The first Gold Medal at IOAA 2025: The pride of Hanoi students in the international arena

With 100% of the contestants winning medals at the 18th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA 2025) and winning the Gold medal for the first time, the Capital's student team once again affirmed Vietnam's bravery and intelligence in the international arena.

On the morning of August 22, a delegation of officials, teachers and 5 students from the capital participating in the 18th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA 2025) returned with the joy of victory and a warm welcome from teachers, friends and the capital's education sector.

Director of the Hanoi Department of Education and Training Tran The Cuong congratulated the students on their excellent achievements at the 18th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA 2025). Photo: Pham Manh

Surpassing 228 contestants from 66 countries and territories, students from the capital Hanoi brought home brilliant achievements.

Among them, Vu Nguyen Nguyen - class 11L1, Hanoi - Amsterdam High School for the Gifted won the Gold Medal.

The three students who won Silver medals were Dang Nam Phong - class 12L1, Hanoi - Amsterdam High School for the Gifted; Hoang Pham Minh Khanh - class 12G0, Newton Secondary and High School; and Nguyen Minh Hieu - class 12L1, Hanoi - Amsterdam High School for the Gifted.

Student Nguyen Truong Yen - class 11L1, Hanoi - Amsterdam High School for the Gifted won the Bronze medal.

The comrades in the Department's Board of Directors congratulated and commended the teachers and the team leaders who participated in the contest (Photo: Pham Manh)

Notably, among the 5 prize-winning contestants, there are 3 11th grade students, showing the sustainable potential and worthy inheritance of the capital's student generation.

The International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) is one of the 12 most prestigious annual international science Olympiads in the world, along with Mathematics (IMO), Physics (IPhO), Chemistry (IChO), Biology (IBO), Informatics (IOI), International Junior Science (IJSO)...

The competition is run by an international committee of leading scientists in the fields of astronomy and astrophysics. The IOAA was first held in Chiang Mai, Thailand in November 2007 and has now become a prestigious intellectual playground, attracting hundreds of high school students from many countries around the world.

Comrade Tran The Cuong - Director of Hanoi Department of Education and Training and Comrade Nguyen Quang Tuan - Deputy Director of Department of Education and Training congratulated student Vu Nguyen Nguyen on winning the Gold medal (Photo: Pham Manh)

In 2016, at the 10th IOAA in India, the Hanoi student team represented Vietnam for the first time and achieved 1 Silver Medal and 4 Encouragement Prizes. Since then, the Ministry of Education and Training has entrusted the Hanoi Department of Education and Training with the responsibility of building and training the Vietnamese representative team to participate in the IOAA.

Through the following IOAA competitions - 2017 in Thailand, 2018 in China, 2019 in Hungary, 2021 in Colombia (online), 2022 in Georgia - the Vietnamese team with the core of Hanoi students has continuously won many Gold, Silver and Bronze medals.

Notably, in 2019, student Nguyen Manh Quan (Hanoi - Amsterdam High School for the Gifted) excellently won the Gold Medal with the highest score in the entire exam, which was internationally recognized and highly appreciated.

All 5 students participating in the contest won medals, affirming Vietnamese intelligence on the international education map (Photo: Pham Manh)

In 2025, the 18th IOAA exam was held in India from August 11 to 21, with the participation of 228 candidates from 66 countries and territories, the largest exam ever. The exam structure includes three main contents: Theory, Data Processing and Observation (star maps, telescopes, projection houses), with many innovations in content and form.

In preparation, the Department's Board of Directors directed the establishment of a team, assigned the Secondary Education Department to develop a training plan, and assigned leaders and specialists to closely monitor. The Physics Department of Hanoi - Amsterdam High School for the Gifted coordinated with Astrophysics experts to organize training and compile documents.

The review process encountered many difficulties, unfavorable weather, pressure to ensure health, and changes in the exam structure. However, the students showed determination, courage, and aspiration to conquer scientific knowledge.

Comrades in the Department Board of Directors and School Boards congratulated the award-winning students (Photo: Pham Manh)

Congratulating the team's excellent achievements, praising the efforts, contributions and endeavors of the delegation of officials, teachers and students of the Capital, Director of the Hanoi Department of Education and Training Tran The Cuong excitedly shared: "The team's excellent achievements at IOAA 2025 once again affirm the capacity to nurture and develop talents of the Capital's Education sector, while contributing to glorifying Vietnamese intelligence in the international arena.

Hanoi Department of Education and Training held a conference in a solemn atmosphere to honor, commend and encourage students (Photo: Pham Manh)

With serious preparation and stable achievements over many years, Vietnam has received the trust of the IOAA Executive Committee and was officially assigned to host the 19th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics in 2026. This is a great honor, and also an opportunity to promote the image, country, people and education of Vietnam to the world.

The Director of the Hanoi Department of Education and Training said that the Department's Board of Directors will carefully study, plan the organization and report to the Hanoi City leaders to soon have a plan to prepare carefully and safely for the 19th Olympic Games taking place in 2026.

Source: https://sogd.hanoi.gov.vn/tin-tuc-su-kien/huy-chuong-vang-dau-tien-tai-ioaa-2025-niem-tu-hao-cua-hoc-sinh-ha-noi-tren-dau/ct/525/16445