The top 10 "most outstanding young citizens" were recently announced and awarded for their efforts and achievements. Dan Tri newspaper reports.

In Hanoi, among the top 10 was Le Anh Vinh, who earned a doctorate degree from Harvard at 27 and chose to become a lecturer at the Vietnam National University in Hanoi.

He also won a gold medal in Maths Asia-Pacific Olympiad, and a silver medal in the International Olympiad. He then went on to New South Wales, with a 3-year scholarship. He had opportunities at, not only Harvard, but MIT, Berkeley, Stanford, Yale, Cambridge and Oxford as well. Vinh also lectured at Rochester University and conducted research in the field of mathematics.

In 2012, he received awards for his talent from the Vietnam National University in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City's Communist Youth Union.

More honours were brought to the country by Nguyen Huu Tien, Nguyen Ha Thanh, Phan Quang Dung, Truong Thi Ngan Ha, Nguyen Sy Luan, Nguyen Dang Quang, Nguyen Van Quyen, Can Ngoc Son and Lai Manh Duan.

Gymnast Nguyen Ha Thanh, who won a silver medal at the Internationaux de France 2013 World Cup C III and two gold medals at World Challenge Cup C III in Germany and Croatia, continued to win more medals in gymnastics in the Czech Republic and Belgium.

Pianist Nguyen Dang Quang won the first prize in the Republic of Korea's Cheonan Music Festival and topped Group B for competitors under 15 years old at the Val Tidone International Music Competitions in Italy. He also won first prizes in a number of domestic music events.

Lieutenant Nguyen Van Quyen, from Hanoi's Drug Crime Investigation Division, was named for his efforts in uncovering drug smuggling rings which operated from Son La, Hoa Binh to Hanoi and from Laos to Vietnam.

The head of the Hanoi Volunteer Club, Lai Manh Duan, was also honoured for having contributed to a wide range of charity efforts to help disadvantaged children, protect the environment and provide aid to students from outlying provinces who wished to go to Hanoi to participate in the university entrance exams.

In Ho Chi Minh City, Pham Tuan Huy, a 12th grade student who won the International Mathematics Olympic 2013, was named among seven of the most outstanding young citizens in the city.

Huy was also recognised for his abilities as a maths student at the Vietnam National University – Ho Chi Minh City’s High School for Gifted Students.

Despite his family’s economic difficulties, Huy made great efforts in his studies and earned good results.

Huy also won the gold medal at the International Mathematics Olympic of 2013 held in Colombia, and was awarded with the second prize at the national contest for good students in 2013.

Other awardees include Chau Tuyet Van, Dang Hieu Hong, Truong Anh Van, Nguyen Duong Kim Hao, Nguyen Chi Thanh and Nguyen Hoang Trung.

Dang Hieu Hong is Vice Chairman of the Young People Union, member of the municipal Department of Labour, Invalid and Social Affairs’ Trade Union Executive Board and head of a management board for Duc Hanh medical service centre.

Having been a security guard, Hong was given credit for his contributions at work, especially in improving management of trainees at the centre.

Born to a family with burdening economic difficulties, Chau Tuyet Van, a student at Ton Duc Thang University, was recognised for her great academic efforts and her role as a member of the national Taekwondo team.

Nguyen Duong Kim Hao, a 12-year-old student at Nguyen Gia Thieu Secondary School, has had a good knack for IT and related skills since he was a little boy. He has won a number of prizes in this field for his initiatives.

Truong Anh Van, of Thong Nhat Rubber Limited Company, was among the most outstanding young people in the city, known for inventing a packaging machine named "Deck in 2012", which has made profit of over VND100 million (USD4,735) per year for the company.

He also took part in several other initiatives that have brought about profits worth billions of VND for the company.

Nguyen Chi Thanh is a staff member of the municipal Department of Firefighting. He has become well-known as a proactive person at work. In early 2013 he and his colleagues saved a person who was stuck in debris during a fire in District 3.

Nguyen Hoang Trung, a member of a young people's association in Phuoc Vinh An Commune in Cu Chi district, was honoured for his success in improving agricultural efficiency and incomes.-VNA