Duc 'Cardiology' and his journey to top 4 in Hanoi Medical University residency

Securing a top four spot in Hanoi Medical University's resident doctor exam, Vu Hong Duc chose not to follow his mother's pediatrics path, instead steadfastly pursuing his passion for internal cardiology, marking a significant achievement for a Vietnam National University student on unfamiliar ground.

Vu Hong Duc is a former outstanding graduate of the Doctor of Medicine program at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU). In the resident doctor exam at Hanoi Medical University, Duc scored 24,75 points, ranking 4th among over 1,000 candidates.

On Match Day, 9/9, standing at a different institution, the 24-year-old loudly declared, "Vu Hong Duc, number 04, internal cardiology specialty". The entire hall erupted in applause because this is considered a challenging specialty. Furthermore, it was the first time a candidate from VNU's University of Medicine and Pharmacy had entered the top 4 of this exam, according to the organizers.

"When I learned the results, I was nervous, then surprised, shouting when I saw my name in 4th place", Duc said. "On Match Day, I was very happy to declare the specialty I had been passionate about, without any hesitation, even though many asked if I would change my choice to a trending specialty given my high score".

Vu Hong Duc announces his name and chooses internal cardiology at Hanoi Medical University's Match Day, on 9/9. Video: Duong Tam

Duc's mother is a pediatrician, so he was exposed to and grew to love medicine early on. As a student at Yen Hoa High School, he initially enjoyed physics but later set it aside to focus on biology for medical school entrance exams.

In 2020, Duc achieved 28,55 points on the high school graduation exam, just 0,35 points short of entering the Doctor of Medicine program at Hanoi Medical University. At that time, the University of Medicine and Pharmacy was a faculty of Vietnam National University, Hanoi. Despite not knowing much about the university, he decided to choose it as his second preference to study close to home and was admitted.

Choosing medicine out of passion, and guided by dedicated teachers, Duc's studies progressed smoothly despite the heavy workload. To achieve outstanding results, Duc opted for consistent study rather than cramming by staying up all night before exams. He also prioritized his health, maintaining a habit of walking 20 minutes daily.

Additionally, Duc participated in many extracurricular activities, winning second prize in the Vietnam National University, Hanoi student scientific research competition in 2025.

Six years of study also clearly shaped Duc's professional path. He recalled actively researching cardiology through biology lessons since high school. In university, he consistently prioritized this topic in all group assignments and research. Notably, during clinical exams, Duc coincidentally drew topics related to cardiology over 50 times, leading his friends to playfully nickname him "Duc 'Cardiology'". Because of this, he independently delved into many specialized reference materials and learned to read electrocardiograms early on.

"Many people asked why I didn't follow my mother's specialty, but I wanted to choose the specialty I felt most inspired and passionate about", Duc said.

By the middle of his fifth year, while researching resident doctor exams in the Northern region, Duc realized that the multiple-choice exam structure of Hanoi Medical University suited him. The exam covered a vast amount of knowledge, ranging comprehensively from clinical subjects (internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics, pediatrics, emergency medicine) to basic medical sciences (anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, genetics, pharmacology, microbiology, histology, embryology). In return, the exam format and assessment method, which evaluated candidates' reasoning abilities, intrigued Duc.

Although still based on medical knowledge, taking the exam at a different institution with a completely different format from his own university put Duc at a disadvantage. He had to balance preparing for the resident doctor exam according to Hanoi Medical University's format and question types, while also preparing for his graduation at his own university.

The student identified commonalities between the two exams and specific topics requiring separate study. He then planned each task, set deadlines, and strived to complete them. During clinical rotations at the hospital, Duc sought out patient cases and asked senior doctors and teachers about any lingering questions. Each time he asked, he remembered the knowledge more deeply and then applied it to specific patient cases.

"That study method meant I didn't have to memorize mechanically or copy knowledge directly from textbooks. Thanks to that, my exam preparation was less stressful", Duc recounted.

Starting his three-year residency program next month, Duc hopes to maximize this period to learn, refine his expertise, and become a skilled doctor in the future.

Duc (third from left) poses with the principal and friends at the graduation ceremony of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, at the end of August. Photo: NVCC