Vietnam university awards student with nearly $4,000 and iPhone 17 Pro for winning SEA Games esport gold

Nguyen Thanh Duyen, a second-year Economic Law student at Ho Chi Minh City University of Banking, received the prizes during the university’s graduation ceremony on Dec. 21. Her grade point average in the most recent semester was 7.8 out of 10.

"I feel extremely happy and proud. I’m grateful to my teachers for supporting me throughout my training and competitions. This reward is a huge encouragement," Duyen said.

Duyen plays as a marksman (ADL), the core carry role in Vietnam’s women’s Lien Quan Mobile team. At the 33rd SEA Games, she and her teammates delivered a dominant 4–0 victory over Laos in the final, securing a gold medal.

She said she first became interested in esports in sixth grade, drawn to its fast pace and demand for quick thinking. Her family was initially opposed, worried that gaming would distract her from schoolwork.

To reassure her parents, Duyen maintained strong academic results throughout junior high and high school before earning admission to Ho Chi Minh City University of Banking.

She limits her gaming time to no more than three hours a day and stops playing entirely during exam periods. In June, she and several friends formed a team, competed in national qualifiers and were eventually selected to represent Vietnam at the SEA Games.

During the training phase, the team practiced around six hours a day, mostly in the evenings. During the daytime, Duyen continued attending classes and keeping up with coursework.

According to Duyen, teamwork is the most critical factor in esports competition, requiring strong coordination and mutual understanding. Teams that lack chemistry, she said, struggle to win even if they have talented individuals.

Duyen’s father, Nguyen Viet Thang, traveled 40 km from Dong Nai to Ho Chi Minh City to attend the ceremony. He said he initially felt anxious seeing his daughter play video games and often urged her to focus on studying. His concerns eased after she was accepted into university, and he gradually became more supportive.

"The moment my daughter and her teammates won the gold medal was incredibly emotional for me," he said.

While viewing the SEA Games gold medal as a meaningful milestone, Duyen said she does not plan to pursue a professional esports career.

"Esports is still my passion, but mainly as a form of recreation. My priority is to graduate and work in the law or economics field," she said.