In an era where technology is often seen as a “male domain,” Tran Le Minh Thu – a K19 student majoring in Information Security at FPT University (FPTU) – has made her own mark by placing in the Top 5 highest-achieving contestants at the Capture The Flag (CTF) competition for women under 26 in ASEAN. At the same time, Minh Thu was also named in the Top 3 outstanding representatives of Vietnam in this contest.
Capture The Flag (CTF) is a playground dedicated to women passionate about information security, organized by the ASEAN–Japan Cybersecurity Capacity Building Centre (AJCCBC) in cooperation with the Swiss Government. The competition was held online on July 30, 2025, gathering hundreds of female students, young lecturers, and professionals in information security from ASEAN member countries. Contestants had to overcome a series of advanced technical challenges in cybersecurity, cryptography, reverse engineering, programming, and other fields.
Minh Thu shared that at first she joined simply “to try and to learn,” but thanks to careful preparation and strong perseverance, she managed to get through intense hours of competition and finished with an impressive result. “This outcome is a big gift and recognition for my constant effort, along with the support from family, teachers, friends, and seniors. I hope this achievement will inspire more girls to confidently step into the field of technology,” Thu said.
The difference between this contest and other CTFs Thu had joined was the regional scale and the individual format, requiring each contestant to stand on her own in every challenge. “One task asked us to recover encrypted files in the disk image of a server infected with malware to find a hidden message. I couldn’t solve it then, but the challenge was so interesting that it left me with a deep impression,” she recalled.
Starting with her strengths in reverse engineering and digital forensics, Thu actively expanded her knowledge into other areas to perform well. “The foundation knowledge from classes helped me deal with the challenges better, while CTF tasks gave me chances to practice skills and discover new problems reflecting current trends. Thanks to that, I realized what I was still lacking and how to improve,” Thu explained.
Her passion for information security started when she was exploring career options for university. The mystery, the brain-twisting puzzles, and constant challenges of cybersecurity pushed her to follow this path. In a field with few women, Thu also faced psychological barriers, social stereotypes, and sometimes the feeling of being overwhelmed by the vast knowledge. “However, gender difference is not a barrier but a motivation to prove that passion and ability have no gender, and opportunities are always for those who persist and keep striving,” Thu affirmed. She also believes that qualities like sensitivity, communication skills, and flexible problem-solving are strengths that help women succeed in this area. “Technology is not only about showing technical skills but also about cooperation and deep understanding of people.”
Talking about her choice to study at FPT University, Thu said: “After careful consideration, I chose FPTU because the curriculum is streamlined, saving time, and giving students early access to reality. The extracurricular activities and the OJT program implemented from early years were also big plus points that convinced me to study and grow here.” Courses at the university focus on real-life projects and emphasize AI, while also developing soft skills such as communication, teamwork, critical thinking, and adaptability. “Overall, I feel that I am developing comprehensively to be ready for the new era,” Thu said.
During her studies, Thu has been active in extracurricular activities. She is currently Head of HR for FIA Club – a community of students passionate about information security. Earlier this year, she won a Silver prize at the Cisco NetAcad Riders 2025 competition for the Asia–Pacific region and has been listed among the university’s Top 100 students for three consecutive terms.
In the near future, Minh Thu aims to continue challenging herself in more CTF contests both in Vietnam and abroad, while preparing carefully for her upcoming OJT with a company. In particular, she will also devote time to training and getting ready for the next selection rounds, with the hope of joining the ASEAN team to compete at the International Cybersecurity Contest (ICC) 2025 in Japan.
In 2025, FPT University launched the STEM Scholarship for female students, dedicated to women enrolling in IT majors such as semiconductor design, artificial intelligence, information security, digital automotive technology, software engineering, information systems, and digital art design.
Each scholarship, worth 20 million VND, is not only financial support but also a commitment of the university to implementing Resolution 57-NQ/TW of the Politburo on promoting science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation.
Through this program, FPTU hopes to inspire and encourage female students to confidently enter the challenging field of technology, contribute to gender equality, and nurture a generation of talented women to support national development in the digital era.