Connecting People – Building Culture

Sharing from MS. Phạm Thanh Hảo – Vice President of Administration

My journey with VinUni has truly been a matter of fate. In the past, I never imagined that I would work in education, a field to which my entire family has devoted their lives. After graduating, I chose a different path and entered the corporate world to build my own career. Yet the further I went, the more I realized that what I was truly passionate about, and what felt genuinely meaningful to me, had always revolved around people and human development. That is why, when I received the invitation to join VinUni in 2018, I did not hesitate. It felt like a calling a full circle that brought me back to education, but in a completely different way. 

VinUni is unlike any university I had ever known. It is a startup university, founded with the mission of building a world-class educational institution. From the very beginning, we set our sights not only on meeting domestic expectations, but on laying the groundwork for a Vietnamese university that meets international standards. I was drawn to the ambition of creating something that had never existed in Vietnam before, and I began the journey of building the University’s team from scratch. At the core of a university are not facilities, processes, or technology, but people, faculty members who create knowledge, and students who carry that knowledge out into the world. Connecting and developing a diverse team from different backgrounds has always been a deeply challenging task. 

We were fortunate to collaborate with prestigious universities such as Cornell and the University of Pennsylvania, and through these partnerships, I learned a great deal about how education can be designed as an environment where theory and practice are closely intertwined. Yet even with the support of strong partners, we still had to build everything ourselves from the ground up. Deadlocked meetings, rejected ideas, debates, and failed projects, all of these were challenges. But it was precisely through these challenges that we learned, grew, and continued to move forward. 

Along this journey, I realized that the greatest challenge was not simply building a university, but finding the right people, those who shared the same aspirations and were willing to walk alongside us. Recruitment was far more complex than in my previous roles, because we were seeking individuals with a global mindset, people capable of helping build a Vietnamese university of world-class stature. One of the most memorable moments for me was negotiating with Professor Maurizio Trevisan, who later became the Founding Dean of VinUni’s College of Health Sciences. At the time, it felt as though we were speaking two different languages, coming from different countries, educational systems, and ways of approaching problems. During a business trip, I traveled to New York to meet him, wanting to see his life and work firsthand, to listen to his story, his dreams, and what motivated him to consider dedicating himself to a new university in Vietnam. What I learned most deeply from that experience was empathy. To build a team, it is not enough to understand one another professionally – we must understand one another as people. That was the very first value we hoped to establish at VinUni: Empathy. 

The early years of VinUni were filled with difficulties. We had no laboratories, no students, and the campus was still incomplete. Yet I never felt alone. Beside me were true comrades – chị Mai Lan, chị Hồng Hà, thầy Linh, thầy Nam, thầy Dũng, thầy Trường, anh Việt, anh Minh, em Phương – people who shared every responsibility, even the smallest tasks. Five years ago, around this same time, we were installing Wi-Fi, carrying tables and chairs, preparing for the opening day together. When the campus was officially inaugurated on January 15, 2020, the sense of pride I felt was overwhelming. That moment was not just a milestone for VinUni; it was the culmination of countless hours of effort, sweat, and shared dreams. 

During our days at Tower 1 – Times City, even though we often worked until 8 or 9 p.m., we never felt exhausted. The atmosphere back then – the passionate startup spirit, the feeling that everyone was bonded like a family – made me feel incredibly fortunate to be part of this journey. I knew that every contribution I made, no matter how small, played a role in VinUni’s growth. And what I continue to treasure most, even today, is the unity and tireless dedication shown by those early pioneers. I do not believe that I have any particularly great personal achievements in my journey with VinUni. 

However, if I were to speak of a legacy, I believe the greatest one I can be proud of is the spirit and cultural values that VinUni is building. When people come to VinUni, they can feel an environment filled with passion, creativity, dedication, and genuine care for students. Here, no one hesitates to step up and contribute, even when the work falls outside their formal responsibilities. What brings me the greatest joy is knowing that this spirit has remained strong to this day. To me, that is true success. Seeing people embrace the culture, grow, mature, and be recognized that is my greatest pride. VinUni has passed its first five years filled with challenges, and if I had to describe my feeling in one word, it would be “pride.” Pride that we have done something greater than ourselves, contributing to a meaningful shared goal. Our mission is to nurture talent, create knowledge, and become an outstanding university. Five years in, we have achieved our first successes, and that dream is no longer distant. Yet I also know this is only the beginning. The years ahead will be about further establishing our position, setting higher goals, and writing a new and promising chapter. 

Alongside pride, the second emotion I wish to share is happiness, not just simple joy, but a sense of fulfillment: a feeling of warmth, completeness, and deep satisfaction. To build a strong organization and a meaningful workplace, every faculty member and staff member has made quiet sacrifices of time, effort, and personal life. Looking back, I realize that every sacrifice was worth it. Like great works that leave a lasting mark over time, VinUni cannot be built on vision alone; it requires the dedication and sacrifice of an entire collective. What we have created together here is living proof of that truth. The journey has not always been easy, nor filled only with joy, but every step forward has carried deep value. And in hindsight, everything feels worthwhile. 

As VinUni celebrates its 5th anniversary, I hope that all faculty members, staff, and leaders will continue to uphold the startup spirit, staying connected, united, and committed to building a legacy worthy of pride for Vietnamese education. Though we are still small, I firmly believe that VinUni holds a rare opportunity to drive change and set a new standard for education. This is not merely a task, but a profound and meaningful mission. And I believe that if we stand together, we can turn this opportunity into a once-in-a-lifetime journey, a legacy that when we look back in 2030, will fill us with fulfillment and pride. 

For parents, I believe your companionship is an indispensable part of your children’s success. The VinUni Community is not just a university; it is a strong network connecting faculty, staff, students, parents, partners, and mentors. It is this connection that creates the strength of the VinUni Community, a community rich in human values and always looking toward the future. 

For students, I place great trust in the VinUni youth, those who carry strong aspirations and a willingness to contribute. You are not only beneficiaries, but also ambassadors, carrying VinUni’s culture and values out into the world. I hope you will always dare to think big and give your all to the missions you choose to pursue. And if your path in youth is still unclear, live fully to explore and shape your own future. I hope that every VinUni student, wherever you go, will carry within you the DNA of a VinUnian – excellence, dedication, and a spirit of contribution – to inspire others and earn respect wherever you stand.