Ngo Quang Minh, a 12th-grade chemistry student at Bac Ninh High School for the Gifted, was one of four Vietnamese students to win a gold medal at IChO 2025, as announced on the morning of 14/7.
The other three students are Nguyen Hoang Khoi (12th grade, Hanoi National University of Education High School for the Gifted), ranked 10th; Giang Duc Dung (12th grade, High School for the Gifted in Natural Sciences), ranked 14th; and Nguyen Manh Tuan (11th grade, Hanoi - Amsterdam High School for the Gifted), ranked 37th.
"I'm overjoyed and deeply moved that all my hard work has paid off," Minh said.
The 2025 IChO took place from 5-14/7 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), bringing together 354 students from 90 countries and territories. This was the 57th iteration of the competition.
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Ngo Quang Minh. Photo courtesy of the subject |
Ngo Quang Minh. Photo courtesy of the subject
Minh shared that his passion for chemistry ignited in 8th grade after exploring experiments and color-changing phenomena online. In high school, he won a gold medal at the Northern Delta and Coastal Region Olympiad (10th grade) and first prize in the national student competition (12th grade).
Minh's learning strategy involves focused listening during lectures and diligent review of the material taught. After each class, he practices with exercises and consults additional resources and specialized articles.
For Minh, chemistry requires a balance of logical thinking, memory, and reasoning skills. He believes that diligence and determination are prerequisites for excelling in the subject.
"I always strive to persistently practice various types of problems to improve my information retention and develop rigorous thinking," Minh stated.
He has a particular fondness for physical chemistry and quantum chemistry. Minh believes these two fields are increasingly important as many modern technologies are developed based on quantum chemistry to optimize materials and energy efficiency.
Outside of academics, Minh enjoys sports like badminton and swimming. He won a gold medal in swimming at a Bac Ninh provincial sports competition in 2021.
"I prioritize maintaining a relaxed mindset throughout the learning and exam process to achieve the best results," Minh explained, adding that he usually studies until around 11:30 PM each day.
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From left: Teacher Vuong Ba Huy, Quang Minh, and teacher Nguyen Dinh Do at IChO 2025. Photo courtesy of the subject |
From left: Teacher Vuong Ba Huy, Quang Minh, and teacher Nguyen Dinh Do at IChO 2025. Photo courtesy of the subject
During his time in the UAE, Minh said the biggest challenge wasn't the academic workload but homesickness.
"I frequently called home to update my parents," Minh recounted. He added that the support from his teachers and teammates provided further motivation to strive for the best possible outcome.
At this year's IChO, the practical exam, consisting of three questions, took place first, followed by the theoretical section with nine questions. Each exam lasted five hours. Minh praised the quality of the exam, noting its inclusion of new and relevant topics such as fuel usage, energy storage and conversion, and pharmaceutical research. In the practical exam, he was particularly impressed by a question about chemical molecules related to the Burj Khalifa, presented as an introduction to the UAE.
Vuong Ba Huy, Minh's mentor at Bac Ninh High School for the Gifted, described him as intelligent, self-motivated, and humble.
"Minh always completes his work meticulously, presenting it clearly, scientifically, and confidently, while enthusiastically helping his classmates," Huy commented.
Quang Minh is considering two paths for his future: studying at a Vietnamese university or pursuing education abroad. If he chooses to study overseas, he plans to take a gap year to research and prepare his application thoroughly.
Huyen Trang - Hai Yen
