Meet Ngoc Bao Thi Tran

• Country
  Vietnam
• Studying
  Master of Public Health/Master of Health Research
• Student status
  Current
• Scholarship
  2026 Study in Australia's Northern Territory Scholarship

In the first quarter of 2025, before I even finished my bachelor’s degree, I decided to study abroad. The reason why? It was time for me to truly become independent from my family and go out and experience the world for myself. Charles Darwin University was the school that caught my eye, and I worked towards reaching it. This life-changing decision took almost a year to prepare, and at last, fast forward to early 2026, I said my goodbyes and flew from Vietnam to Darwin, Australia. 

As someone who was, admittedly, a bit sheltered, I was not used to living on my own. Turns out, planning your own meals every day could get pretty difficult when you do not know how to cook. However, all the challenges, in my opinion, are worth it. I get to meet so many people from a lot of different countries at school, which was something not as easily done back in my home district. Despite our uniqueness and differences, we can all connect on the fact that we are students of Charles Darwin University, and we are here to learn and expand our knowledge. 

Darwin is a wonderful place for people such as me, who strive to excel in their studies and reach their goals. The vibes here are tranquil and peaceful, less distracting and overwhelming than the big, bustling cities. My walks to school are one of the calmest times of my day, and I love it so much because I get to enjoy my surroundings while planning what to do for the week. Life in Darwin so far has been great, and I can not wait to get myself out there and experience everything to the fullest.