Thinh Dao
MSc Economics, 2012
Vietnam
Not only was Bristol a lovely place for me day by day, but it also gave me an amazing sporting opportunity. ”
I grew up in a small town a few hundred kilometers from Hanoi, Vietnam. At 15, I moved alone to Hanoi for high school, gaining my first experience of independence. I later completed a bachelor’s degree in Banking and Finance there. At the time, I viewed education mainly as a path to better job opportunities rather than personal growth.
My plan was simple: earn a master’s degree abroad, experience another culture, then return to Vietnam with a stronger qualification. After meeting a representative from UWE Bristol’s Asia Pacific team, I decided UWE was the right choice for me. Before studying in the UK, however, I had to improve my English. My previous studies were maths-based, so my English was extremely limited.
To practice, I spent time in Hanoi’s Old Quarter, where many expats and tourists gathered. I chatted with them daily, often over beers, even when I barely understood the conversations. Over time, my confidence and listening skills improved. Combined with IELTS preparation classes, this unconventional learning method helped me achieve a Band 7 on the UWE placement test.
The friendships I built during this period became invaluable. Some British friends I met in Hanoi returned to Bristol before me and helped me settle in when I arrived. I also connected with Vietnamese students at UWE, one of whom picked me up at the train station and helped me move into my accommodation.
While waiting to begin my Economics master’s programme in 2010, I studied International Management. Once my Economics course began, I fully committed myself to it. Although I had improved my English, understanding fast native speech was still difficult. Thankfully, UWE’s small class sizes and supportive lecturers made a huge difference. One lecturer even allowed me to record classes so I could review them later.
Homesickness was another challenge. Vietnamese New Year was especially difficult because I could only celebrate with my family through video calls. Fortunately, Bristol had Vietnamese markets, and my cooking skills helped me recreate familiar meals from home.
I quickly fell in love with Bristol’s peaceful atmosphere and welcoming people. I especially enjoyed spending time in local pubs, where I got to know older Bristolians who treated me warmly. I also joined both the UWE and Bristol badminton teams. Having trained seriously in badminton when I was younger, the sport helped me build friendships and improve my confidence in English.
During my first year, the UWE team achieved promotion to the first division for the first time in its history, creating memories I still treasure today. Toward the end of my degree, I became overwhelmed while writing my dissertation. My supervisor, Dr Laura Povoledo, encouraged me to take a break and return with a clearer mind. Her support transformed my experience, and I graduated with distinction.
Even years later, she continued supporting me, including helping with my PhD application to York University in Toronto. After graduating, I returned to Vietnam and worked for the Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV) until 2020.
Today, I am pursuing a PhD in Economics at York University. Unlike my younger self, I now value education not for the degree alone, but for knowledge itself. I hope my journey inspires my children to work hard, pursue learning with purpose, and always give their best.
