Khanh Huyen and her team secured second place, officially earning a spot in the global finals, which will be held in Singapore in the near future.
Ms. Ho Thi Khanh Huyen receives the second prize at the competition - Photo: DTU
Language student triumphs in Business Competition
While pursuing a master’s degree at Yangzhou University in China, Ms. Ho Thi Khanh Huyen, an alumna of the Chinese Language program and a current teaching assistant at the Faculty of Chinese, DTU School of Languages & Social Humanities (LHSS), took part in the 2025 International Student Business Elite Challenge.
The competition was co-organized by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), the Chinese Business Culture Association, and the China Economic and Trade Association, targeting international students currently studying at universities and research institutions across China.
Competing in teams, participants were tasked with developing a brand development strategy for a legally operating company with the aim of penetrating the global market and establishing sustainable, long-term growth worldwide.
The competition not only helped students consolidate their professional knowledge but also honed practical skills in international business and trade.
Out of the many participating teams, 65 top teams from universities across China were selected to compete.
Khanh Huyen’s team chose to restructure the brand of Liuli Teahouse, a tea chain rich in traditional Chinese culture, inspired by the classical literary masterpiece Dream of the Red Chamber.
Liuli Teahouse is renowned for its traditional desserts and unique Chinese tea cocktails, integrating cultural rituals into a refined culinary experience, allowing customers to savor exquisite flavors while immersing themselves in Chinese heritage.
Facing challenges in brand development, the team crafted a strategy based on four pillars: Enhancing social media presence and collaborating with key opinion leaders (KOLs) to expand brand recognition; Building a brand identity strongly linked to cultural heritage; Optimizing the Online-to-Offline (O2O) marketing model and Elevating the customer experience through themed stores and product diversification.
The project gave Liuli Teahouse a complete brand makeover, opening up significant opportunities for domestic and international expansion. Thanks to the project’s practical application, sharp presentation, and compelling arguments delivered fluently in both Chinese and English, Khanh Huyen’s team won the second prize, impressing the panel of judges.
The joy of Khanh Huyen (far right) and other winning teams at the award ceremony - Photo: DTU
Khanh Huyen shared: “All our team members come from social sciences and humanities backgrounds, so entering an economics-focused competition like this was both a challenge and a journey of self-discovery. From the start of the competition, we meticulously planned, sought out corporate partners, and clearly divided our roles. This award is a well-deserved ‘sweet fruit’ and a strong motivation for us to confidently advance to the global finals.”
Stepping out of the comfort zone
Khanh Huyen affirmed that her undergraduate experiences laid a solid foundation for tackling this challenge: “The group projects at DTU trained me in analytical thinking and logical reasoning. Presentation and debate sessions that once felt heavily theoretical turned out to be major assets, allowing me to present ideas clearly and persuasively, which the judges highly appreciated.”
“In particular, academic competitions in DTU’s student clubs helped me build the confidence to step outside my comfort zone and embrace new challenges,” Huyen reflected.
Khanh Huyen receives the Duong Kiet Scholarship - Photo: DTU
Khanh Huyen is one of six outstanding international students awarded the Duong Kiet Scholarship, funded by Duong Kiet Yangzhou Electronics Technology Co., Ltd., which supports the holistic development of international students.
Currently a teaching assistant in the Faculty of Chinese, Khanh Huyen chose to pursue a master’s degree in China with the intention of returning to DTU to teach.
“Since my student days at DTU, I’ve been deeply inspired by my lecturers at the Faculty of Chinese,” Khanh Huyen said. “They ignited my passion for the profession. My greatest wish is that after completing my thesis and obtaining my master's degree at Yangzhou University, I will return to DTU to teach and do my utmost to inspire future generations of students in their pursuit of knowledge.”
(Media Center)