Vietnamese teacher quits stable job for full Harvard scholarship after seeing inequality firsthand

Now 29, he is pursuing a master’s degree in Education Policy Analysis there, fully funded by the U.S. government’s Fulbright Scholarship, a path shaped by his first-hand experience with inequality in Vietnam’s classrooms.

The scholarship covers more than US$62,000 in annual tuition, along with living expenses throughout his studies.

"I never thought I could go this far," Tung said.

But his journey to one of the world's most prestigious universities was not driven by ambition alone. It began with a quiet frustration over the stark gap in resources between Vietnam's public and private schools.

Tung initially followed what he calls the "well-trodden path": enter university, graduate, and find a stable job. While studying English at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, he began tutoring in his second year to gain experience.

That work slowly changed how he viewed education. He recalls students under such pressure that they cried daily, forcing him to spend as much time helping them manage emotions and stress as teaching academic content.

"That's when I realized students need far more from teachers than just knowledge," he said.

After graduating, Tung moved into curriculum design and teacher training, and joined projects building schools for children in mountainous areas. Fieldwork exposed him to a hard reality: private schools often have dedicated staff for student mental health, curriculum development and parent engagement, while public-school teachers are frequently expected to handle everything at once.

"In remote areas, teachers may have to persuade children to attend school, teach classes, and even worry about daily meals," Tung said. "I kept thinking about how to give them more support."

That question became the catalyst for a major life decision. Tung gave up job security to study education policy, hoping to address systemic problems rather than treating individual symptoms.

His interest deepened after joining a project that introduced generative AI into schools. He believes new technologies could help create more effective learning environments, and notes that many education technologies originate in the U.S. before spreading globally.

"I want to work directly with experts there, then adapt those models to the needs and strengths of Vietnamese schools," he said.

Inside the Fulbright–Harvard application

Applying for Fulbright and Harvard are separate processes, but Tung said the requirements are similar: transcripts, certificates, essays, study plans and recommendation letters.

He began preparing his applications in mid-2024, spending the most time on personal essays. He wrote about his struggles after moving to Hanoi, his path into education, and his belief that education should connect teachers and students to real life and society, not just academic scores.

"I focused on the turning points in my life and explained why they mattered," he said.

Tung sought feedback from education policy experts but stressed the importance of keeping one's own voice.

"A story can be told in many ways," he said. "But if it no longer sounds like you, it's easy to fail."

After completing his degree, Tung plans to return to Vietnam. He hopes to research how technology can support teaching and teacher training, advise schools, and help pilot new education models.

"I want to work with experts and organizations to support education initiatives alongside the government," he said.