Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Nguyen Hoang Kim Han. Today, it’s my honor to represent the first cohort of Internal Medicine and Pediatric residents to share our thoughts about the wonderful journey at VinUni.

Over the past four years, many people have asked me: “Why did you choose the VinUni residency program?” Honestly, it’s not easy to answer. When I considered VinUni, I imagined meeting passionate young doctors, dedicated teachers, and visionary leaders transforming healthcare in Vietnam. I expected an international curriculum with faculty from the University of Pennsylvania, where residents could freely express their ideas and engage in evidence-based discussions. I even hoped to attend international conferences and observerships in the U.S., Europe, Korea, or Japan.

It was a beautiful vision, and many people laughed at me, calling it too risky and ambitious. But I didn’t let their concern affect my decision; I chose to be a VinUni resident. Now, I can confidently say that the reality has far exceeded my expectations. If I had to make that choice again, I would say, “Yes, I do!”

This journey reminds me of the story of Vietnamese bamboo. When planted, it shows no visible growth for the first four years. Then, it suddenly shoots up to 30 meters in just five weeks! During those initial years, the bamboo builds its foundation, spreading its roots wide and deep. Our residency program at VinUni is similar to that bamboo.

Now, after four years, we are starting to see the results of our hard work. VinUni’s College of Health Sciences is the first Sponsoring Institution in Vietnam to receive ACGME-I accreditation in 3 programs: Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, and Surgery. VinUni has also become the youngest and fastest university in the world to achieve QS 5-Star recognition. Most importantly, our first group of residents is ready to graduate and step into the world as qualified doctors.

Ladies and gentlemen, we had the support of so many people who accompanied our journey.

Firstly, I want to thank the leaders from The University of Pennsylvania, VinUniversity, Vinmec, Military 108 Central Hospital, National Children’s Hospital and our beloved faculty, for your excellent facilities and opportunities, which have empowered us to meet high standards in clinical care and learn the importance of critical thinking and compassion.

Next, I want to thank my fellow residents. We have supported each other through challenging and rewarding moments—whether responding to code blue calls, performing intubations, or placing lines during long, exhausting shifts. Thank you all!

Last but not least, I would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our families for placing your trust in us and supporting our decisions, even though they were risky, uncertain and reflective of youthful ambition. To become a resident at VinUni, many of us had to leave home, move to the North and step outside of our comfort zones. We weren’t the only ones chosen, nor were we the only ones qualified to become VinUni residents, but above all, we are the lucky ones, because we had unwavering trust, support, and encouragement from our families.

And now, as we look forward, I am filled with hope and optimism. This journey we’ve started together is just the beginning. I see a future where VinUni’s residency programs continue to grow, adapting to the challenges of modern medicine while keeping the core values, transform healthcare and serve our communities with compassion and excellence! I believe and hope that the 15 of us graduating today will become a part of that ambitious future! Thank you all for being an important part of this journey!