Double top-scorer secures 'double' international chemistry olympiad gold medals

Manh Tuan, a gold medalist who ranked in the top 10 at the International Chemistry Olympiad, was previously the top entrance scorer for 10th-grade specialized classes at Hanoi - Amsterdam High School and the High School for Gifted Students, University of Science.

Nguyen Manh Tuan, a 12th-grade chemistry student from Hanoi - Amsterdam High School (Ams), was one of four Vietnamese team members to win a gold medal at the 2026 International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO), held a week ago in Uzbekistan. The student scored 80,68 out of 100 points, ranking in the top 10 among nearly 370 contestants, the highest score for the Vietnamese delegation.

This marks Tuan's second consecutive IChO gold medal, following his first achievement last year, where he placed 37th.

"I wasn't too surprised because I felt I performed well," Tuan said. "Despite that, I still felt delighted and proud to be called out again."

Tuan returned to Hanoi on 20/7, after the IChO exam. Photo: Family provided

Tuan initially focused on mathematics, earning many awards and medals in national and international competitions, until he began studying chemistry in 8th grade. He found chemistry fascinating due to its "unpredictable transformations," requiring careful observation of each substance and phenomenon to understand.

Tuan's enthusiasm was nurtured and encouraged by his family's academic tradition. His father is an associate professor at Hanoi University of Pharmacy, his mother is a doctor, and his elder brother is a student at Hanoi Medical University. When his parents learned of Tuan's interest in chemistry, they helped him set up a home laboratory.

Tuan recounted that the room contained basic equipment such as test tubes, volumetric flasks, and beakers, allowing him to conduct fundamental experiments with safe chemicals easily found on the market.

"Directly observing the phenomena and chemical reactions of substances helped me understand the lessons more thoroughly and remember them longer," Tuan shared.

During the 10th-grade entrance exam, Tuan was the top scorer for the specialized chemistry classes at both Hanoi - Amsterdam High School and the High School for Gifted Students, University of Science. Having been affiliated with Ams High School since middle school, he decided to continue his studies there.

However, the 10th-grade curriculum, with its in-depth knowledge "completely different" from middle school, often left Tuan perplexed. He had to change his study methods, dedicating more time to understand the core nature of each specialized topic.

"I always reminded myself that the most challenging times are also when I make the fastest progress," Tuan reflected.

His strong foundation and consistent effort helped Tuan quickly catch up with the program. He was selected for the national excellent student team, beginning an intensive training period aimed at major competitions.

Tuan stated that he studied consistently and practiced many exam papers. In addition to the team's curriculum, he sought out national and international student excellence exam papers. He observed that exam questions often share similar formats, so practicing more made it easier to identify approaches and develop problem-solving skills. He particularly enjoyed physical chemistry, as it allowed him to apply mathematical thinking to analyze chemical phenomena.

Tuan with his teachers and relatives. Photo: Family provided

In 11th grade, Tuan made his IChO debut and won a gold medal. Returning to the competition this year, he felt no pressure but rather "absolute confidence," sensing that his spirit and knowledge were stronger.

According to Tuan, the theoretical exam covered a wide range of fields, with significant focus on nanomaterials – a research trend that has garnered recent attention. He was most impressed by the "blue elixir" question. The exam drew inspiration from real life, concerning a herbal extract from the host country, Uzbekistan, known for its medicinal properties, and then asked contestants to identify the substances within this solution.

The practical section consisted of three tasks: contestants needed to synthesize, analyze the composition of substances and enzymes, and measure the pH of solutions. Tuan encountered no difficulties, as all the knowledge had been covered in his training.

Although he had somewhat anticipated the results, Tuan was still nervous walking into the closing ceremony. The organizers called out the names of bronze, silver, and gold medalists to the stage in sequence. When all the silver medalists had been announced and no one from his team had been called, Tuan and his teammates cheered and congratulated each other, knowing their gold medals were confirmed.

Le Thi Ngoc Ha, Tuan's 12th-grade chemistry class homeroom teacher and the head of Ams High School's chemistry team, has mentored Tuan since 9th grade. She shared that her first impression of him was his intelligence and sharp ability to identify and solve complex problems.

After Tuan won the IChO 2025 gold medal, neither his family nor the school pressured him to defend his achievement. His decision to participate in this year's competition was his own, driven by a desire to contribute more to the team's overall success.

Beyond academics, his teacher described Tuan as humble, sociable, idealistic, goal-oriented, and possessing a strong spirit. She believes he will achieve many more accomplishments in the future.

With two consecutive IChO gold medals, Manh Tuan is the 4th student from Vietnam to achieve this feat in the past 30 years. He also qualifies for the First-class Labor Order, as stipulated by government regulations.

Tuan is currently taking time to rest and learn some soft skills before preparing his study abroad application. He has an IELTS score of 8.0 and a perfect SAT score of 1600. He plans to pursue a chemistry degree in the United States.