IOAA 2026 Closing Ceremony: Vietnam Wins Six Gold and Four Silver Medals

The Closing Ceremony of the 19th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA 2026) was held on the afternoon of October 4 at Phenikaa University. All 10 Vietnamese students competing at the Olympiad won medals, including six Gold Medals and four Silver Medals.

IOAA 2026 was organized under the direction of the Hanoi People’s Committee, in coordination with the Ministry of Education and Training, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the International IOAA Council, and relevant agencies and organizations. The Hanoi Department of Education and Training served as the lead coordinating agency, while Phenikaa University was the main venue for the Olympiad’s academic and operational activities.

Attending the Closing Ceremony were Permanent Vice Minister of Education and Training Phạm Ngọc Thưởng; President of the IOAA Prof. Aniket Sule; and representatives of relevant agencies and organizations.

Representing Hanoi were Vũ Thu Hà (Member of the Hanoi Party Committee, Vice Chairwoman of the Hanoi People’s Committee); Nguyễn Văn Hiền (Director of the Hanoi Department of Education and Training); representatives of the city’s departments and agencies; and Prof. Hồ Xuân Năng, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Phenikaa Group.

Speaking at the Closing Ceremony, Vice Chairwoman of the Hanoi People’s Committee, Vũ Thu Hà said that after nearly 10 days, contestants had competed in theory, team, telescope observation, data analysis, and planetarium examinations.

The competition components required a solid foundation of knowledge, independent and creative thinking, precise practical skills, and the ability to work collaboratively. Through the dedicated and responsible work of scientists, experts, and team leaders, the academic components were completed according to the program, ensuring that the competition was conducted rigorously, objectively, and fairly.

In the individual competitions at IOAA 2026, 51 contestants won Gold Medals, 48 won Silver Medals, 60 won Bronze Medals, and 22 received Honorable Mentions.

Special awards were presented to the contestant with the highest overall score, the contestant with the best performance in the Theory Competition, and the contestant with the best performance in the Practical Competition. A group of seven contestants won the Team Competition, while five teams won the Poster Competition.

Congratulating the individuals and teams recognized at the Olympiad, Vice Chairwoman Vũ Thu Hà emphasized that every achievement reflected sustained learning, ability, and determination to overcome challenges.

According to Vice Chairwoman Vũ Thu Hà, being selected to participate in IOAA was already a milestone to be proud of. The experiences gained from each examination, the lessons learned from fellow contestants, and the personal limits they had pushed beyond will all be valuable for the journey ahead.

She expressed her hope that the students would remain confident, continue learning and pursuing the scientific field they are passionate about. She also acknowledged the guidance of teachers and scientists and the support of families and schools in nurturing the students’ passion and developing their talents.

According to Vice Chairwoman Vu Thu Ha, at the Opening Ceremony, Vietnamese Government leaders had emphasized the importance of identifying and nurturing young talent and expanding international cooperation in education and science.

IOAA 2026 gave students from Vietnam and other countries opportunities to learn from one another, develop their abilities, and form lasting connections at an early stage in their academic journeys.

On behalf of the Hanoi city leadership and the Organizing Committee, Vice Chairwoman Vũ Thu Hà expressed her appreciation for the Government’s guidance and support , as well as the coordination and assistance provided by the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, central ministries and agencies, and diplomatic missions.

Alongside the academic activities, IOAA 2026 also provided international contestants with opportunities to learn about the history and culture of Vietnam and Hanoi, while sharing aspects of their own countries and strengthening mutual understanding.

Vice Chairwoman Vũ Thu Hà expressed her hope that the knowledge, experiences, and friendships gained in Hanoi would inspire the students as they continue on their academic and scientific journeys. The city also hopes that they will take with them fond memories of Vietnam and its people and return to Hanoi for future study, research, and cooperation.

As the host country, Vietnam fielded two teams: Vietnam Team 1 (Official Team) and Vietnam Team 2 (Guest Team), with a total of 10 students. All 10 Vietnamese students won medals, including six Gold Medals and four Silver Medals.

For Vietnam Team 1 (Official Team), the Gold Medalists were Nguyễn Tuấn Kiệt, a student of Nguyễn Huệ High School for the Gifted, and Lê Gia Hồng Minh, a student of Hanoi - Amsterdam High School for the Gifted.

The Silver Medalists were Trần Minh Thái, Bùi Nguyên Hồng Quân, and Nguyễn Trường Chinh, all three are Physics students at Hanoi - Amsterdam High School for the Gifted.

For Vietnam Team 2 (Guest Team), the Gold Medalists were Lê Bá Tuấn Việt, a student of the HUS High School for Gifted Students, Vietnam National University (VNU), Hanoi; Lê Quang Trí, a student of the VNU - Ho Chi Minh High School for the Gifted; and Nguyễn Quang Dũng, a student of Lam Sơn High School for the Gifted in Thanh Hoá; and Mai Văn Khánh, a student of Lam Sơn High School for the Gifted in Thanh Hoá.

Đinh Quang Dũng, a student of Vĩnh Phúc High School for the Gifted, Phú Thọ, won a Silver Medal.

Contestants of Vietnam (Team 1) were selected from high schools across Hanoi. Members of Vietnam Team 2 were selected from eligible high school students nationwide, thereby expanding opportunities to identify and nurture students with outstanding abilities in astronomy and astrophysics.

This year’s Olympiad was held in Hanoi from September 25 to October 5, 2026, with 312 contestants from 64 countries and territories. The event is a major international science Olympiad with highly demanding academic requirements in astronomy and astrophysics for high school students.

The individual competitions included the Theory Competition, Data Analysis Competition, Observation Competition - Telescope, and Planetarium Competition. These components required contestants to combine theoretical knowledge, data-processing abilities, observational skills, and the application of astronomical knowledge to practical situations.

Winning six gold medals and four silver medals, with 100% of Vietnamese contestants earning medals, marked an outstanding achievement for the Vietnamese delegation at IOAA 2026. Vietnam Team 1 won two Gold Medals and three Silver Medals, while Vietnam Team 2 won four Gold Medals and one Silver Medal.

This achievement reflects the rigorous selection, training, and preparation process; the efforts of the students, coaching team, experts, and teachers; and the effective academic coordination among education authorities, educational institutions, research institutes, and universities in identifying and nurturing talented students.

Vietnam’s hosting of IOAA 2026 in Hanoi also demonstrates the country’s capacity to organize international educational and scientific events, strengthen academic exchange, and foster students’ interest in research and space science and STEM fields.

The 20th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA 2027) will be held in Türkiye.

Source: Hanoi Department of Education and Training Portal