RMIT students win big at Vietnam Young Lions and L’Oréal Brandstorm

RMIT students win big at Vietnam Young Lions and L’Oréal Brandstorm

Students from RMIT Vietnam have delivered an outstanding performance at this year’s Vietnam Young Lions and L’Oréal Brandstorm competitions, two of the most competitive platforms for emerging talent in marketing and creative communications.

RMIT Vietnam has once again affirmed its creative excellence, being named the “Most Winning University” at Vietnam Young Lions 2026 for the fifth time, while also securing a spot at the global finals of L’Oréal Brandstorm 2026. The dual success highlights the calibre of the University’s students and their ability to translate classroom learning into high-impact, real-world solutions under intense pressure.

Dominating Vietnam Young Lions 2026 

At Vietnam Young Lions 2026, RMIT Vietnam students achieved impressive results in the Student League, winning Gold and Silver in Film, Silver in Digital, and Bronze in Marketers.

The University’s impact extended to the Industry League, where RMIT Vietnam students and alumni swept the Film category, taking home Gold, Silver and Bronze. The Gold-winning team will represent Vietnam at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity this June. 

RMIT Vietnam has been named the “Most Winning University” at Vietnam Young Lions for the fifth time. (Image: Vietnam Young Lions) RMIT Vietnam has been named the “Most Winning University” at Vietnam Young Lions for the fifth time. (Image: Vietnam Young Lions)

Dr Soumik Parida, RMIT Associate Program Manager for the Professional Communication program, said the achievement reflects both student capability and strong preparation.

“We are delighted that RMIT Vietnam has been named the “Most Winning University” at Vietnam Young Lions for the fifth time. Having won the title in 2019, 2020, 2021–22, and 2023, it feels especially rewarding to bring it back in 2026,” he said. 

“This year, our team placed a strong focus on preparation by running workshops before the competition and working closely with finalists to get them ready for the final round. That extra effort made a real difference, and it is wonderful to see it reflected in the results.”

Among the standout teams was TIHI, which won Gold in the Film category after completing a 48-hour challenge to create a one-minute viral TikTok video for KitKat.

TIHI team won Gold in the Film category (Image: Vietnam Young Lions)TIHI team won Gold in the Film category (Image: Vietnam Young Lions)

“Our team took an unconventional approach. We didn’t shoot anything in person but instead used logos from other brands to highlight KitKat’s role in a creative way,” said Dang Truong Minh Huong, Professional Communication student.

“The biggest challenge was delivering a well-crafted video within 48 hours. During that time, we self-learned After Effects and explored more than 100 logos before selecting the final ones,” Huong added.

Heading to Paris for L’Oréal Brandstorm global finals

Just days later, RMIT Vietnam students continued their winning streak at L’Oréal Brandstorm 2026, the biggest youth innovation competition worldwide.

Following the national final on 22 April 2026, team "ALT" - ALTERNATIVE won the championship and earned the opportunity to represent Vietnam at the global finals in Paris, France. The 2026 competition in Vietnam recorded a milestone with 10,755 participants from 80 universities nationwide.

With the theme “Craft the future of luxury fragrance”, the competition challenged students to push beyond the boundaries of traditional perfume creation.

Outperforming a record 10,755 participants from 80 universities nationwide, team "ALT" - ALTERNATIVE secured their place at the global finals in France. (Image: L’Oréal Brandstorm) Outperforming a record 10,755 participants from 80 universities nationwide, team "ALT" - ALTERNATIVE secured their place at the global finals in France. (Image: L’Oréal Brandstorm)

The winning team "ALT" - ALTERNATIVE comprised three Digital Marketing students. They said the experience encouraged them to think more boldly about innovation and consumer engagement.

Tran Minh Anh Thu said: “This competition was an opportunity for us to bring our perspective as bold Gen Z consumers to the table, and turn it into something that is relevant, expressive, and capable of driving real change.”

To make the idea work, the team stepped into entirely new areas such as biotechnology and chemistry.

Nguyen Quynh Lam reflected: “At first, it was overwhelming. But over time, that feeling shifted. Being able to read and understand a scientific or biomedical article gave us a real sense of excitement and pride, and that gradually replaced the initial fear.”

For the team, "learning doesn’t stop at your own field, and sometimes the most valuable growth comes from stepping into the unknown,” as noted by Nguyen Le Minh Trung.

(L-R): Tran Minh Anh Thu, Nguyen Quynh Lam, Nguyen Le Minh Trung of “ALT” - ALTERNATIVE team (Image: L’Oréal Brandstorm) (L-R): Tran Minh Anh Thu, Nguyen Quynh Lam, Nguyen Le Minh Trung of “ALT” - ALTERNATIVE team (Image: L’Oréal Brandstorm)

Dr Hoang Ai Phuong, Senior Program Manager for Digital Marketing, said the result highlights how RMIT Vietnam students are increasingly able to translate their learning into real-world contexts.

Through a strategic combination of academic exposure, hands-on projects, and sustained industry interaction, they develop the confidence and capability to navigate complex business challenges well beyond the classroom.

Dr Phuong said: “What truly set this team apart was their exceptional approach to the L’Oréal challenge. Their victory was grounded in in-depth research into evolving market needs and a nuanced understanding of Gen Z’s unique expectations.

“By combining a genuine passion for the tech-driven beauty industry with an innovative and scalable solution, they demonstrated the qualities of the next generation of marketing leaders.”

Preparing students for industry success

In addition, a team from RMIT University also secured the runner-up position at the HSBC Business Case Competition 2026. This is an impressive result in a prestigious academic arena, where teams present their business solutions to a panel of judges.

These achievements highlight RMIT Vietnam students’ ability to excel on prestigious stages, demonstrating creativity, resilience and strong industry readiness.

Through a strong emphasis on experiential learning and industry engagement, RMIT Vietnam continues to equip students with the skills and confidence to succeed in an increasingly competitive creative landscape.

Story: June Pham 

24 April 2026

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