All four Vietnamese students at the Al-Fergani International Physics Olympiad returned with medals in October. The team earned one gold, two silvers and one bronze, placing fourth overall. Held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, the competition brought together 107 students from fifteen countries and territories. Le Ba Tuan Viet won Vietnam's gold medal. The event tested more than the ability to remember formulas or repeat explanations learned from a textbook.
Contestants completed theoretical and experimental sections on separate days, with five hours allowed for each section. Questions required them to apply physical principles to practical situations and modern science. Clear reasoning and the ability to connect knowledge across fields were important. Theory accounted for sixty points, while experiments carried forty. The results recognised the students' preparation and their teachers' support. The contest also encouraged international contact among young science enthusiasts.