A series of 'unique' records of the famous specialized school

On the morning of October 4, the University of Natural Sciences - Vietnam National University, Hanoi held a ceremony to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the General Specialization tradition; the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the High School for Gifted Students in Natural Sciences and received the Second Class Labor Medal.

The event was attended by a large number of teachers, students, alumni, and parents of the General Specialized School and the Natural Science Specialized High School.

Delegates attending the celebration. Photo: Thanh Hung

In September 1965, the first specialized Math class of the Math Department of Hanoi University, consisting of 38 students, was established in the evacuation area in Thai Nguyen. Mr. Pham Van Dieu was the homeroom teacher of this first specialized class and block. This was also the first specialized Math class in the country. From this model, many specialized classes and specialized high schools across the country were formed and developed.

In 1993, the General Mathematics Block was assigned the additional task of discovering and nurturing young talents in Information Technology and was renamed the General Mathematics and Information Technology Block with People's Teacher, Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Vu Luong as Head of the Block.

Associate Professor, Dr., People's Teacher Nguyen Vu Luong, the first principal of the High School for the Gifted in Natural Sciences, spoke at the ceremony. Photo: Thanh Hung

The Physics Department was established in 1985, initially led by Mr. Nguyen Xuan Khang, and is a unit under the Physics Department, Hanoi National University. The Chemistry Department was established in 1992, under the Chemistry Department, Hanoi National University; Associate Professor, Dr. Dao Huu Vinh is the Head. The Biology Department was established in 1998, under the Biology Department, University of Science - Vietnam National University, Hanoi; Dr. Phan Van Lap is the Head.

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Khang was in charge of the Physics Specialized Block (established in 1985) of the Physics Faculty, Hanoi National University. Photo: Thanh Hung

The High School for Gifted Students in Natural Sciences was established on June 14, 2010, by merging the Mathematics, Information Technology, Physics, Chemistry and Biology Departments under the University of Natural Sciences - Vietnam National University, Hanoi. Associate Professor, Dr., People's Teacher Nguyen Vu Luong was the first principal of the school.

Through 60 years of tradition of specialized blocks of Hanoi National University and 15 years of construction and development under the name of High School for the Gifted in Natural Sciences, the school has become a symbol in talent training, a place to discover, nurture and give wings to many generations of excellent students nationally and internationally.

Teachers attending the ceremony. Photo: Thanh Hung

As of 2025, in international Olympic competitions, the school's students have won 32 Gold Medals, 33 Silver Medals and 18 Bronze Medals in Mathematics; 12 Gold Medals, 21 Silver Medals and 15 Bronze Medals in Physics; 14 Gold Medals, 24 Silver Medals and 26 Bronze Medals in Informatics; 16 Gold Medals, 10 Silver Medals and 3 Bronze Medals in Chemistry; 3 Gold Medals, 4 Silver Medals and 15 Bronze Medals in Biology.

Prof. Dr. Vu Hoang Linh, Chairman of the Council of the University of Natural Sciences - Vietnam National University, Hanoi, said that up to now, students of the University of Natural Sciences have brought home 79 gold medals for the country in international Olympic competitions, accounting for 40% of the total number of gold medals Vietnam has achieved - a clear demonstration of the talent, intelligence and mettle of generations.

Among the 10 Vietnamese students who achieved a perfect score of 42/42 at the International Mathematical Olympiad, 6 were students of the General and Natural Sciences majors.

Among the 9 Vietnamese students who won 2 consecutive Gold Medals at the International Mathematics Olympiad, 6 also came from this school.

Photo: Thanh Hung.

Ngo Quy Dang, High School for the Gifted in Natural Sciences, is the only Vietnamese student to win a Gold Medal at the International Mathematics Olympiad while in 10th grade.

Vo Hoang Hai of the school is also the only 10th grade student in Vietnam to win a Gold Medal at the International Physics Olympiad and is one of six Vietnamese students to win two consecutive Gold Medals at the International Physics Olympiad.

Both Vietnamese students who won two consecutive International Informatics Olympiad Gold Medals are students of the General - Natural Sciences School.

Photo: Thanh Hung.

The school is also the only unit that has ever taken charge of all members of the Vietnamese team participating in the International Olympics (3 times the Informatics team in 2003, 2015, 2024 and 1 time the Physics team in 1999).

All three Vietnamese candidates who won two consecutive Gold Medals at the International Chemistry Olympiad were students of the school.

Student Nguyen Phuong Thao, majoring in Biology, High School for Gifted Students in Natural Sciences, won the highest score at the 2018 International Biology Olympiad.

In the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in the US, students from the High School for the Gifted in Natural Sciences won 3 third prizes and 3 fourth prizes (Vietnam won 3 second prizes, 10 third prizes and 12 fourth prizes).

At the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long awarded the Second Class Labor Medal to the High School for Natural Sciences; the First Class Labor Medal to the Department of Physics and the Third Class Labor Medal to the Department of Mathematics.

Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long awarded the Second Class Labor Medal to the High School for Natural Sciences; the First Class Labor Medal to the Department of Physics and the Third Class Labor Medal to the Department of Mathematics. Photo: Thanh Hung

The Deputy Prime Minister suggested that in the coming time, in addition to implementing development orientations, schools need to strongly innovate the educational model in a broad and deep direction: Creating conditions for students to access high-quality education, while encouraging and nurturing exceptionally excellent students. Continuing to diversify activities to nurture talents through scientific research, innovation, sports, arts, career orientation, focusing on personality education.

Mr. Long also requested the Ministry of Education and Training, Hanoi National University, and the University of Natural Sciences to research and find solutions to innovate the model of specialized high schools in a broad and deep direction, creating a basis and foundation for the system of specialized high schools to develop. At the same time, research and develop a project to discover, train and foster young Vietnamese talents; nurture and train talents from high school to doctoral level.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/nhieu-ky-luc-duoc-xac-lap-boi-hoc-sinh-truong-thpt-chuyen-khoa-hoc-tu-nhien-2449067.html