Hanoi student claims gold at International Astronomy, Astrophysics Olympiad

The competition, held in India from August 11 to 21, brought together nearly 300 students from 66 countries and territories.

Hanoi’s team earned one gold, three silver, and one bronze medal.

The gold medal was awarded to Vu Nguyen Nguyen from Hanoi – Amsterdam High School for the Gifted.

Nguyen is also the only female student to win a gold medal at this year’s IOAA.

The three silver medals went to Dang Nam Phong and Nguyen Minh Hieu, both from Hanoi – Amsterdam High School for the Gifted, and Hoang Pham Minh Khanh from Newton Secondary and High School.

Nguyen Truong Yen, also from Hanoi – Amsterdam High School for the Gifted, earned the bronze medal.

Pham Quoc Toan, deputy director of the Hanoi Department of Education and Training and head of the Vietnamese delegation at the competition, said this year’s IOAA was the largest to date and featured many innovations in content and format.

Contestants were tested in three main areas: theory, data analysis, and observation using star charts, telescopes, and planetariums.

Vietnam first participated in the IOAA in 2016, also hosted in India, when Hanoi students won one gold medal and four consolation prizes.

Since then, the ministry has entrusted the Hanoi Department of Education and Training with assembling and training the national team for the competition.

This year marked Hanoi’s ninth appearance at the event.