In high school, Ho Le Minh Thach wasn’t aiming for awards. He was bright but unremarkable – the kind of student who got by without standing out. That changed the moment he stumbled across a free coding course online and for the first time, learning felt exciting. He could build things, solve problems and see his ideas come to life.
Today, at 23, Thach is a software engineer in Melbourne. A graduate of RMIT's Bachelor of Engineering (Software Engineering) (Honours) program, he’s on a mission to use technology to solve real problems and improve lives.
RMIT played a big role in his transformation – providing the ideal environment where he was able to turn his curiosity into capability, and his potential into real breakthroughs.
Ho Le Minh Thach is ready for his next technology breakthrough.
At RMIT Vietnam, Thach discovered that engineering wasn’t just about technical expertise – it was about applying creative thinking to real-world problems. The university’s project-based curriculum and hands-on learning gave him the confidence to take risks, the tools to test ideas and the space to dream big.
“At RMIT, I had the freedom to explore and the support to execute,” he recalls. “I learned to think like an engineer who builds with purpose.”
As his understanding of technology deepened, so did his desire to use it for more than just academic success. Thach began to seek out problems that mattered – everyday challenges that could be made easier, fairer, or healthier through thoughtful design.
That mindset quickly translated into action. In early 2024, Thach made headlines when his app “Mindful Eating” won Apple’s Swift Student Challenge – becoming the only Vietnamese student to receive the honour that year. The app helps users build healthier eating habits by tracking how often they chew, promoting slower, more mindful meals. Thach built it in just two weeks over the Tet holiday, combining personal insight with technical skills.
Later that year, he joined a team of RMIT students to develop “HealthLight”, an AI-powered platform that provides Vietnamese speakers with accurate, accessible medical information. Built using retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) technology, HealthLight delivers citation-backed responses in Vietnamese – addressing a gap Thach and his peers had experienced firsthand.
Thach and his teammates were awarded Best Software Engineering and IT Project in 2024 with HealthLight.
Both projects reflect a larger pattern in Thach’s journey: identifying overlooked needs and building practical, inclusive solutions. The HealthLight project was named Best Software Engineering and IT Project at RMIT Vietnam’s capstone showcase. Thach credits that success not only to his teammates, but to the mentorship of RMIT lecturers who pushed them to stay grounded in practical application and ethical design.
As he made his mark through these projects, opportunities beyond the classroom began to open up. With support from RMIT’s career services and job fairs, he secured internships and contracts with NAB Innovation Centre, ANZ, and HCLTech Vietnam. By the time he graduated, his resume read like that of a seasoned professional.
At NAB, he worked as a platform engineer using Bash, Terraform and AWS – skills he developed through coursework and honed through hands-on projects. As an iOS engineer at ANZ and HCLTech, he contributed to mobile banking applications, earning internal recognition for his work.
“RMIT helped me become T-shaped,” he says – referring to the combination of deep technical knowledge and broader skills like communication, adaptability, and collaboration. “Those were crucial in the workplace.”
Working in cross-functional teams and presenting solutions to stakeholders gave Thach a head start in navigating the expectations of global workplaces.
Thach visited New Zealand Banking Group Limited (ANZ), Australia, during a business trip.
Now based in Melbourne, Thach continues to explore new ways to apply his passion for the latest technology for good. One of his recent side projects is “Time Jar”, a productivity app designed to help users track focused work over time. Spotting a lack of tools that supported Vietnamese language and productivity culture, he built the app to fill that gap – blending thoughtful UX design with a culturally inclusive approach.
“Tech is evolving fast, but I’m not chasing trends,” he says. “I want to create tools that genuinely help people.”
Even now, he says RMIT’s global network helps him stay connected and supported. “In Melbourne, I still meet RMIT alumni. There’s a shared mindset of curiosity, life-long learning and purpose that connects us.”
Reflecting on his journey, Thach is clear: his success wasn’t sudden. It was nurtured – by mentors, by peers, and by a university that challenged him to think differently.
“RMIT gave me the tools – and the belief – that I could use them to do something meaningful.”
From an average high school student to an award-winning engineer, Ho Le Minh Thach’s journey is more than a career trajectory. It’s a testament to what happens when potential meets purpose – and how RMIT gets students ready for what’s next.
