Three decades of Vietnam-U.S. bonding: A journey of knowledge from an unwavering dream

Annually, over 90% of APU graduates receive scholarships for direct admission to prestigious universities worldwide, with the total scholarship value exceeding $25 million USD each year, without requiring TOEFL, IELTS, IB, or SAT scores.

In this flow, the APU Educational Development Group (APU American International Schools and The American University in Vietnam - AUV) – a pioneering education system founded by passionate educators from the United States with a deep desire to impart knowledge and open doors to the future for Vietnam's younger generation – has been contributing to writing a proud chapter.

On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Vietnam – United States diplomatic relations, the journey of Dr Tran Nguyen Thy Binh and the APU Group embodies a spirit of innovation and pioneering and serves as a living symbol of the potential for strategic cooperation in education. From a challenging entrepreneurial dream in education to an international educational ecosystem with significant influence, she has inspired and imparted core values to thousands of Vietnamese students, opening a path for comprehensive global integration. With the mindset of a resilient female leader, possessing a sustainable vision and a humane heart, Dr Thy Binh is a testament to the strength of individuals in bringing the core values of U.S. education to life in Vietnam. This journey is significant, sustainable, and full of promise.

At APU, in addition to studying AP programs (for which APU is a College Board testing center), students are encouraged to pursue the College Bridge Program//Dual Enrollment Program – a unique program at APU in partnership with prestigious U.S. universities.

APU ALUMNI – A GENERATION OF GLOBAL CITIZENS CONTRIBUTING TO WORLD SCIENCE AND ECONOMY

As one of the first educational organisations in Vietnam to adopt the Amorganizationsrd training model, APU has built trust with parents and students domestically and has become a bridge connecting thousands of Vietnamese students to the world. Notably, the alum class of 2009–2010 – the first seeds to mature from the APU international education environment – are now shining in various fields, from science and technology, biomedicine, and finance to innovative entrepreneurship.

Among them, Phung Khoi Quoc Toan lives and works in Scotland as a Parkinson's disease researcher at the University of Dundee. His project, CURTAIN – a breakthrough application of Mass Spectrometry technology developed by Toan – earned him the title Innovator of the Year 2022."

Another talent is Dr Dinh Khang Hy, an advanced materials researcher and lecturer at Tufts University, USA. From his innovative projects at Roger Williams University, Hy continued his impressive academic journey with a full PhD scholarship and is now expanding his research on Aerogel – the lightest material in the world, with many critical applications for the future.

With the stepping stone provided by APU and AUV, many alumni have graduated from prestigious universities worldwide and are now pursuing business careers across the globe or holding important positions in global corporations such as Boeing, Abbott, KPMG, Google, Tesla, Amazon, Big 4 (PwC, Deloitte, Ernst & Young, KPMG), NASA, and more.

Not only in research, APU alums have also left a strong mark in management and finance. Truong Buu Van, who graduated as valedictorian with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Texas at Austin, then went on to earn a Master of Science degree from Northwestern University, currently holds the role of Senior Operation Manager at the global biopharmaceutical corporation AbbVie. Meanwhile, Nguyen Ngoc Xuan (Susan), with a CFA degree – the gold standard in the international financial industry – is currently working at Wellington Management Company in Boston, where she continues to assert her position as a young financial expert.

In the healthcare sector, Nguyen Tran Thuong Uyen – one of 87 outstanding students who passed over 3,000 applicants to enter UCLA's Dentistry program – has now graduated and is practising in the United States. Uyen once shared: "My greatest fortune was to study at APU – a place that instilled in me the spirit of continuous advancement." Additionally, Tran Thien Hong Anh, a Gregor Health & Science University graduate, is currently working as a dentist at Oregon Health & Science University.

APU is the first and only international school licensed by the Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam and U.S. educational authorities to teach the U.S. education program to Vietnamese students and foreign students residing in Vietnam.

Also among the excellent alumni generation is Dr Ho Hoang Duy, APU Valedictorian in 2014, currently an Associate Professor at California State University, Fullerton. After receiving a full scholarship in Computer Science from the University of Missouri, Kansas City (UMKC), Duy completed a dual PhD program in Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science. The three siblings, Duy – Phuc – Uyen, were all APU valedictorians/salutatorians and have achieved success in the U.S. – a prime example of the sustainable, widespread impact of APU's international education foundation.

The success stories don't stop there, as APU's outstanding students continue to make their mark at top-tier prestigious universities worldwide: Nguyen Ngoc Mai Thy (Salutatorian, Class of 2022) was admitted to three leading U.S. public universities, including UC Berkeley (#1), UC Davis (#6), and UC Irvine (#10), ultimately choosing UC Berkeley to pursue a dual major in Legal Philosophy and Psychology. Nguyen Huong Vi (Valedictorian, Class of 2019) is currently studying at the University of British Columbia – ranked #2 in Canada. Duong Ngoc Bao Chau (Salutatorian, Class of 2022) and Nguyen Hung Manh received unconditional offers of admission from the University of Sydney, a leading university in Australia, where they both studied Health Sciences. Kim So Yeon (Class of 2021) is a student at Yonsei University, ranked #2 in Korea. Le Ngoc Truyen (Valedictorian, Class of 2012) earned a Master's in Chemistry from UC Berkeley and is now working in the biotechnology industry in San Francisco. Tran Xuan Khanh Linh (Valedictorian, Class of 2024) secured scholarships totaling nearly $530,000 USD and was admitted to UC Berkeley – the #1 public university in the U.S. Dao Duc Tuan Kiet (Salutatorian, Class of 2025) recently received an early admission offer from New York University (NYU) – one of the world's leading universities, where he will study Electrical & Computer Engineering. And many other APU alumni are also achieving success at prestigious universities across the globe – a source of immense pride for the entire school.

