The 'chase' of the 2 hottest residency medical specialties

The Match Day 2025 event of Hanoi Medical University shows that there is a "chase" in the attractiveness of the two specialties of obstetrics and gynecology and plastic surgery.

This afternoon, September 9, Hanoi Medical University organized the Match Day 2025 event (selecting a major) for new doctors who qualified after the 50th residency exam.

Through the choices of doctors who scored the highest in the exam, it shows that obstetrics and gynecology, plastic surgery, anesthesia, oncology, etc. are the "hottest" majors.

New doctor Vu Ngoc Duy, valedictorian of the K50 residency exam at Hanoi Medical University, chose obstetrics and gynecology as his major.

PHOTO: HUU LINH

Interestingly, through the choices of the candidates with the highest scores in this year's Match Day, it shows that the two majors of obstetrics and gynecology and plastic surgery have strong competition for the top position in terms of attractiveness.

The person who had the right to make the first choice, the new doctor Vu Ngoc Duy (valedictorian of the K50 residency entrance exam of Hanoi Medical University) chose obstetrics and gynecology. The next person, the new doctor Hoang Mai Phuong (runner-up) chose plastic surgery.

The third person, also the person with the third highest score in the K50 residency exam, newly admitted doctor Nguyen Thu Thuy, chose obstetrics and gynecology. The fourth person, newly admitted doctor Dinh Duy Khuong, chose plastic surgery.

These two majors quickly "sold out" their quotas right from the first batch of candidates who placed their wishes. Since there were only 6 quotas, the plastic surgery major was full by the 26th candidate. The obstetrics and gynecology major had 13 quotas, but by the 33rd candidate who placed their wishes, the quota was full.

Which industries are "hot"?

In addition to the above two majors, some other majors are also classified as "hot" majors when they have met their quotas in the group of 100 candidates with the highest scores: anesthesia and resuscitation, 8 quotas, fully recruited in candidate number 51; cancer, 15 quotas, fully recruited in candidate number 71.

In addition to the above 4 majors, there are 3 other majors that are also chosen by many students in the group of 50 high-scoring candidates: diagnostic imaging, cardiology, and pediatrics.

Some majors are also considered attractive, but are registered "later": surgery (started being selected from candidate number 58), internal medicine (from candidate number 92), dermatology (from candidate number 102). In this list, dermatology was a "phenomenon" 5-7 years ago, because it was chosen by many candidates with the highest scores (group 20, group 50).

However, some majors are considered less attractive but are still chosen by high-scoring candidates (group 150): emergency resuscitation, neurology, psychiatry, nuclear medicine, pathology... These "non-trend" choices often stem from the student's deep love for the profession.

Match Day is a direct "matching" activity between people and professions. In 2025, Hanoi Medical University recruited 426 students for 37 majors (of which the medical major had 396 students for 35 majors). To prepare for Match Day, the school organized a residency exam, with 952 candidates taking the exam. The exam results showed that 690 candidates met the requirements to register for majors.

At Match Day, candidates will place their wishes in turn, with 1 wish/candidate, starting with the candidate with the highest score. The number of quotas for each major is limited, with 2-3 quotas for the least majors and 30-40 quotas for the most majors. Therefore, the higher the score of the candidate, the more likely they are to be admitted to their most desired wish.

Not only is it a day for professional registration, Match Day is also considered a coming-of-age ceremony, where new residents take their first steps on the path to building a career in medical examination and treatment.

According to the regulations of the Ministry of Health , the residency exam is only for students who graduate from university in the same year and candidates can only take it once at one university (candidates can take the residency exam organized by another university in the same year they graduate from university). Because candidates do not have the opportunity to retake the exam, medical students consider this a special exam.

In Vietnam, there are many medical residency training schools, but Hanoi Medical University is considered the oldest and most prestigious residency training school.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/cuoc-ruot-duoi-cua-2-chuyen-nganh-bac-si-noi-tru-hot-nhat-185250909211848743.htm