Meeting Dong Nai student, national first-prize winner in biology

Vu Hong Anh, a 12th-grade math student from Quang Trung High School for the Gifted, is the only student from Dong Nai province to win first prize in the 2025-2026 National Excellent Student Selection Exam. With a score of 25.75 points, Hong Anh meets the criteria to be selected by the Ministry of Education and Training to participate in the national selection exam for regional and international Olympiads in 2026. Before this, he also won second prize in Biology at the 2024-2025 National Excellent Student Selection Exam.

Although he studies in a specialized math class, Vu Hong Anh excels in biology because his dream is to become a surgeon.

Conquering dreams

Vu Hong Anh, a 12th-grade math student at Quang Trung High School for the Gifted, is the only student from Dong Nai province to win first prize in the 2025-2026 National Excellent Student Selection Exam. With a score of 25.75, Hong Anh qualifies to be nominated by the Ministry of Education and Training to participate in the national selection exam for regional and international Olympiads in 2026. Earlier, he also earned second prize in Biology in the 2024-2025 National Excellent Student Selection Exam.

Although he passed the entrance exam to the specialized Math class, Hong Anh dedicated more time to studying Biology, not only because it is a vital subject for the medical field, but also because his inspiring teacher is Lu Van Tap, Head of the Biology Department at Quang Trung High School for the Gifted.

Vu Hong Anh (middle row, second from the right) with his teacher and teammates in the national team for the 2025-2026 Biology Olympiad. Photo courtesy of the team

Passionate about the subject and with strong academic performance, Hong Anh was allowed to audit classes with the national Biology competition team as early as 10th grade. By 11th grade, he officially entered the national competition for excellent students. In the 2024-2025 National Biology Competition, Vu Hong Anh won second prize. This achievement placed him among students eligible for direct admission to Hanoi Medical University. However, his goal is to win first prize to secure a spot at Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy. Therefore, in the 2025-2026 academic year, he will continue competing in the National Biology Competition.

Thanks to his previous experience with the national gifted student team and having completed all the subject modules since 11th grade, Hong Anh now has more time to review knowledge and practice solving problems.

Although selected to participate in the national selection exam for regional and international Olympiads in 2026, Hong Anh does not place high expectations on the outcome, as securing a spot on the Olympic team is exceptionally challenging. Out of 32 students selected for the preliminary team, only 4 will have the opportunity to join the official team. For Hong Anh, this is a valuable experience he is determined to make the most of. "I just think that if I get into the preliminary team, I will get to go to Hanoi, get to know and study with many friends from other provinces and cities, and gain new knowledge," Hong Anh humbly shared.

Balancing academics and extracurricular activities

Hong Anh chose not to aim for high scores in all subjects, but instead to master the fundamentals and devote time to his key strengths. He also arranged his schedule wisely, allowing time for relaxation and sufficient sleep.

After attending morning classes at school, Hong Anh spends his afternoons studying at home for two to three hours. In the evenings, he studies from 7 PM to 10 PM. Hong Anh shared: “Biology has a lot of theory. If I study late into the night, I won't remember much the next morning when the teacher teaches. Therefore, I usually focus more on studying in the mornings and don't stay up late to study.”

I will pursue a career in surgery and aim to become a resident doctor. For the past few years, I have watched videos of resident doctors choosing their specialties, and I hope to experience that moment myself.

Vu Hong Anh, 12th grade Math class, Quang Trung High School for the Gifted

Outside of school hours, Hong Anh also browses social media for entertainment. He also uses social media to support his studies by joining academic groups, including a community focused on Biology.

“In these groups, there are many older students who have competed in the national biology competition for gifted students, and some of them even offer tutoring courses. I've taken part in these courses. Because they’ve participated in the competition, they have a lot of experience to share. Some are only a few years older than me and have won national awards, which also motivates me to strive for success. The important thing is that I've learned from them how to think,” Hong Anh expressed.

Vu Hong Anh (right) and his teacher, Lu Van Tap, who had a significant influence on his journey to winning awards in Biology. Photo courtesy of the subject Speaking about this exceptional student, Lu Van Tap, Head of the Biology Department at Quang Trung High School for the Gifted and also the Head of the training team for the national Biology gifted student competition in Dong Nai province, shared: "Hong Anh is a student specializing in Mathematics, but with a passion for Biology, he shifted his focus to prepare for the Biology gifted student competition. His strong mathematical thinking gave him many advantages when approaching Biology. With his own efforts, determination, and his teachers' support, Hong Anh has achieved many accomplishments in this subject. Besides two national gifted student awards, he also won a Gold medal at the Traditional April 30th Olympiad and a Silver medal in a competition organized by the Hanoi University of Science." “Hong Anh is a student with strong thinking skills, passion, a spirit of self-learning, and high determination. Therefore, neither I nor the teachers at the school, nor those involved in training the provincial national gifted student team, were surprised by the results he achieved. This result is entirely deserved given his efforts. What stands out about Hong Anh is his relaxed approach to learning and his ability to balance academics with extracurricular activities. He takes part in clubs, sports, and entertainment. When taking the exam, he also maintained a calm mindset, so there was virtually no mental pressure,” added Tap. By Hai Yen – Translated by Quoc Dung, Minho