From distant lands, they brought their children to Dai Nam University with a belief.

One family has over 20 years of experience in the medical profession, another has spent many years working in rubber plantations on red soil; some traveled over 1,000 km, while others rode motorbikes from Lao Cai to Hanoi. Their lives are very different, their journeys very different, but on the day they brought their children to Dai Nam University, what they brought with them was the same: the hope that their children would receive a good education, grow up, and have a better future.

From many provinces, cities, and even remote rural areas, families brought their K20 freshmen to Dai Nam University on the enrollment day.

During the enrollment days of the K20 freshmen, amidst the bustling crowds on the grounds of Dai Nam University, there were countless stories like these. Parents carrying their children's luggage, grandparents carefully giving advice to their grandchildren before enrollment, families traveling long distances to accompany their children through the university gates; some traveled thousands of kilometers, some families rode motorbikes from Lao Cai, some parents had spent more than 20 years as doctors in mountainous regions, and some rubber farmers brought their children from remote rural areas to Hanoi.

Each family has its own circumstances, its own way of showing love, and its own expectations, but they all come together on one special day: the day they give their children a foundation to begin their journey of independence.

Over 20 years as a doctor in mountainous regions and the aspirations of a father.

For the family of Mr. Khuat Van Manh, the journey from Ha Giang to Hanoi for their youngest son's university enrollment carried many expectations. Both he and his wife are doctors, having worked in Ha Giang for over 20 years. Their years in the profession have taught them the value of education and a well-structured training environment; therefore, choosing a university for their son was a decision the whole family carefully considered and researched.

The family of Mr. Khuat Van Manh traveled from Ha Giang to Hanoi to enroll their youngest son at Dai Nam University, beginning a new journey on the university campus.

“My son wants to study at Dai Nam University. When I visited the campus, I was quite surprised by its scale, modern facilities, and friendly learning environment. I hope he will quickly integrate, study well, and have a solid foundation to take the next steps in his life,” Mr. Manh shared.

Before making a decision, the family gathered information from various sources. One of the things Mạnh was concerned about was the practical training orientation, because, according to him, universities should not only provide knowledge but also help students understand real-world work early on, develop skills, and adapt to the professional environment.

Behind that choice lies the very simple wish of the parents: that their children study what they choose and are strong enough to stand on their own two feet after their university years.

Over 1,000 km from the red soil region to bring my granddaughter to university.

Another journey begins in the red soil region, where the family of Ms. Le Thi Mung (73 years old) has been involved in rubber cultivation for many years. From her hometown, she and her granddaughter, Nguyen Thi Anh Thu, traveled over 1,000 km to Hanoi to attend school. It was a very long journey for a grandmother over 70 years old, especially since this was also the first time her granddaughter had started living away from home.

Throughout the journey, she had so much to tell her grandchild, filled with worries, longing, and the hopes of a farming family for the next generation.

Traveling over 1,000 km, Mrs. Le Thi Mung (73 years old) and her granddaughter Nguyen Thi Anh Thu came to Hanoi to enroll in school, carrying with them the advice and expectations of their family.

“As I accompanied my granddaughter on this journey of over 1,000 km, I gave her a lot of advice. Back home, our family grows rubber trees and works hard. I only hope that she will study well here, because our family has great confidence in the quality of education at this school,” Mrs. Mung shared.

Anh Thu chose Psychology as her major after researching with her family. Based on information from relatives, she continued to research the university and the program through TikTok and Facebook, and ultimately decided to choose Dai Nam University.

"I feel that Psychology is a very suitable major for my aspirations," Anh Thu said.

Behind that choice was a rather clear goal: to become a psychologist. But before thinking about a future career, Anh Thu was like many other freshmen on their first day: a little bewildered, homesick, and not yet used to a completely new environment.

That anxiety gradually subsided as my teachers and senior students proactively guided me, answered my questions, and helped me get acquainted with the new environment.

"I feel like I've met a big family. Everyone is always ready to help me integrate quickly," Anh Thu shared.

For the 73-year-old grandmother, perhaps that was also part of the reassurance before she returned home and let her granddaughter begin to walk her own path.

From initial shyness to excitement about the road ahead.

Among the new students was Le Minh Tam, a freshman from Bac Ninh, who was brought to school by her mother and aunt. Entering the Faculty of Business Administration and Marketing with the shyness of a girl facing a completely new environment for the first time, Minh Tam was quickly advised by the lecturers about her major and future career path.

What surprised Tam wasn't just what she would be learning, but also the fact that she was beginning to have a clearer picture of why she was studying and what opportunities awaited her after graduating from university.

“After learning more about the field I’m studying, I was incredibly surprised by how wide the job opportunities are. The training model, closely linked to practical experience in businesses, made me very eager to start studying right away,” Minh Tâm shared.

From initial shyness, Le Minh Tam gradually gained a clearer picture of his field of study and future career path after receiving advice from his lecturers.

According to Dr. Nguyen Thu Hoai, Faculty of Business Administration and Marketing, collaborating with businesses helps students access real-world professional experiences during their studies, understanding what knowledge, skills, and competencies they need to prepare to meet future job requirements.

This is also part of Dai Nam University's training orientation: classrooms are linked to practice, businesses participate in the training process, and students are prepared with professional skills from an early age.

The scene was lively and bustling on the first day of classes for the K20 cohort at various departments.

In 2026, Dai Nam University will implement 56 application-oriented training programs in the fields of Health Sciences, Technology - Engineering, Economics - Business, Social Sciences and Humanities, Languages, Fine Arts and Design. The programs emphasize practical training, business connections, and digital skills development; the three-semester-per-year model also allows students in some majors to shorten their study time to 3-3.5 years while still ensuring the required learning outcomes.

But on the first day of K20, those things weren't the most obvious.

On the first day of school, many paths intersect.

More easily visible were the suitcases parents helped their children pull, the bags of supplies prepared at home, a 73-year-old grandmother still traveling over 1,000 km with her grandchild, a doctor couple from Ha Giang coming to Hanoi, rubber farmers leaving their red soil region, families traveling by motorbike from Lao Cai, and new university students from many different regions and backgrounds.

Some families bring their children by car, some travel by overnight bus, and some make a very long journey just to see with their own eyes the place where their children will be studying in the coming years.

On the first day of school, many paths intersect at Dai Nam University, where young people begin their journey to adulthood with the support and belief of their families.

Geographical distances, family backgrounds, parental occupations, and the dreams of each young person are all different. But on that day, these journeys all converged at Dai Nam University.

Parents can choose a school with their children, take them to the lecture hall, prepare their luggage, and give them many instructions, but from that point onward, the journey of growing up must gradually become the children's own journey.

Then the parents and grandparents will return home, while the students will stay behind and begin their own university days. Behind every new student is the hope and support of an entire family.

And at Dai Nam University, that trust should not only be cherished on the first day of school, but also preserved by the university accompanying students throughout their years ahead.