The Vietnamese student delegation at the Final Round of the 2026 International Project Chemistry Olympiad.
The International Project Chemistry Olympiad (IPCO) has been organized since 2019 at the Faculty of Chemistry – Lomonosov Moscow State University for high school students from grades 8 to 11 (based on the 11-year Russian general education system).
Candidates participating in IPCO 2026 must undergo two stages: the Qualifying Round (held in Vietnam) and the Practical Round (Final Round). In the qualifying stage, the Organizing Committee selects candidates for English interviews focused on chemistry. The questions range in difficulty, covering inorganic and organic chemistry, and include situational questions requiring in-depth knowledge. Following this round, selected candidates represent Vietnam at the final round in Moscow.
The final round consists of two parts: In the first session, candidates propose a research idea for a pre-assigned chemistry project (given 10 days in advance). After defending their proposal before the jury, candidates execute their project in the laboratory during the second and third sessions (4 hours each), using only the chemicals provided in the official list.
In 2026, four Vietnamese students successfully reached the final round: Thai Hong Quynh Chi and Do Dinh Nguyen (Hanoi – Amsterdam High School for the Gifted), Nguyen Khang Duy (Thai Nguyen High School for the Gifted), and Le Nguyen Kiet (HNUE High School for Gifted Students).
- Thai Hong Quynh Chi: Synthesis and purification of 2-thiophene boronic acid from 2-bromothiophene and butyllithium (including concentration determination of provided butyllithium).
- Nguyen Khang Duy: Synthesis of 1,3-diphenylpropane-1,3-dione (DBM) ligand and subsequent synthesis and characterization of a complex.
- Do Dinh Nguyen: Synthesis of N,N,N′,N′ tetramethylmethanediamine (TMMDA) ligand and subsequent synthesis and characterization of a complex.
- Le Nguyen Kiet: Synthesis of dibenzylideneacetone (DBA) ligand and subsequent synthesis and characterization of a complex.
These research-based scientific projects represent challenging yet rewarding endeavors for Vietnamese students.
Vietnamese candidates defending their research projects.
Vietnamese candidates performing experiments in the laboratory.
In previous years, Vietnam also secured top honors: in 2024, Le Minh Duc (Hus High School for Gifted Students) won a Gold Medal and Le Huynh Minh Quy (Le Quy Don Gifted High School – Da Nang) won a Bronze Medal. In 2025, Tran Tuan Thanh (Hus High School for Gifted Students) earned a Gold Medal.
The Faculty of Chemistry at Lomonosov Moscow State University is also the host for the 2026 Mendeleev International Chemistry Olympiad.