Do Tue Anh, 18, a 12th‑grade student in the Chinese‑language program at Chu Van An High School for the Gifted, competed against 124 contestants from about 100 countries at the Chinese Bridge contest on 22 September and placed in the top three, a top Vietnamese result since the 2020 format change.

She first fell in love with Chinese as a child watching “Journey to the West” with her grandparents, and later sharpened her ear for tones while growing up near the border gate in Lang Son, where she often met Chinese speakers.

To prepare, Anh worked through HSK preparation books, practiced speaking with both Vietnamese and Chinese friends, and used AI tools to spot and correct errors. “I had to study on the bus and even late at night after rehearsals,” she says.

Her hard work earned her first prize in the national round, which secured a spot in the international stage in Tianjin, China. There she survived four elimination rounds and again finished among the top three. In the talent segment she performed the traditional yangge folk dance, and in the debate round her team argued that social media brings people closer together.

When a tough multiple‑choice round caused her to panic, Anh remembered her parents and teacher cheering her on. “I realized I couldn’t change the questions I’d already got wrong, so I needed to focus on the ones that came next,” she says, illustrating the value of mental resilience.

Anh’s journey shows that early curiosity, targeted study materials, modern technology, and relentless practice can turn a language hobby into world‑class competence, while staying calm under pressure turns challenges into opportunities.