Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam’s five-member national team won four gold medals and one silver medal at the 56th International Physics Olympiad 2026 (IPhO 2026), marking the country’s strongest performance in the competition to date, according to the Ministry of Education and Training.
The achievements placed Vietnam among the top seven-performing teams at this year’s Olympiad. It is also the first time that two Vietnamese contestants earned a perfect score of 30/30 in the theoretical examination, surpassing previous performances despite matching the team’s 2017 tally in terms of medal numbers.
The gold medallists were Vu Nguyen Nguyen, an 11th-grade student from Hanoi-Amsterdam High School for the Gifted in Hanoi, who achieved a perfect score of 30/30 in the theory test; Nguyen Nhat Minh, an 11th-grade student from the High School for the Gifted under the University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, who also scored a perfect 30/30 in the theory test; Ta Ngoc Minh, a 12th-grade student from Bac Ninh High School for the Gifted in Bac Ninh province; and Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc, a 12th-grade student from Le Hong Phong High School for the Gifted in Ninh Binh province.
Le Duy Khanh, an 11th-grade student from Lam Son High School for the Gifted in Thanh Hoa province, won the silver medal.
The ministry said the results reflected Vietnamese students’ strong academic foundation, analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities, while reaffirming their competitiveness in one of the world’s most demanding science competitions for secondary school students.
Vietnam’s delegation was also among the few teams with two female contestants. In addition, three of the five team members are 11th graders, highlighting the depth, continuity and future potential of Vietnam’s pool of gifted physics students and providing a solid basis for identifying and nurturing young scientific talents in the years ahead.
Given physics’ foundational role in fields such as semiconductors, quantum technology, advanced materials, energy, space technology and automation, the team’s success demonstrates the effectiveness of Vietnam’s specialised education system and contributes to building a high-quality workforce for science and technology development, the ministry added.
The 56th International Physics Olympiad was held in Colombia from July 4-12, attracting 381 outstanding secondary school students from 85 countries and territories across the world./.
