.

“When people my age were going to university and enjoying their student life, I was working hard to earn a living. So, I promised myself that if I ever got to attend university, I would take full advantage of the student experience,” Tinh said.

Nguyen Thi Phuong Linh, Interim Manager of Student Activities at RMIT Vietnam, said of Tinh: “He is a living example of someone who never shies away from challenges and makes the most of every opportunity. In his first two years, he was practically at every campus event, helping out in some capacity. Whatever the task, Tinh approached it with seriousness, dedication, and initiative.

“After three years, the once slightly reserved young man has grown into someone much more confident, mature, and determined. I truly believe that with his open-minded attitude and willingness to learn, Tinh’s potential will take him even further.”  

Tinh with student volunteers and staff at the RMIT Welcome Day in 2023 Tinh with student volunteers and staff at the RMIT Welcome Day in 2023 (Photo: RMIT)
Tinh assisting first-year students at the RMIT Welcome Day (Photo: RMIT)Tinh assisting first-year students at the RMIT Welcome Day (Photo: RMIT)

The fulfilling student experience gave Tinh the confidence to take on new challenges. In late 2023, he stepped out of his comfort zone once again – this time to study abroad at RMIT’s Melbourne city campus.

“For me, that nine-month cross-campus program was a priceless experience. It was the first time I studied abroad and faced challenges like finding accommodation, searching for jobs, and navigating public transport in a foreign city on my own,” he recalled.

“It was also the first time I received support from RMIT peers right in Melbourne. When they heard I hadn’t found a part-time job yet, they pitched in to buy groceries to help me get by.”

During his time in Australia, Tinh juggled four part-time jobs – working as a sales assistant, kitchen helper, photographer, and hotel server. Thanks to the flexible shifts, he stayed within the 48 work hours per fortnight limit set by the Australian government for international students.

“These jobs helped a lot with my finances in Melbourne, where living costs are quite high. By budgeting wisely, upon returning to Vietnam I was able to repay the emergency fund I had borrowed from my family. I also managed to save up some more money to buy my very first motorbike,” Tinh said with a smile.

Tinh with suitcases and posing in city centreTinh upon his arrival in Australia, and after some months studying and working in the Australian city (Photo courtesy of Ha Viet Tinh)
Tinh with two RMIT staffTinh took part in a student competition in Melbourne. (Photo courtesy of Ha Viet Tinh)
Tinh as hotel server and as volunteer at RMIT GraduationDuring his time in Australia, Tinh worked several part-time jobs including as a hotel assistant and an event supporter for RMIT’s Graduation ceremony in 2023. (Photo courtesy of Ha Viet Tinh)

After returning to Vietnam, Tinh sought tips from his friends on how to apply for internships and study auditing, then successfully secured a competitive internship at EY Vietnam, one of the Big 4 accounting firms.

Despite having a degree in Business (Management) and diverse work experiences, Tinh did not seek a job in an organisation right after graduation. Instead, he followed through on a dream he had nurtured since receiving the RMIT scholarship – to start an English teaching project for children and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Launched in early 2025, the Green English project has offered free online English classes to dozens of learners across different age groups in Chuong My District in Hanoi and Nam Dinh Province, with Tinh himself as the teacher. Following positive feedback from his students, he is now finalising legal paperwork to open a physical English centre.

Before RMIT, Tinh didn’t have access to formal English training beyond his secondary school classes. He used to teach himself vocabulary by watching YouTube videos and practice further by striking up conversations with foreign tourists around Hoan Kiem Lake after work.

“I’ve gone through many struggles myself, so I want to support others – especially students with similar backgrounds to mine – in their English learning journey. I’ve always dreamed of teaching English, but never have I imagined that I’d one day open a centre in my hometown,” he said.

“What I’m most proud of in my personal growth journey so far is having the courage to turn Green English into reality. I believe that very often you don’t choose your career – your career chooses you. What matters most is finding passion in your work. When you’re passionate, you work with purpose and get better results.”

Ha Viet TInh in graduation gownTinh at the Graduation ceremony for RMIT’s Hanoi campus students in April 2025 (Photo: RMIT)

Having strived to better himself while making the most of his student life, Tinh has graduated university with valuable skills and experiences. The road ahead may bring new challenges, but he is confident in his own perseverance.

“My philosophy is to never stop learning and exploring. There are times I don’t know exactly where I’m headed, but I always persevere with curiosity and determination. Time and again I remind myself to focus on what I can do today, savour the present, and give my all to any new goals,” he shared.

Story: Ngoc Hoang

18 April 2025

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