Vietnam selected as host of Int’l Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics 2026
VOV.VN - Vietnam has been chosen to host the International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) 2026, which will take place in the capital city of Hanoi.

According to Tran The Cuong, director of the Hanoi Department of Education and Training, the competition is expected to draw around 3,000 contestants and observers from nearly 80 countries and territories.
Cuong emphasized that the event will be an opportunity for Vietnam to introduce its culture, people, lifestyle, and cuisine to international friends. It will also allow local students to exchange ideas, learn, and connect with peers from around the world.
The department noted that the Olympiad will be held at a major university in Hanoi, fully equipped with the facilities and modern infrastructure required for the event.
At the 2025 IOAA in India, which brought together more than 300 contestants from 66 countries and territories, all five Hanoi students won medals, with one gold, three silver, and one bronze. It was the second year in a row that every member of the Vietnamese team earned a medal, a feat first achieved in 2024 in Brazil.
The IOAA is an annual international science competition for high school students, focusing on astronomy and astrophysics. Since its launch in Thailand in December 2007, it has become a prestigious platform for nurturing young scientific talent worldwide.