Tran Bao Vy has made Chinese an integral part of both her studies and daily life. During her time as an international student at Shanghai University's College of International Education, the Vietnamese student turned her long-standing passion for Chinese into a bridge connecting cultures.

Vy's connection with Chinese culture began through her grandfather, who is of Chinese descent and grew up in Cambodia, where he learned Chinese before moving to Vietnam for business and eventually settling there. Although he never pressed his family to formally learn the language, he faithfully observed traditional Chinese festive customs.

Growing up in that atmosphere gave her a deep, natural affinity for Chinese culture. Driven by this connection, Vy enrolled in the Chinese language program at Ho Chi Minh City University of Education at 18. Her desire to deepen her professional knowledge and pursue Chinese-language education eventually led her to Shanghai.

At Shanghai University, Vy treated her academic journey as an adventure. Seeking opportunities outside her comfort zone, she led a team in the university's "Silk Road E-Commerce Cup."

Despite having no prior business background, Vy took charge as team leader. She used Chinese social media platforms such as Xiaohongshu to study how business plans are structured and how tasks are delegated based on each member's strengths.

"Language is a bridge that connects the world," Vy reflects. "It brings people together to accomplish bigger, more meaningful things."

Adjusting to fast speech, local accents, and colloquial expressions, as well as to professional terminology, academic texts, and the demands of writing Chinese characters quickly in exams, was initially challenging for Vy, but she found creative solutions. She used AI tools to practice speaking, analyze the structure and logic of academic literature, and organize presentations.

Beyond technology, she made daily life her primary classroom.

Vy sharpened her debate skills by watching popular talk shows, kept abreast of contemporary internet culture, and explored Shanghai regularly on foot. She chatted with staff at local supermarkets to learn everyday names for vegetables and meat and visited cultural landmarks. She also immersed herself in campus life, participating in choir and tai chi competitions, cultural activities, and Chinese Corner activities.

For Vy, Shanghai University is far more than a place to study and compete — it is where she has grown, built meaningful connections, and found a sense of belonging.

Surrounding herself with like-minded international peers who share a passion for Chinese, Vy learned to listen more openly and empathize more deeply. After graduation, she hopes to return to Vietnam to teach Chinese at the university level, bringing her professional knowledge, language-learning experience, and insights from competitions, academic training, and life in China to her future classroom.

Looking back on her time at SHU, Vy said she felt very grateful and that those days were deeply precious to her. She encouraged younger students to try more things, gain more experience, not be afraid of temporary difficulties, and stay patient and persistent, adding that many answers would emerge through the process.

Source: Official WeChat account of Shanghai University