At just 10, Le Thi Thu Trang’s life began to unravel. First, she lost her mother, and then, as she was preparing for her university entrance exams, her father as well. In Vietnam’s Thái Bình province, where rice fields, factory work or early marriage are the fate of those who fail to escape the rural trap, her future seemed bleak, and further education, out of reach.

“It was terrifying, and not just because of the financial struggles,” recalls Trang. “I could not see a way forward even though I knew I was capable off more. That was a harsh reality.”

A pivotal point came in 2016. After delaying her university admission by a year – working to save money while preparing for the entrance exams – she secured a Temasek-funded VietSeeds scholarship to pursue a degree in Accounting and Auditing. The sponsorship not only covered tuition but also included mentorship, English language instruction training, and professional skills development – tools that would help her thrive in a professional environment.

As she stood at the gates of the Banking Academy of Vietnam in Hanoi, ready to embark on her degree programme, Trang finally exhaled. “I knew I wasn’t alone. I had VietSeeds by my side,” she says.

Trang graduated in 2020 and began her career in auditing, but inspired by the educational support and mentorship that allowed her to achieve her dreams, joined VietSeeds. She is now VietSeeds' National Operations Manager.

Transforming lives through education

“Education allows our scholars to completely change their lives – and that of their families,” says Co-founder and Managing Director, Cat-Tuong Huyen (Cathy), who witnessed that ripple effect first-hand during a recent field visit to the homes of 15 VietSeeds beneficiaries.

In Quảng Trị in Central Vietnam, a spacious, concrete home was being built beside a cramped shack – thanks to the youngest of five sisters, the first in the family to attend university. After graduating, she secured a job in Japan and saved enough to provide her family with a more secure home.

These stories underscore the importance of initiatives such as VietSeeds in creating pathways out of poverty, says Cathy.

The idea for VietSeeds arose in 2011 when she and three friends identified a critical gap in Vietnam’s educational system. While support existed for younger students, those over 18 lacked similar opportunities, especially if they came from disadvantaged backgrounds. What began as a volunteer-run initiative to bridge that gap was formalised in 2015.

Since then, VietSeeds has awarded around 4,500 scholarships. Of those, over 540 have come from Temasek, which came on board as its first corporate sponsor in 2015 as part of its commitment to support local charities through its overseas offices.
 

“Education has the power to break the cycle of disadvantage and create lasting impact,” says Dao Phuong Lan, Temasek’s Chief Representative in Vietnam, who sits on VietSeeds’ candidate selection panel. “We believe in VietSeeds’ philosophy of not just providing scholarships, but holistic support,” she adds.

Temasek staff also assist scholars with mock interviews, résumé building and career planning.

Each year, Temasek’s “top seeds” are invited to visit Singapore and its headquarters, broadening their horizons and inspiring goals beyond graduation.

For Trang, her 2019 visit – her first time on a plane – was transformative. “I had never seen studying or working abroad as a possibility, but I came back curious about how else I could develop. It really opened my eyes to the world.”

Building a cycle of impact

These interactions become bridges between Singapore and Vietnam, between established professionals and emerging talent, and between generations – and they have a long-term impact on communities, says Lan.
“A rising tide lifts all boats... I believe that one day, many of our VietSeeds students become leaders, entrepreneurs, and CEOs. So it's important that we invest in their future.”

Temasek’s sustained involvement has helped VietSeeds scale. The company’s funding and operational guidance have strengthened VietSeeds’ impact reporting capabilities and attracted additional sponsors, allowing it to grow sustainably.

The programme goes beyond personal success – it’s about creating a cycle of impact. Scholarship recipients lead community service projects that “pay it forward”. Since 2015, these efforts have impacted more than 2,000 people through initiatives that include free classes for undocumented children, meals for the homeless, and support for marginalised groups, such as the visually impaired.

Trang, too, has come full circle. She now oversees scholarship implementation in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh and Hue, and the mentorship of young people whose narratives began like hers. She plans to do her master's degree in education management to help grow VietSeeds’ reach and impact.

“Everyone has their own story, but we all share the spirit of continuous growth,” she says. “I see an opportunity to use my value and my knowledge to benefit the next generation. So they know that they, too, can pursue their dreams.”