Nguyet Bui remembers the years when she would find solace in school, despite the bitter winter cold that came in through the shutterless windows of her classroom. 

It was the early 1980s, and the modest single-storey structure on the outskirts of Hanoi was typical of schools in North Vietnam, where resources to fix anything were in short supply. Even when the rain leaked through the roof, dripping on their desks, she stayed focused on her studies.

“The war with the US had ended in 1975, but we were facing economic sanctions,” recalls Nguyet, now Office Manager (Investment) at Temasek’s Hanoi office. “Vietnam was closed to the outside world, and the cities and provinces in the north, where we lived, were very poor. My grandparents and parents constantly reminded us that education was the key to rising above poverty. It changed my life.” 

Despite electricity being available “only occasionally”, Nguyet was determined to make it through the gruelling entrance exams for post-Secondary education, and went on to graduate from the Hanoi University of Foreign Studies in 1996.

Today, she helps provide others with the same transformative opportunity through the VietSeeds project, which Temasek has funded since 2015 as part of its direct community support for its overseas offices. Some 500 Temasek-funded scholarships have been awarded to date – mostly to students from rural provinces.

“With the right help and support, they can chart a better future for themselves and their communities,” she says.

Delivering Sustained Impact

Nguyet credits her desire to keep learning for her job at Temasek today. Studying Russian at university helped her bridge the gap to English – the two languages share phonetic elements and several loanwords, she says. It opened up opportunities for her with foreign companies entering Vietnam. 

When Temasek opened an office in Hanoi in January 2008, she was its first hire. 

Nguyet managed all the administrative tasks, from finding and setting up Temasek’s Hai Ba Trung Street premises to supporting her investment colleagues as the company expanded its footprint in sectors such as technology, strategic infrastructure and logistics. These sectors aligned closely with Vietnam's national development goals, as did education, which became a key focus of Temasek’s outreach initiatives in the country, overseen by Nguyet. 

In 2015, a colleague suggested VietSeeds as a potential community initiative for the Hanoi office. At the time, VietSeeds, founded in 2011, was a fledgling organisation seeking sponsors who shared its mission: Grow a Seed, Change a Life, Transform a Nation. By supporting high-performing college students who lacked the financial means to pursue higher education, VietSeeds hoped to break the cycle of poverty.  

Nguyet spoke to its founders, management and past scholars, and quickly recognised its potential. “I was impressed by VietSeeds’ track record and knew that Temasek could make a real difference,” she says. The first year Temasek came on board, it sponsored about a fifth of the 170 applicants VietSeeds accepted that year. 

The support extends beyond tuition fees, covering living costs, English and digital skills training, as well as creating student communities to help scholars navigate urban life and academic pressures. During company offsites, staff volunteers from Temasek’s Singapore office have mentored VietSeeds undergraduates, running seminars on idea generation and helping to prepare them for job interviews. “It means they get the support they need to do well and to start building networks that lead to better jobs and better lives,” says Nguyet.

For the past nine years, Nguyet has attended annual Graduation and Appreciation ceremonies organised for Temasek’s “seeds”, and holds many of their stories close. 

“I remember one student who worked as a tutor to earn extra money while studying. She once told me that without the scholarship, she would have ended up as a factory worker,” says Nguyet. “After graduating, she joined VietSeeds and now manages the northern region, helping others like her to succeed.”

“The Temasek scholarship is life-changing for these students – they are capable and determined, despite their financial difficulties. I have developed close relationships with many of them, and it makes me truly happy when I see their growth, and how much their lives have changed.” 

Fuelling bigger dreams

Besides helping hundreds of Vietnamese students pursue their dreams of higher education, Temasek’s community funding has gone towards building better schools for rural communities in the country. The firm has also hosted VietSeeds’ “top seeds” – the highest performing scholars – at its Singapore headquarters.

“Visiting Singapore – and Temasek – really expands their minds. They see the level of development and return to Vietnam with a higher sense of purpose and even more ambitious goals,” she says. “It’s not just about getting a degree, but the contributions they can make to their country, community, and to future generations who share their backgrounds – and their dreams.”

Temasek’s partnership has also helped VietSeeds enhance its impact reporting, while catalysing interest and further support, adds Nguyet. 

“When I visit rural areas, it reminds me of my own youth. These young people are innocent and full of energy. Together, VietSeeds and Temasek can help them build a different future through education, and create an impact that will resonate for generations.”

“Being a part of that makes me very proud to work for Temasek.”