Vietnam's physics team secures a spot in the top 10 of the 2025 International Physics Olympiad
The 55th International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) held in France from July 18 to 24 saw Vietnam's student team achieving an impressive feat. The team ranked among the top 10 highest-performing national teams, securing one gold medal and four silver medals [2].
The gold medal was won by Nguyễn Thế Quân, a senior student at Phan Bội Châu High School for the Gifted in Nghe An Province. The silver medalists were Lý Bá Khôi and Trương Đức Dũng (both from the High School for Gifted Students under VNU-Hà Nội University of Science), Nguyễn Công Vinh (Bắc Ninh High School for the Gifted, Bac Ninh Province), and Trần Lê Thiện Nhân (Quốc Học Huế High School for the Gifted, Hue City) [2].
This strong performance continues a tradition of excellence for Vietnam at the IPhO. In 2024, the Vietnamese team won two gold and three silver medals at the competition. Previously, in both 2008 and 2017, Vietnam won four gold medals each year [2].
The Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) has announced that this year's achievement by the Vietnamese team continues a strong track record for Vietnam at international and regional olympiads. The MoET also stated that this result demonstrates the quality of the national education system and policy effectiveness in identifying and nurturing talents [2].
The IPhO competition consists of two main theoretical and experimental tests, each lasting five hours. The live broadcast of the closing ceremony and results announcement of IPhO 2025 can be found on the official YouTube channel of IPhO 2025 [1].
The competition was attended by more than 400 candidates from over 80 countries and territories. Vietnam first participated in the IPhO in 1981, and since then, the country's performance at the IPhO has significantly improved [2].
The MoET announced the Vietnamese team's achievements on Thursday, further emphasising the strength of Vietnam's national education system in fostering exceptional talent in physics.
[1] International Physics Olympiad 2025 Official Website [2] Ministry of Education and Training Press Release, July 22, 2025
- The strong performance by Vietnam's student team in the 55th International Physics Olympiad highlights the effectiveness of the country's science education policy in nurturing exceptional talent in physics.
- The impressive results at the IPhO 2025 further underscore the importance of investing in science, space-and-astronomy, and education-and-self-development, as demonstrated by Vietnam's recent successes.
- The victories in the IPhO 2025 echo the continuing tradition of excellence in physics education, as evidenced by Vietnam's previous triumphs in 2008, 2017, and 2024.
- The global war on neglecting science education and underfunding research could be mitigated by learning from the success strategies employed by Vietnam, such as its focus on nurturing gifted students in science and physics.
