The Unsung Hero Who Safeguards VinUni’s Peace

Have you ever wondered why everything at VinUni seems to run so smoothly?

Why the elevators glide quietly, the floors and walls are always well kept, and every step you take across this vast campus feels… safe? 

Behind all that order and calm are people who work quietly in the background. They don’t stand under spotlights. They don’t appear at grand ceremonies. But they are the ones who keep the entire system in rhythm. One of those quiet heroes is Mr. Bến, the officer in charge of Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) at VinUni, who has dedicated himself to this work for the past four years. 

Let’s listen to his story and see how the sense of peace we feel every day is built on countless moments of unseen dedication. 

“We work so people don’t have to notice.” 

If I had to describe what the HSE team does every day, it wouldn’t be easy to know where to start. But put simply: when doors don’t squeak, elevators run smoothly, no one gets bitten by snakes or mosquitoes, no one slips in the hallways, and fire safety is always under control—that’s when our team is doing its job well. 

VinUni’s campus is large and closely connected to nature. It sits by the river, surrounded by a rich ecosystem, which means potential risks are always there. Seasonal mosquitoes, insects, snakes. High railings. Students crossing internal roads. Electrical risks. Construction or renovation work that could go wrong if procedures aren’t followed. 

All of this is what Mr. Bến and the HSE team constantly keep under control so the VinUni community can learn and work in the safest possible environment. 

“The best kind of safety is the kind people don’t have to think about. When everything runs smoothly, that’s when the effort behind it truly matters.” 

No Two Workdays Are Ever the Same 

For Mr. Bến, no workday ever looks like the one before it. His job shifts with the seasons, with events, and with what the campus needs at any given moment. 

When summer comes and the heat rises, he and his team quickly roll out insect prevention measures: improving door hinges so doors close automatically, installing insect lamps, checking drainage systems, and adding more insect-control equipment in the dormitories. 

Snake handling becomes a top priority during peak seasons. The moment there’s a report, the HSE team is on site, no delay, no assumptions. 

And it doesn’t stop there. Whether it’s a 1,250-square-meter swimming pool or large-scale events with more than 1,000 participants, the operations team quietly runs logistics in the background, ensuring everything works as it should. Some months, they support over 100 events—without a single complaint. 

I truly believe very few places operate like VinUni. Even at a swimming pool of over 1,000 square meters, with relatively few users per session, lifeguards and medical staff are always on standby. Absolute safety is non-negotiable. That’s what makes me proudest. 

When a Burnt Sausage Triggers a Fire Alarm 

One memory Mr. Bến still laughs about is a fire alarm alert from the dormitory. The whole team rushed over only to discover the culprit was… a burnt sausage. 

Despite strict fire safety rules, he’s encountered many “mini parties” in student rooms: hot pots with electric stoves, roasted sweet potatoes, grilled sausages. 

“I get it,” he says. “Those are small joys of student life. But whether it’s sausage, sweet potatoes, or hot pot, everything has to stay under control for your own safety.” 

What must never happen is becoming complacent. Once there’s a signal, the team has to respond immediately. 

He says this calmly, not sternly, but with the steady conviction of someone who knows that long-term safety comes from discipline and consistency. 

Dedication from the Very First Experience 

Before joining VinUni, Mr. Bến spent nearly ten years working in industrial factories – places where safety standards are absolute and procedures must be followed to the letter. That background helped him adapt quickly to the demanding yet deeply human-centered environment of Vingroup, where safety and community experience guide every decision. 

Proactively protecting the community is what keeps him committed to this role. His biggest hope is that more students will actively join free safety training sessions. 

“We’ll always be here,” he says, “so safety is something students don’t have to think about; it’s simply something they can rely on at VinUni. But if you can spend a little time listening to safety guidance, that would be the greatest gift for us.” 

No matter what, one thing remains certain: your safety has always been, and will always be, our top priority at VinUni. 

The Greatest Reward 

“I don’t want to talk about my own efforts,” Mr. Bến says modestly. 

Because for him, this is a collective journey of the entire Operations team. Day after day, hour after hour, they work to make VinUni the safest, cleanest, and most welcoming place possible. 

From the early days when VinUni was still under construction, the operations team stood quietly behind every activity. No glamour. No spotlight. Yet their presence is felt in every smoothly opening door, every safety sign in place, and every confident step students take across campus. 

Over four years, Mr. Bến has been honored twice as Employee of the Year. But awards, he says, have never mattered most. 

“The greatest reward for me is a peaceful day. Seeing students and colleagues able to study and work without worrying about hidden risks.” 

Perhaps people like him, whose work never catches the spotlight, are the truest heroes in a growing academic community like VinUni.