Dang Bao Ngoc and Le Thanh Ha (from left to right) will do internships in France in September and October 2025 - Photo: NGUYEN BAO
Having just completed their 5th year of medical school at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam National University, Hanoi , Dang Bao Ngoc (23 years old, Thai Nguyen) and Le Thanh Ha (23 years old, Hanoi ) were overwhelmed with emotion when they received the news that they were the first and only two students of the school to be sent to practice at two practice hospitals of the University of Paris-Saclay - a place considered a "super university" in France.
Proficient in two languages
Ha was accepted to do a 2-month internship in obstetrics at Antoine-Béclère Hospital. This is a famous hospital in the field of obstetrics with the first IVF case in France since 1982 and the first genetic treatment for newborns using stem cells since 2011.
Ha said she wanted to major in obstetrics because she likes professional challenges and wants to treat a patient from the beginning until recovery.
Ngoc will do her internship in dermatology at Bicêtre Hospital, which is also a member of AP-HP (38 public hospitals in Paris).
The two female students said that in order to select students for exchange at the University of Paris-Saclay, the University of Medicine and Pharmacy had previously announced the selection to students. In addition to academic achievements, applicants were also required to have a French language certificate of B2 or higher.
By the end of the first semester of the fifth year, Ngoc's GPA was 3.39/4, and Ha's was 3.15/4. More impressively, both female students were fluent in two foreign languages, English and French.
Ngoc used her math, biology and IELTS 7.0 scores to apply and was admitted to the University of Medicine and Pharmacy. Since her second year of university, Ngoc has started learning French to pursue her dream of studying abroad in France after university, and has now reached level B2.
Similarly, Ha also used her high school graduation exam scores in math, biology and IELTS 7.5 to apply for university. Notably, throughout 12 years of high school, Ha was a bilingual student in French, currently reaching level C1.
Professor Dr. Le Ngoc Thanh - the school's principal - praised the two female students before they go to France to study next September - Photo: NGUYEN BAO
Dr. Nguyen Thi Anh Thu, vice principal of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, said that after the selection and interview rounds at the school, Ngoc and Ha had the most outstanding profiles and were accepted by two prestigious hospitals in France.
According to her, normally the school sends students abroad for exchange or conferences for 1-2 weeks. This is the first time they have had to do an internship and practice at a hospital abroad, "holding hands and showing them how to do things" for 2 months.
"Doing an internship in France from the 5th year is a great opportunity, a premise, a springboard to help you get acquainted with a standard, methodical, professional environment, learn how to integrate into the international environment, organize your own life, gain experience, and connect with international teachers and friends. From there, it will foster your dream of going to France again and developing your career further," said Ms. Thu.
In the 4th year, parents still...'change major, son'
Ngoc said that in her hometown, most of her maternal family members are in the medical field, from her grandfather to her uncle and mother, who is currently an obstetrician. Therefore, her passion for medicine has been nurtured by the student since she was a child and has received great support from her family.
In contrast to Ngoc, Ha was the first person in her family to pursue medicine and did not receive support from her family. "My mother did not want me to study medicine because she was worried that I would not be meticulous or careful and that I would have a hard time. But because I loved medicine since middle school and liked challenges, I was determined to pursue it," Ha said.
With the mindset of being ready to face all difficulties, after 5 years of pursuing medicine, both Ha and Ngoc said that the past days have been more difficult than favorable. Those were days of clinical classes in the morning, theory classes in the afternoon, and on duty at the hospital at night; studying and taking exams continuously, not being allowed to be tired.
Ngoc said studying medicine is more academic, with "huge" knowledge, requiring the accumulation of a lot of knowledge in a short time, spending most of the time at school and hospital than at home.
"Every medical textbook is 300-400 pages thick, our final year outline is between two book covers. There are many semesters where we have exams every 2 days, and the exam schedule is only announced 1-2 weeks in advance," Ha confided, adding that because she felt sorry for her daughter studying hard, even in her 3rd and 4th year, her parents still advised her to "switch to economics for an easier time", but the female student remained steadfast in her goal.
Both female students said that the upcoming 2-month internship in France will be a valuable time of their student life, an opportunity to gain new perspectives and new thinking. This will also be a premise for both of them to achieve their goals of taking the residency exam and studying abroad after graduation.
Ha said that no matter where she studies abroad, she still wants to return and contribute to Vietnamese medicine, helping her family in a small way. Ngoc is determined to study abroad after college and then return to Vietnam.
NGUYEN BAO
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/hai-nu-sinh-y-khoa-duoc-cu-den-benh-vien-top-dau-o-phap-thuc-tap-20250731161033583.htm
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