Less than three months after the first official meeting between the two institutions, Nguyễn Bảo Minh – a third-year student in the Bachelor of Food Science and Technology (FST) program at the University of Science and Technology of Hanoi (USTH) – arrived at L’École supérieure d’ingénieurs en agroalimentaire de Bretagne atlantique (the Higher School of Engineers in Atlantic Brittany Agrifood – ESIAB), part of INP Bretagne, in Brest, France. Bảo Minh is the first FST student to intern at this strategic partner – a modest but meaningful milestone in the ongoing internationalization of the FST-USTH program.
From Connection to Action
In January 2026, Prof. Patrick Hénaff – Deputy Head of International Relations at INP Bretagne – held an official online meeting with the Life Sciences Faculty leadership and USTH’s Department of Research, Innovation and External Relations, chaired by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Hải Đăng. During that session, Assoc. Prof. Hồ Văn Sơn and Dr. Phạm Hoàng Nam presented and discussed the potential for collaboration between ESIAB Brest and USTH in the field of food science and technology.
Assoc. Prof. Hồ Văn Sơn was the first INP Bretagne expert to visit USTH in person and deliver lectures to Master’s FSQA students – made possible through the introduction and coordination of Dr. Phạm Hoàng Nam. During that same visit, he participated in bilateral meetings between the two institutions and held a dedicated session with FST students, introducing ESIAB and the opportunities it offers. Bảo Minh was selected as the first FST student to make the journey to Brest for an internship. From that first encounter to an actual flight – everything unfolded in less than three months. It is clear evidence that when both sides share genuine commitment, the distance from connection to action can be remarkably short.
At ESIAB Brest
Located in the port city of Brest – one of Brittany’s leading centers of science and technology – ESIAB is one of France’s most respected institutions for food engineering training, built on a philosophy that deeply integrates research with industrial practice. It is an environment where students do not merely study science – they practice it.
At ESIAB, Bảo Minh worked under the supervision of Assoc. Prof. Hồ Văn Sơn and Prof. Emmanuel Cotton – two well-known names in French food science and technology. From his very first days in the laboratory, he quickly adapted to state-of-the-art equipment, European-standard experimental protocols, and the rigorous, professional culture of working within a research team – things that can only truly be appreciated when experienced firsthand.
Bảo Minh – A Trailblazer
As the first FST student to step into an INP Bretagne laboratory, Bảo Minh represents more than his own individual journey. He represents the entire FST-USTH student body – young scientists being trained through Vietnam’s French-model academic system, with a solid scientific foundation and a genuine readiness to engage internationally. His presence at ESIAB is the most concrete and living proof that USTH students can participate and contribute meaningfully in European research environments.
A Partnership Taking Shape
Bảo Minh’s internship takes place as the INP Bretagne – USTH partnership is being built on solid legal and academic foundations. The Erasmus+ KA171 agreement between the two institutions has been signed, with planned implementation from the 2025–2026 academic year, enabling EU-funded student and staff mobility in both directions. A bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is scheduled for signing in May 2026, formally establishing the comprehensive cooperation framework covering training, research, and academic exchange.
Notably, the partnership with INP Bretagne does not only open a door to ESIAB Brest – it marks USTH’s first step into a broader connection with the French INP network, one of Europe’s most respected systems of engineering and applied science institutions, with significant potential for future collaboration across multiple member schools.
In the years ahead, this partnership is expected to expand into semester-based student exchanges, research internships, faculty and researcher mobility, co-supervised PhD theses, and joint research projects in food safety, fermentation technology, food microbiology, and sustainable product development.
INP Bretagne/ESIAB in France is just one of many destinations open to FST students. In fact, FST-USTH students have already worked in laboratories and training institutions in Italy, Thailand, and Taiwan, with South Korea set to become the next destination in the division’s expanding international network. Graduating with a bilingual English-French foundation and an international outlook built throughout their studies, FST-USTH alumni carry not only solid scientific knowledge, but the practical competence to thrive in international food science and industry environments.
The story of Nguyễn Bảo Minh in Brest today could be your story – in another international laboratory, somewhere else in the world – tomorrow.
