HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam won two gold and two silver medals at the recent 51st International Chemistry Olympiad, ranking fifth among participating nations and territories, according to the Ministry of Education and Training.

The ministry said today that among the team’s four members, who are all 12th graders, Trần Bá Tân from the Hà Nội-Amsterdam High School for the Gifted and Nguyễn Văn Chí Nguyên from the Lam Sơn High School for the Gifted in Thanh Hóa province pocketed the gold medals.

Tân secured 95.47 out of 100 points, the fourth highest score at the competition, with a maximum score of 40 points in the practical exam.

This is the first time a Vietnamese contestant has recorded the maximum score for the practical exam of an International Chemistry Olympiad.

Meanwhile, silvers went to Nguyễn Đình Hoàng from the Nguyễn Tất Thành High School for the Gifted in Yên Bái province and Phạm Thanh Lâm from the Lê Hồng Phong High School for the Gifted in Nam Định province.

The education ministry said the achievements showed Vietnamese students’ improvement in practical training, which was originally not their strength compared to peers from developed countries.

The 51st International Chemistry Olympiad, held in France in late July, attracted more than 300 students from 80 countries and territories. Việt Nam finished fifth, following China, the Republic of Korea, Russia and the US. — VNS