Four Vietnamese students have won gold medals at the 2020 International Chemistry Olympiad, VnExpress reported, citing the Ministry of Education and Training on July 30.

Four Vietnamese students take part in the 2020 International Chemistry Olympiad (two on the right and two on the left). Photo: MOET

The achievements put Vietnam at the second place in the competition, only behind the US, the best result recorded by a Vietnamese team at the International Chemistry Olympiad in the competition’s history.

The winning students are the 11th and 12th graders of gifted schools in Hanoi, Hai Phong, Nghe An and Nam Dinh provinces.

The gold medalists are Nguyen Hoang Duong, a 11th grader from Hanoi, Ly Hai Dang, a 12th grader from Hai Phong, Dam Thi Minh Trang, a 12th grader from Nam Dinh province, and Pham Trung Quoc Anh, a 12th grader from Nghe An province.

Dang scored the highest among the four - 97/100 - to rank 5th among 231 contestants, while Duong ranked 9th, Anh 15th and Trang 22nd.

This year’s competition was scheduled to be held in Turkey from July 6 to 25 but the Covid-19 pandemic prompted event organizers to host it online instead (Remote Access Exam). The Vietnamese students took the exam at Hanoi National University of Education where they were monitored via the organizers’ camera system in real-time.

The competition attracted the participation of contestants from 60 countries and territories, 20 fewer than the previous year due to Covid-19.

Last year, Vietnam bagged two gold medals and two silvers, finishing fifth out of 80 teams.