Vietnam’s participation in the 2026 International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) marks a historic milestone in its academic journey. While the medal count mirrors the 2017 record—4 Gold and 1 Silver—this year’s triumph is unprecedented. Two students, Vu Nguyên Nguyên and Nguyễn Nhật Minh, achieved a perfect 30/30 in the theoretical exam, a first-ever feat for Vietnam.
Vietnam’s national team at the 2026 International Physics Olympiad (Source: Ministry of Education and Training)
The 56th IPhO, hosted from July 4th to 12th in Bucaramanga, Santander, Colombia, gathered 381 students from 85 nations. The competition featured two demanding exams: a theoretical and a practical test, each spanning 5 hours, designed to assess knowledge, analytical reasoning, problem-solving, and practical physics expertise.
Vietnam’s gold medalists are Vu Nguyên Nguyên (11th grade, Hanoi-Amsterdam High School for the Gifted), Nguyễn Nhật Minh (11th grade, High School for Gifted in Natural Sciences, Vietnam National University, Hanoi), Tô Ngọc Minh (12th grade, Bac Ninh High School for the Gifted), and Nguyễn Thị Bích Ngọc (12th grade, Le Hong Phong High School for the Gifted, Ninh Binh). Lê Duy Khánh (11th grade, Lam Son High School for the Gifted, Thanh Hoa) secured the silver medal.
According to the Ministry of Education and Training, this year’s performance eclipses recent achievements. In 2025, Vietnam earned 1 Gold and 4 Silver; in 2024, 2 Gold and 3 Silver; and in 2023, 2 Gold, 2 Silver, and 1 Bronze.
The 2026 team is distinguished not only by its perfect scores but also by its diversity. With 2 female students, it stands as one of the few IPhO teams with significant female representation. Additionally, 3 out of 5 team members are in 11th grade, underscoring the continuity and promise of Vietnam’s physics talent.
The Ministry attributes these results to robust national student selection and training programs. They also align with STEM education initiatives, contributing to the development of high-quality human resources in science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation.
