From a Math-loving Girl to a Laureate
Dang Thi Thu Ha was born and raised in Que Ward, Kim Bang Town - a land famous for its smooth folk melodies, where traditional values are still preserved in the lifestyle of each family. Ha's parents are both teachers. Her childhood was spent studying diligently under the strict but loving care and instruction of her family.
“Since I was a child, I have loved Math. I always feel excited every time I solve logic problems. From grade 1 until now, that passion has never diminished,” Ha shared. That is what led her to take the entrance exam for the Math class at Bien Hoa High School for the Gifted.
The Road to Olympia: A Chance Choice
Few people know that Ha's journey to Olympia began quite by chance. "At the beginning of 10th grade, I only intended to join the school's Olympia Club to be in charge of events and MC for internal competitions. I never thought I would actually take the exam - because I saw that my seniors were all very good, and I felt that I was average. But one time my friend registered for the qualifying round, I also wanted to test myself, so I registered for the exam. Who would have thought I would pass the qualifying round" - Ha said.
From a shy girl, Ha gradually passed the internal semi-finals, then won the school-level finals and became the sole representative of Bien Hoa High School for the Gifted to participate in the 25th year of the Road to Olympia program. And surprisingly, she was the first person from the school to win the laurel wreath in the weekly round.
A breathtaking and emotional match
On the afternoon of June 1, 2025, VTV3 broadcast the Road to Olympia program, week 2, February, quarter 3, between four contestants: Dang Thi Thu Ha (Ha Nam), Hoang Van Quyen (Tay Ninh), Do Thi Quynh Ngan ( Hanoi ), and Nguyen Hai Tien (Bac Ninh). The competition was recorded at studio S14 of Vietnam Television. The match was considered "unpredictable" because all four were specialized students, had stable performance and quick reflexes.
The Warm-up part took place at a high speed, but Ha herself admitted that this was the most stressful part: “If I don’t do well from the beginning, it will affect my mentality in the following parts. I can’t ring the bell as fast as my friends, so I’m a bit nervous.” However, with steadiness, Ha finished this part with 30 points – not outstanding but enough to keep her spirit stable.
In the Acceleration round, Ha started to break away. She scored many points in a row and finished this round with 155 points, only 25 points behind the leading contestant, Van Quyen. “At that time, I just thought: I have to calm down. The laurel wreath has no owner until the last question,” Ha recalled.
And that was it. The Finish Line round changed the situation. After taking advantage of the opportunity to correctly answer the question that Van Quyen missed, Ha entered her round with 3 questions worth 20 points and completed the round well with 2 correct answers. At the end of the round, Thu Ha had a total score of 240 - the highest among the 4 contestants, officially becoming the champion of the weekly competition.
Sowing Ha Nam essence into the intellectual playground
Not only is Ha good at math, she is also a student who loves folk culture. In the exchange competition, Ha performed an excerpt from “Co Doi Thuong Ngan”, which delighted and surprised the audience in the studio. “I have loved the art of singing since I was a child, because my grandparents used to listen to it. Folk songs, cheo, ca tru... all make me emotional. I think that no matter where you go, you should not forget your roots,” Ha said.
It is this versatility and sophistication that makes Thu Ha's performance at Olympia both intellectual and unique - very Ha Nam.
The victory is the result of a persistent journey. Behind Ha are hundreds of hours of self-study, balancing between regular schoolwork, club activities and Olympia training. She often reads textbooks carefully, updates official news, and participates in online matches organized by her seniors. In addition, she tries to stay optimistic and get enough sleep before filming - Ha shares her secret to studying.
Teacher Nguyen Thi Bich Hang, Principal of Bien Hoa High School for the Gifted, said: Thu Ha is a very independent and brave student. She has done something that no student of the school has done at Olympia for nearly 25 years. We are proud and also hope that this will be the motivation for other students to boldly participate and conquer new heights.
With the weekly laurel wreath in hand, Thu Ha has entered the monthly round – where only the best contestants from each week gather. Ahead are more difficult challenges, but the little girl remains optimistic: I don’t care about winning or losing. I continue because I want to surpass myself and learn more from friends from all over the world.
Ha’s modesty, inner strength and optimism have inspired her schoolmates. In the eyes of her teachers, friends and relatives, Ha is “a little daisy blooming on Mount Olympia” – strong, bright and full of courage.
Jiangnan
Source: https://baohanam.com.vn/xa-hoi/giao-duc/nguoi-mang-vong-nguyet-que-olympia-ve-cho-ha-nam-165223.html
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