Thong was one of three students who met the stringent requirements to enroll in the first resident doctor course at the university.

At the 2025 graduation ceremony, Phung The Thong (born 1997) and the three students were from the first cohort to complete the resident doctor program at Hanoi Medical University, specializing in oncology. 

Thong was the only male student to achieve an honors degree, with the highest score of 3.77, becoming the first in the university’s history to attain this achievement.

Speaking to VietNamNet, Thong expressed joy and pride in the efforts he made throughout his journey. Those in the field know that achieving such results requires passing a highly competitive entrance exam, with only a few resident doctors selected per course. The training process and graduation requirements are extremely demanding.

Previously, in 2021, Thong also excelled as the valedictorian of the general medicine program at Hanoi Medical University after six years of study.

Thong said he identified his passion early and set clear goals to pursue.

“During the process, I constantly reminded myself to stay persistent and always be ready to dive in, face challenges, and learn more knowledge and experience in the profession,” Thong said.

The young man learned not only from doctors, teachers and seniors but also from peers and colleagues at hospitals. Thong also frequently read and referenced foreign materials and advancements in global medicine.

Sticking to passion 

Asked why he chose oncology over potentially higher-earning specialties like obstetrics or dentistry, Thong said: “When faced with a difficult problem, I feel motivated to find the answer.”

The young man said his decision was driven purely by passion and a desire to contribute to combating this deadly disease. 

“When I first started studying medicine, encountering cancer cases left a deep impression on me. I once met a 12-year-old child from Cao Bang with leukemia, coming from a poor highland family. The disease was detected at a late stage, causing severe pain. One evening during my shift, I passed by his sickroom and saw the child’s blank stare out the window, and my heart sank. That moment further fueled my determination to study and research to find ways to treat them,” Thong recalled.

During his studies and clinical practice with patients, Thong always posed questions to himself, such as why certain issues or phenomena occurred, and then sought answers.

“The field I’m pursuing, oncology, is a challenging puzzle for both national and global medicine. But the more difficult it is, the more I see it as a field with great potential for new directions in the future. Currently, almost all the latest medical advancements aim to be applied to cancer treatment and control.”

During his resident doctor training, he mainly studied theoretical courses with master’s-level specialists and practiced clinically at hospitals.

In oncology, Thong always reminds himself that the first thing he needs is empathy for patients. “I always try to communicate and empathize with patients to understand their wishes and circumstances. These allow me to find the right direction and the most suitable, optimal treatment method. This means not only understanding the disease but also the patient’s psychology, as psychological treatment plays a crucial role in cancer care,” Thong said.

With these achievements, Thong said he has been admitted to a public hospital in Hanoi. After a few years of diagnosing, treating, and caring for patients, he plans to pursue higher education in oncology.

By choosing oncology, he is steadfast in following his passion rather than focusing too much on making money now.

“I also hope for opportunities to visit countries with advanced medical systems to exchange and learn more experiences to better help patients,” Thong said.

Thanh Hung