Doanh, born in 1990, is currently a lecturer in law and a researcher at Thai Nguyen University. Born in Tuyen Quang city, she moved to Hanoi in childhood for education, where her father was a physics PhD student and her mother was pursuing a doctorate in literature.

At the end of sixth grade, when her parents returned to their hometown for work, Doanh followed them back to Tuyen Quang. At high school, she won a provincial physics award, a national first prize for a short story, and was admitted to the physics majoring class at Tuyen Quang High School for the Gifted.

“As a PhD in Physics, my father always taught me about logical thinking and wanted me to follow natural sciences, but I also felt that my mother's literary and linguistic blood flowed in me. That was the fate that made me pursue a career in law,” she said.

Doanh’s maternal grandparents were fishermen on the Lo River, yet despite hardships, they ensured their children’s education. Her paternal grandfather, a wounded veteran, lived in an ethnic minority area.

Her childhood with her family deeply shaped her, fostering a special concern for vulnerable groups and disadvantaged communities.

“From a young age, I wanted to do something for disadvantaged groups - children, women, the elderly, and ethnic minorities. That’s why I chose Hanoi Law University,” she explained.

Starting in her second year of university, she conducted school-level research focusing on women’s rights and cross-border marriage issues.

“I was fortunate to be inspired by leading professors who lived for science. That admiration turned into motivation and later became my passion for research,” she said.

Thanks to her academic achievements, Ngan Doanh was directly admitted to a doctoral program in law at the Academy of Social Sciences (Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences).

Her dissertation laid the foundation for her subsequent research projects, from theoretical to applied legal studies, and policy consultation for the government in ethnic minority regions.

“Wherever you are, your presence must create value”

After completing her doctorate and refusing offers to teach at universities and academies in Hanoi and HCM City, Ngan Doanh chose to return to her hometown to work. Her husband, a chemistry Phd, who graduated and once taught in the US, supported her decision.

Doanh has published over 20 scientific papers, including in prestigious international journals under Scopus (Q1, Q2) and Web of Science, focusing on ethnic minority rights, legal development, gender equality, access to high-quality education, and information technology. These works reflect real-world issues faced by ethnic minorities in mountainous provinces like Tuyen Quang and Ha Giang.

She is also a lead editor and author of monographs on human rights, international law, and ethnic minority legal issues, and serves as a key reviewer for international journals in human rights, sustainable development, and public policy.

Doanh is one of only a few scientists earning a law doctorate at just 27, going straight from university to a master’s and then a doctorate. Despite studying specialized physics and being on the physics academic team, she later switched to law and achieved great success in the field.

Ngan Doanh credits her parents as her greatest influence.

“When I was a child, despite his busy research and professional schedules, my father tutored us every evening. The rewards for my efforts were mountain-climbing trips, not toys or snacks. My parents were the ‘motivational pieces’ that forged our willpower, resilience, and perseverance,” she said.

According to Doanh, her father always reminded his children: “Wherever you live in, and whomever you live with, make your presence known, and ensure it creates value.”

He also cautioned them against complacency or reliance on others, urging them to succeed through their own merits.

Having gained certain results in research, Doanh believes that her journey is still very long.

“I myself have a deep belief that access to high-quality education is the most important lever to promote sustainable and comprehensive development. In addition to focusing on building a theoretical foundation, I hope to be able to propose practical solutions to ensure equitable learning opportunities for everyone, especially ethnic minority children,” Doanh said.

Thuy Nga