From a girl from Ca Mau to unique ideas
Born and raised in Ca Mau, Nguyen Ha Huyen Tran (born in 2004) holds many roles in youth union activities and dedicates time to scientific research and entrepreneurship. Her family faces economic difficulties; her mother suffers from kidney disease and requires frequent dialysis, while her father is the primary breadwinner as a carpenter. These pressures instilled in Tran an early awareness of her responsibilities to her family and a deep appreciation for educational opportunities. “I need to work harder to achieve a better future,” Tran shared. She chose English Language because of her love for language, culture, and art. Having studied fine arts for three years, Tran is particularly interested in how people perceive beauty, culture, and social issues. This curiosity led her to not want to limit herself to her current major.
In 2025, at the 27th Euréka Student Scientific Research Award, Tran participated in two projects in the fields of Culture – Arts and Science – Education , both recognized in the “Most Popular Project” category. One project was titled “Contemporary Visual Aesthetics and Popular Culture: An Approach from Aesthetic Psychology in the Young Generation of Vietnam.” From an interest in art, design, and social media, the group explored how young people form their tastes and receive contemporary visual trends. The second project brought Tran closer to her homeland: “From U Minh Melaleuca Wood to Pixel Art: Designing Indigenous STEAM Models to Develop Creativity and Spatial Thinking in Teenagers.” The group utilized Melaleuca wood – a raw material associated with the U Minh region – combined with Pixel Art to build an indigenous STEAM education model. “I want young people to develop their creativity and spatial thinking skills while also having the opportunity to access local resources and culture in a more accessible way,” Tran said. From these two topics, the English Language student realized that research doesn’t necessarily have to be limited by one’s major.
Transforming U Minh Melaleuca into a startup story.
Driven by her love for her homeland, Tran joined “Tram Aroma” – a project developing clean incense from native Ca Mau melaleuca trees, linked to the local ecosystem and cultural values. Tran recognized that the melaleuca tree not only has ecological value but also the potential to create products connected to local life, culture, and economy. In the project, she served as a product development specialist, participating in raw material research, exploring the application possibilities of melaleuca, proposing ideas, and outlining product lines such as clean incense and essential oils. The project participated in “Camaup 2024,” “Business Challenge: Mekong Tech 2025,” “INNOBE 2026,” and the “Rural Youth Startup Competition 2026,” achieving Top 10 in the Southern region and Top 30 nationwide.
But for Tran, the most memorable thing wasn’t the ranking: “There were times when the initial idea didn’t meet the practical requirements. The team had to redo it, adjust it, and receive feedback. I realized that a startup project can’t just have a good idea; it must prove its ability to solve real-world needs,” Tran shared. She hopes that “Tram Aroma” can contribute to increasing the economic value of native melaleuca trees, promote the story of U Minh and Ca Mau, and spread the mindset of using resources sustainably.
I don’t want my youth to be solely focused on achievements.
Besides research and entrepreneurship, Tran is currently a member of the Student Union Executive Committee, Secretary of the English Language Department’s Youth Union, and Head of the English Club at the branch campus. For two consecutive years, she achieved the “Excellent Student” title at the national level; in 2026, she was awarded the “Advanced Youth Following Uncle Ho’s Teachings” title at the provincial level. Tran believes that achievements only have meaning when they accompany the process of personal growth. To balance her studies, research, entrepreneurship, and Youth Union activities, she maintains the habit of planning, prioritizing, and taking full responsibility for the tasks she undertakes.
There were times of pressure, when ideas had to be revised, or plans didn’t yield the desired results. What motivated Tran to keep going was her family, especially her mother. “The family difficulties I’ve experienced have made me understand that opportunities for education and development are not something to be taken for granted,” she said.
In her final year of university, Tran plans to continue developing her expertise in English, while simultaneously pursuing research and collaborating with “Tram Aroma.” She doesn’t see these paths as separate: foreign languages help access knowledge, research helps discover new perspectives, and entrepreneurship is a way to bring ideas to life. “Success doesn’t necessarily mean leaving your hometown to go far away. For me, success is also about having the ability to develop yourself and create positive values right here in your hometown,” Tran shared.
Photo: Provided by the interviewee
