"Match Day"—the event for registering medical residency specialties at Hanoi Medical University—took place on the afternoon of 9/9. Over 780 candidates participated, competing for only 440 residency positions.

Before this, they had successfully navigated a highly competitive medical residency exam. The exam spanned three sessions, comprehensively covering clinical subjects like: Internal Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics, Pediatrics, and Emergency, alongside basic medical sciences such as: Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Genetics, Pharmacology, Microbiology, and Histology-Embryology.

While most successful candidates were former students from Hanoi Medical University's main campus, this year saw a notable increase in candidates from branch campuses or other medical and pharmacy universities. These individuals achieved record-high rankings or secured scores within the leading group.

A prominent example is Vu Hong Duc, a former student of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam National University, Hanoi. Duc scored 24,75/30 points, just 0,16 points behind valedictorian Nguyen Duc Anh Quan, placing 4th among more than 1,000 test-takers.

When the new doctor announced, "Vu Hong Duc, number 04, Cardiovascular Internal Medicine specialty, Hanoi Medical University", the entire hall erupted in applause. This specialty is widely regarded as particularly challenging. The MC simultaneously highlighted that this marked the first time a candidate from the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, had entered the top 4 in Hanoi Medical University's residency exam.

This university also saw 7 other students successfully admitted, all ranking within the top 100. Among them, the university's graduating valedictorian, Tran Minh Dung, ranked 38th and chose Internal Medicine.

Vu Hong Duc, a student from the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, calls out his specialty choice at Match Day at Hanoi Medical University on 9/9. *Photo: Tung Dinh*

Ranking 15th, new doctor Vu Thi Huyen Trang, a student from the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Thai Nguyen University, achieved the highest result ever recorded for her university in Hanoi Medical University's residency exam.

Thai Binh University of Medicine and Pharmacy also had many students achieve high scores. Dao Cong Minh and Nguyen Thi Hang, both former students of this institution, ranked 24th and 26th respectively, both opting for Anesthesiology and Resuscitation.

Other universities with representatives at "Match Day" included the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, TP HCM, and Dai Nam University.

Regarding his decision to participate in Hanoi Medical University's residency exam, Tran Minh Dung expressed his desire to gain experience at the country's oldest medical training institution. Huyen Trang, meanwhile, shared that she was inspired by senior students from her university.

"I am proud of Thai Nguyen University of Medicine and Pharmacy and also feel fortunate that my next journey will be studying at a major institution like Hanoi Medical University", Trang said.

Vietnam currently boasts 13 universities that train medical residents. Hanoi Medical University, established in 1974, holds the longest history in this field, having graduated over 6,000 individuals. It is also the only university to organize Match Day, a unique event where candidates select their specialty after their scores and rankings are publicly announced. A higher score directly translates to a greater opportunity for candidates to choose their preferred specialty.

This year, Obstetrics and Gynecology was the first specialty to fill all its quotas, with half of the top 20 candidates choosing this field.

The announcement of specialty choices by the top 20 highest-scoring candidates for Hanoi Medical University's medical residency program. *Video: Duong Tam*

Duong Tam