Among them, Tran Duc Huy and Nguyen Tien Nhan won silver medals, meanwhile Le Hong Long and Tran Quang Thanh won consolation prizes.

This is the second year Vietnamese students have participated in the IOAA contest. The Ministry of Education and Training has directed the Hanoi Department of Education and Training to organise a five-member team, led by Master of Physics Duong Cong Thinh, to register for the competition.

The International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) is an annual event for highly performed high school students from all around the world. First held in Thailand in 2007, the contest attracted the participation of 21 countries. This year’s event is the ninth year, attracting students from 44 different countries.

The achievement at IOAA contest is considered as a great effort of the members of Vietnamese team, because the astronomy and astrophysics are not a subject in the educational program of Vietnamese students. Most students do not pay much attention to astronomy and astrophysics. The result will be a great motivation for students to explore the field.

Last year, Vietnamese students also excelled in winning one silver medal and four consolation prizes. Especially, all five members, who competed last year, are also students of the Hanoi-Amsterdam High School for the Gifted.

Nhan Dan