Ngo Minh Hieu, who touched hearts across Vietnam by carrying his disabled friend to school for 10 years, has taken another step toward his childhood dream of becoming a doctor, earning a place in a highly competitive residency program.
After passing an examination regarded as one of the most rigorous, competitive and prestigious in Vietnam’s medical profession, Ngo Minh Hieu told VietNamNet that he had been admitted to Hanoi Medical University’s 2026 residency program, where he chose to specialize in diagnostic imaging.
“I’m very happy and excited because I was able to choose diagnostic imaging, the specialty I love. At the same time, I’m a little worried about the journey ahead because medical residency is an extremely demanding postgraduate program, and I will have to work even harder,” Hieu said.
Ngo Minh Hieu and Nguyen Tat Minh became known across Vietnam for their remarkable story of friendship and commitment to education.
This year, Hanoi Medical University is admitting 444 residents across 37 training programs. Internal medicine has the largest intake, with 50 places, followed by diagnostic imaging with 30 and dermatology with 22.
With his place secured, Hieu said his immediate task is to find accommodation near the university in Hanoi before the program begins in early October 2026.
Over the next three years, he expects to deepen his specialist knowledge and spend more time on hospital shifts gaining practical experience. He is also determined to improve his English.
“For medicine, as well as for my future life and career, English will be a tool that allows me to access more academic knowledge from around the world,” Hieu said.
His specialty will involve more work in diagnostic services, including CT scans, X-rays, ultrasound and other medical imaging procedures.
Hieu, who comes from Thanh Hoa Province, graduated with a medical degree from Thai Binh University of Medicine and Pharmacy on August 1 after six years of study.
More than anything, he said, these achievements are bringing him closer to realizing his childhood ambition of becoming a doctor - a profession through which he hopes to help others.
Ngo Minh Hieu with university classmates who were also admitted to Hanoi Medical University’s medical residency program. Photo courtesy of Ngo Minh Hieu
Hieu previously told VietNamNet that his dream of becoming a doctor began when he was just five. While visiting a relative in hospital with his parents, he read a “No Smoking” sign on a glass door. A doctor picked him up and praised him for being able to read at such a young age.
When asked what he wanted to be when he grew up, Hieu answered without hesitation: “I want to become a doctor.”
Years later, carrying his friend to school for a decade strengthened that ambition. Hieu came to believe that becoming a doctor would give him the opportunity to help and stand alongside people facing difficult circumstances.
He said his years at medical school gave him not only professional knowledge but also greater maturity in communication, interpersonal relationships and other social skills.
“Back when I carried Minh to school for 10 years, I simply wanted to share some of the difficulties he faced. Studying medicine has made me realize that I now carry a much greater responsibility for people’s health and lives,” Hieu said.
“During hospital shifts, I have seen and met many people in painful and difficult circumstances. That has made me more compassionate and constantly reminds me to improve myself and live more responsibly.”
As he pursues medicine, Hieu said he continually reminds himself to keep learning, improve his professional abilities and uphold medical ethics so he can help others while developing his career.
“I’m excited about training at major hospitals, where I’ll be able to encounter more cases and learn more, giving me the opportunity to improve my clinical skills,” he said.
Ngo Minh Hieu is looking forward to beginning his diagnostic imaging residency at Hanoi Medical University. Photo: TH
Six years ago, the friendship between Ngo Minh Hieu and Nguyen Tat Minh, then living in Thanh Hoa Province in north-central Vietnam, moved people across the country.
For 10 years, Hieu carried Minh to school. The two friends later both achieved strong results in Vietnam’s university entrance examinations, turning their journey into a widely shared story of friendship, compassion and determination to learn.
Nguyen Tat Minh was born with a disability that left his legs and right arm contracted, with his limbs becoming increasingly atrophied as he grew older. Despite his physical limitations, Minh loved studying and dreamed of attending school like other children his age.
Moved by his friend’s circumstances, Hieu voluntarily became Minh’s “legs,” carrying him to and from school for 10 years, regardless of rain or sunshine.
After Vietnam’s 2020 national high school graduation examination, Hieu scored 28.15 out of 30 in the subject combination used for medical school admission: 9.4 in mathematics, 9.75 in chemistry and 9 in biology.
He fell just 0.25 points short of admission to Hanoi Medical University. Instead, he was accepted through his second-choice application and enrolled at Thai Binh University of Medicine and Pharmacy.
Six years later, Hieu has finally earned his place at Hanoi Medical University - this time as a medical resident.
Vietnamnet.vn
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