Young valedictorians honored as Hanoi opens doors to skilled future contributors

THE HANOI TIMES — Hanoi stands ready to welcome new university and academy valedictorians who want to work and contribute to the capital’s socio-economic progress, Vice Chairwoman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Vu Thu Ha said on November 14.

Ha made her statement at the ceremony honoring 95 outstanding valedictorians graduating from local universities and academies in 2025.

Among the 95 honorees, 64 students earned distinction and 31 earned high distinction. One-third of the valedictorians are members of the Communist Party of Vietnam, showing academic strength and political maturity.

Many honorees have received the Five Good Student award and produced award-winning researches at national and international levels. They have created practical and innovative ideas that show determination and resilience in both study and daily life.

The valedictorians cover diverse fields of study, including 16 in engineering, 31 in management, culture and social sciences, 20 in economics, nine in education, six in medicine and pharmacy and 13 in security and defense.

Now in its 24th year, the annual event reflects the strong commitment of the Hanoi Party Committee, government and citizens to education, training and youth development. The city has so far recorded 2,350 valedictorians in the Golden Book of Honor.

Ha said the valedictorian recognition program carries meaningful educational value and reflects Vietnam’s tradition of valuing talents.

“As a major center of education and training, Hanoi continues to focus on developing high-quality human resources to meet the demands of digital transformation and global integration,” she said.

Ha said the program recognizes academic excellence and offers real career opportunities for the honorees. Some graduates honored in previous years have already joined city agencies working in science, technology and innovation.

She praised the students’ achievements and said the recognition marks the beginning of a longer journey.

The vice chairwoman hoped that the valedictorians will keep learning and contributing and become a pioneering generation of young intellectuals in the digital era, helping build a modern and forward-looking Hanoi.

“Hanoi is ready to welcome capable young individuals who wish to contribute to the city’s development,” she said.

Among the honorees, Tran Thanh Nam from the Hanoi University of Science and Technology earned a perfect 4.0 GPA and received a master’s scholarship from Institut Polytechnique de Paris, one of France’s leading technical institutions.

Thieu Ngoc Mai from the National Economics University also earned a perfect 4.0 GPA and received a master’s scholarship from the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom, known for strengths in economics, data analysis and public policy. During her fourth year, she became an AI engineer at Viettel AI.

Ta Quang Cong from the People’s Security Academy stands out in the security and defense sector. He earned the Central Level Five Good Student title and received several Certificates of Merit from the Minister of Public Security.

Nguyen Phuc Son is known for his strong resilience. He graduated early with a GPA of 3.81 while supporting his young nephew. For six consecutive semesters, he earned academic scholarships and completed several research projects on his own.

After graduation, he returned to his rural hometown to teach English and give disadvantaged students opportunities he once wished for himself.

Nguyen Thi Thuy Huong graduated with distinction in computer science from the University of Engineering and Technology under the Vietnam National University - Hanoi, earning a GPA of 3.94 out of 4.0 and 9.35 out of 10. She is a former math major from Nguyen Hue High School for the Gifted in Hanoi.

Sharing her feelings at the ceremony, Huong expressed deep gratitude for the sacrifices of previous generations.

She said those sacrifices motivate her to live with purpose and responsibility and to keep studying and creating for the good of the community and the capital.

Huong said she now has opportunities to apply for two positions within Hanoi’s agencies.

As part of the young intellectual generation, she aims to learn from global knowledge, stay creative and contribute to building a modern and forward-looking Hanoi.

Earlier, on November 13, the Golden Book inscription ceremony for outstanding valedictorians took place at the Temple of Literature.

Nguyen Tien Hung, Chairman of the Vietnam Students Association of Hanoi, said the city always prioritizes talent development as it works to build a dynamic and modern capital while preserving its thousand-year cultural identity.

He said the inscription ceremony honors the valedictorians, seen as the golden seeds of the country’s future, and encourages them to maintain ambition, humility and dedication as they work toward a more prosperous and modern Hanoi.