The achievements of APU alumni are a source of pride for the school and a profound mark in the 30-year journey of developing Vietnam-U.S. relations built on knowledge and a shared future.

Dr. Thy Binh welcomes delegations of leaders from prestigious partner universities such as Virginia Commonwealth University, Arizona State University, UMKC, Central Michigan University, Portland State University, FIT, and others during annual visits and working sessions.

DR TRAN NGUYEN THY BINH – LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR APU'S GLOBAL EDUCATIONAL MISSION

Behind the remarkable imprint of the APU American International Schools and The American University in Vietnam (AUV) lies the pioneering, passionate, and courageous journey of its founder, Dr Tran Nguyen Thy Binh. In the early 21st century, when international education was still a novel concept in Vietnam, Dr Thy Binh bravely led the way, bringing the American-standard education model to Vietnam – not merely as an academic solution, but as a strategic mission to transform the younger generation's future.

Under Dr Thy Binh's leadership, APU & AUV have become pioneering symbols in Vietnam's international education and have opened direct pathways to prestigious universities in the U.S. and worldwide for thousands of Vietnamese students. Strategic partnerships with renowned universities in the United States, joint scholarship programs, and implementing American-standard curricula right in Vietnam have helped thousands of students shorten their study abroad journey, save costs, and simultaneously prepare them for integration into the global academic environment.

Beyond building a school system, Dr Thy Binh has also shaped a humane educational philosophy emphasising liberation, independence, and leadership. Throughout the 30-year development journey, she has consistently guided, inspired, and accompanied students, parents, and teachers through all challenges – from cultural differences to crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.

She shared: "I believe education is not only the shortest path to integration, but also a sustainable bridge that helps Vietnam confidently reach out to the world. Bringing the spirit of American-standard education to the young generation of Vietnam is not merely a transfer of knowledge, but a synergy of human values, liberal thinking, and global responsibility."

In over three decades of development, APU and AUV have established a network of cooperation with dozens of leading universities in the United States, such as Arizona State University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Central Michigan University, UMKC, San Diego State University, the University of California system and more, creating a diverse educational ecosystem from K-12 to university. This contributes to training high-quality human resources and serving national development in the era of globalisation.

Throughout this journey, globalisation's greatest testament to Dr Tran Nguyen Thy Binh's value and influence is the profound trust from parents. Mr Mai Xuan Hoan’s family has been part of the APU community for over a decade, with all three sons pursuing their education at APU. The two elder sons – Mai Le Khanh Trinh (Valedictorian 2021) and Mai Le Khanh Hung (Valedictorian 2025) – both graduated with outstanding achievements, receiving scholarships worth $388,000 USD and $550,000 USD, respectively, from prestigious universities in the U.S. and Canada. Notably, Khanh Hung also earned the International Merit Admission Award from the University of Toronto – a university ranked Top 1 in Canada and Top 20 globally. "The American-standard program, quality professors, and comprehensive learning environment are what made us put our complete trust in APU," shared Mr Hoan.

Sharing the same belief, Mr Nguyen Trong Nghia, parent of 2025 Salutatorian Nguyen Chau Ngoc, stated that he had followed APU for over a decade, ever since other family members like Bao Chan, Thuy Vy, or Ngoc Truyen had successively achieved success after graduating from this school. "I sent my daughter to APU because I believe in the quality that has been proven through many generations," Mr Nghia said. In 2025, Chau Ngoc continues this tradition by winning scholarships worth nearly 12 billion VND from leading universities in the U.S. – once again affirming APU's pioneering role in Vietnamese students' journey to conquer international academia.

In over three decades of development, APU and AUV have established a network of cooperation with dozens of leading universities in the United States such as Arizona State University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Central Michigan University, UMKC, San Diego State University, and more, creating a diverse educational ecosystem from K-12 to university, contributing to training high-quality human resources, serving national development in the era of globalization.

From Education to Sustainable Development – Expanding a Strategic Role in Bilateral Relations

Not content with merely creating an American-standard education system in Vietnam, Dr Thy Binh continues to reaffirm her pioneering role in bridging advanced educational values, thus fostering a sustainable and deeply integrated future for the young generation of Vietnam. The American Education Village project, initiated by her, is not simply an educational complex – but a long-term vision to build a comprehensive training ecosystem, spanning from high school to undergraduate and postgraduate levels, focusing on key fields such as Semiconductor Technology, AI, Computer Science, Health Sciences, Business, Multimedia Communication, and more.

Inspired by the close partnership model between schools, businesses, and society in the United States, the project gathers the participation of major partners such as Boeing, partner universities in the U.S., and active companionship and support from local governments and diplomatic agencies of both countries. This is a step forward in education and a foundation to create knowledge, innovation, and entrepreneurship hubs that are pivotal in Vietnam's high-quality human resource development strategy in the integration era.

Sharing about this direction, Dr Thy Binh emphasised: "Education cannot be confined to degrees. We need an ecosystem where students not only learn to know, but also learn to do, learn to live, and learn to develop the community and the country. That is why I believe education must go hand in hand with a vision for sustainable development and global responsibility."

With a pioneering spirit, leadership courage, and a heart always dedicated to her homeland, Dr Binh and the APU Group are writing a new chapter in the Vietnam – United States relationship, where knowledge, innovation, and sustainable development intertwine to create long-lasting value for both nations.

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