In their home in Cao Lanh ward, the walls are covered with commendation certificates, award recognitions, and medals belonging to Lu Hoai Thuong. Most recently, the young student secured a gold medal at the Central Highlands Informatics Olympic competition and was also honored with the Talent prize.

Lu Hoai Thuong introduces a competition he participated in. Photo: Ngoc Tai

Lu Hoai Thuong introduces a competition he participated in. Photo: Ngoc Tai

Thuong's academic journey began remarkably early. At 6 years old, he could read, write, and master basic calculations. Recognizing his advanced abilities, his parents requested that he skip two grades. Following a competency test, the school approved his direct entry into grade 3. Once enrolled, Thuong not only kept pace with his older classmates but consistently achieved top grades.

Nguyen Thi Thu Ca, Thuong's mother, noted that the family observed his academic aptitude from a young age. He showed a keen interest in text on calendars and pictures. During his time at daycare, his teacher recalled that "the child often demanded to be held to read words, and would cry if put down." This early inclination prompted Mrs. Ca to begin teaching her son English and basic arithmetic. "He learns everything quickly," Mrs. Ca stated, explaining that she taught Thuong addition and subtraction using a soroban abacus. Today, he can perform multi-digit calculations very rapidly.

To foster a broader learning and interaction environment, Thuong's family frequently registers him for various competitions. Starting with encouragement prizes, Thuong progressively achieved higher awards, often being the youngest participant. Currently, he participates in an average of 20 competitions annually and consistently wins prizes.

His passion for technology is also nurtured at home. Thuong's father, Lu Hoai Phong, a programmer, initially guided his son in programming knowledge. Mr. Phong recently acknowledged that "there's nothing left to teach" and has since encouraged Thuong to learn from technology students. Thuong expresses a deep interest in algorithms and aspires to become a programmer in the future.

Mr. Phong emphasizes a gentle approach to his son's education. He shared, "Many people say my wife and I must push our son to study hard, but I just ignore it and don't get upset. Everyone has their own opinion." This philosophy allows Thuong to be eager to learn and happy with his studies.

Hoai Thuong performs 4-digit mental math. Video: Ngoc Tai

Daily, beyond his schoolwork, Thuong actively manages his time to complete all lessons before 9 p.m. for bedtime. Throughout the week, he attends one English session with a foreign teacher and does not take additional classes for other subjects.

His family reports that Thuong has never been fond of watching television or using phones since childhood. Instead, his parents enrolled him in martial arts, music lessons, and sports during his free time. Currently, Thuong can play the zither, piano, and organ.

Despite his qualifications, Mrs. Ca and her husband have decided against letting their son skip any more grades. She believes that while he excels in natural sciences, further acceleration might lead to weaknesses in social sciences, such as literature, history, and geography.

Hoang Thi Hong Hue, the homeroom teacher for class 8A8, describes Thuong as a proactive student who prepares lessons thoroughly, participates actively in class, and collaborates effectively with his peers. "He has a rare spirit of progress, quickly grasps lessons, possesses logical thinking, and achieves near-perfect scores in math, informatics, and English," Mrs. Hue affirmed.