Hoang Hai Nam, a 12th-grade student specializing in informatics at Hanoi-Amsterdam High School for the Gifted (Ams), led the informatics track B (specialized program) with a perfect score. This announcement was made by the Hanoi Department of Education and Training on the afternoon of 13/10.
When the online lookup portal displayed a score of 20/20 for both exam days, the student jumped for joy. "I expected a high score, but this result still surprised me," Nam shared.
Nam described the exam questions on both days as not overly challenging, though one problem took him over an hour to solve. For example, the fifth and final problem on the first day was unusually difficult compared to previous years' exams. It presented a scenario involving a network of planets and spaceships, requiring candidates to use algorithms to determine cases where ships could travel between two planets without cargo weight limits.
Aiming for at least 19/20 points on the first day, Nam felt anxious. After 10 minutes of contemplation, he realized an approach similar to a problem he had solved previously. Ultimately, Nam spent about 30-40 minutes writing the algorithm, leaving him just 15 minutes to review the code.
 |
Hoang Hai Nam. Photo: Provided by interviewee
Two years ago, Nam was the top-scoring entrant to Ams school's 10th-grade specialized informatics class. Driven by his passion and guidance from his homeroom teacher, he dedicated much time to learning programming through self-study and at training centers. For Nam, using algorithms to solve informatics problems is captivating, akin to solving complex puzzles.
"These problems incorporate much mathematical knowledge. I must use logical thinking to optimize the problem and apply diverse algorithms to solve issues," Nam explained. Each day, Nam dedicates at least 2-3 hours to coding practice. Besides assignments from teachers, Nam explores additional informatics websites, consistently coding 1-2 problems daily to maintain his skills. During actual exams, Nam employs a strategy of securing full points on easier sections before tackling problems requiring more intensive coding and complex algorithms.
Beyond his love for the subject, Nam acknowledges that being surrounded by many talented and diligent friends motivates him to strive and not fall behind. Over the past two years, Nam has accumulated numerous achievements, including a first prize at the Northern Youth Informatics Competition, a third prize at the National Youth Informatics Competition, a silver medal at the Central-Central Highlands Informatics Olympiad, and a third prize at the 2025 national gifted student exam.
Despite these accomplishments, Nam considers himself not the type to bury himself in books. Outside of class, he allocates time to participate in the school's informatics club, alongside pursuing personal interests such as playing video games, swimming, and badminton.
Le Thi Thuy, Nam’s homeroom teacher, who has accompanied him for three years, noted that her student consistently excels in informatics with an average score of 10. Nam's strengths include his calm demeanor and perseverance when facing difficult problems that do not have immediate solutions. During his preparation, Nam often revisits problems after unsuccessful attempts, analyzes errors in his thinking, and tries a different approach. Nam also has a habit of breaking down complex problems to find the underlying logic, then solving them systematically, step by step.
"Over time, I've observed him becoming deeper in his problem analysis and more confident in finding solutions independently," Ms. Thuy commented. Nam will continue preparing for this year's national gifted student exam. He also plans to study abroad in Singapore or Taiwan (China), pursuing engineering-related fields.
Khanh Linh
