The young innovator is Nguyen Bao Son - a high schooler from an ethnic minority background with a dream to “take my homeland to the world.”

Double gold from recycled scrap

Among the standout names in Vietnam’s tech community this year, Nguyen Bao Son (Grade 10 English Class 1, Cao Bang High School for the Gifted) is an extraordinary case.

Unlike competitors trained in top-tier schools or equipped with million-dollar labs, Son’s resources were simply his unique mindset and the perseverance of a mountain-born student.

In just one year, this 15-year-old achieved two major national accolades: the top prize in the 21st National Youth and Children’s Innovation Contest and a gold medal at the 2025 Vietnam Young Inventors Awards. It is the first time a student from Cao Bang has ever received this distinguished title.

What makes his victory even more special is the material used to create it. While other contestants presented expensive robots and AI prototypes, Son’s project, “Earth’s strata model and introduction to Non Nuoc Cao Bang UNESCO Global Geopark,” was built using modeling clay, old dinosaur toys, and recycled materials.

“I wanted to prove that technology doesn’t have to be expensive to be valuable. A model made from low-cost, recycled materials can help children in remote areas understand hundreds of millions of years of Earth’s history. That’s just as meaningful as any high-tech machine,” Son said of his "against-the-current" approach that won over even the most demanding judges.

A handshake from UNESCO and a ticket to the world

The value of Son’s “golden double” goes beyond medals - it lies in international recognition.

At the 2025 Immersion Day Forum, Son’s project was selected for presentation before a panel of leading global experts.

Jonathan Wallace Baker, UNESCO’s Chief Representative in Vietnam, expressed genuine amazement at how a high school student had "digitized" his hometown's geological heritage.

“I was amazed by these students. The way they linked Earth's evolution to the development of the Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark is truly creative and inspiring,” he said.

Praise from a UNESCO representative was like an international stamp of approval on Son’s project.

With this achievement, Son and his team were awarded the “Creative Youth” Badge and officially nominated for the Global Young Inventors competition.

What started as a classroom idea is now gaining momentum to promote Non Nuoc Cao Bang at global forums, all thanks to the vision and intellect of Vietnam’s Gen Z.

The dream computer and a decision to give away 10 million VND

Beyond being a rational “young inventor,” Son is also a compassionate leader in his school's Ho Chi Minh Young Pioneer Organization.

Few people know that before Typhoon Yagi (Storm No. 3) struck northern Vietnam, Son had saved up for a personal goal. He had gathered around 10 million VND (about 410 USD) from competition prizes and Lunar New Year gifts to buy himself a new computer. His old one was too slow for coding and project development.

But after the storm left devastation behind, Son learned that Cao Manh Hung - a fellow student and orphan living with his grandmother - had lost everything in the disaster.

Son made a decision that deeply moved many adults. He withdrew the entire 10 million VND he'd saved for a computer and gave it to Hung to rebuild his life, along with a new study desk.

When asked if he regretted postponing his tech dreams, Son replied with unwavering clarity: “I just thought, I still have my parents and relatives to support me. Hung only has his grandmother. He’s in much more difficulty and loneliness than I am. I want him to have the kind of childhood we’re lucky to have.”

A leader's kindness ripples beyond one act

Son’s generosity doesn’t stop at individual acts. As a student council leader, he continues to use his voice and the honor of his awards to distribute books and scholarships to other children.

“Material value may be small, but I want them to believe that if you keep trying and keep creating, you will be recognized,” he said.

An English major with a passion for history

Son’s day begins at 6 a.m. and rarely ends before 11 p.m. Though majoring in English, he has a deep passion for History and Geography. For him, the intersection of these subjects lies in one goal: putting his homeland on the world map.

Following his golden double win, Son remains committed to projects rooted in his “fairyland-like” Cao Bang.

“I want to bring the model to more remote schools, so other children can see that science isn’t far away - it’s right in the land beneath their feet,” Son shared.

To this 15-year-old, creativity isn’t about building soulless machines. It’s about telling stories of humanity - helping children in highland areas rise together with pride in their homeland.

From clay models to national gold medals, from a small mountain village to a handshake with UNESCO, Nguyen Bao Son is a living example of the “mountain-conquering” spirit.

He brings glory to his hometown not only through historic achievements but through his compassionate heart.

As Son declared: “My next project will definitely still be rooted in Cao Bang - so I can rise with my friends in the mountains and protect our homeland.”

Doan Bong