About
About the Vietnam Philosophy Olympiad
All men by nature desire to know.
Aristotle, Metaphysics
VPO
When the familiar becomes a question
Questions of right and wrong, of fairness, or of what makes a life good may seem familiar, yet they do not always have simple answers. Philosophy helps us see these problems more deeply, explore different perspectives and reflect on what we hold to be true.
The Vietnam Philosophy Olympiad (VPO) is an academic competition for high school students nationwide, encouraging them to explore philosophical problems through essay writing. It is a chance to practice independent thinking, develop the ability to argue, and learn to see a problem from many angles.
At the VPO, what matters is not only the conclusion but also the thinking that leads to it: how the writer frames the problem, builds an argument and explains their view.
It is also where students with a gift for philosophy are found and supported, and where Vietnam’s representatives at the IPO are chosen.
Why join
What you can learn from the VPO
- I
Asking questions
Learn to see familiar things from a new angle, look into their causes, and reflect on ideas you once took for granted.
- II
Building arguments
Practice analyzing problems, giving persuasive reasons and weighing opposing views to develop independent thinking.
- III
Academic writing
Learn to organize ideas, develop a thesis and express your thoughts clearly in English, skills that serve you well at university.
- IV
Listening and dialogue
Meet friends who share an interest in philosophy, exchange different perspectives and learn from open discussion.
- V
International connection
The two best candidates have the chance to represent Vietnam at the International Philosophy Olympiad (IPO), meeting and exchanging ideas with students from many countries.
IPO
International Philosophy Olympiad
- 1993
- First held, in Bulgaria
- 2001
- Held from this year under the auspices of the International Federation of Philosophical Societies (FISP), with the recognition and support of UNESCO
The IPO is a philosophy competition held every year for high school students around the world. It asks what you think about a hard question, and why, rather than how many doctrines you can recite.
For more than thirty years, this has been where young people who love philosophy meet, debate and keep listening to each other.
Organizer
Faculty of Philosophy, University of Social Sciences and Humanities
The University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, is one of Vietnam’s leading places for teaching and research in the social sciences and humanities. Its Faculty of Philosophy was founded in 1976.
The University runs the VPO so that high school students have a place to think deeply and argue independently, and so that those with a gift for philosophy can be found and supported.
The person who brought the IPO to Vietnam
Mr. Dang Minh Tuan
Vietnam Team Leader at the IPO. Lecturer, Faculty of Early Childhood and Primary Education, University of Education, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.
Mr. Dang Minh Tuan brought the International Philosophy Olympiad to Vietnam and has led the Vietnamese team at the IPO since 2023.
He stays with students through selection, preparation and the trip itself. Vietnamese students have repeatedly been recognized with Honourable Mentions.
- Unit
- Faculty of Early Childhood and Primary Education, University of Education, VNU Hanoi
- Degree
- Master’s, PhD candidate
- Field
- Physics
- Research
- Educational science, from 2010 to the present
- At IPO 2026
- Member of the International Jury
- [email protected]
Books and papers
Books
- Đặng Minh Tuấn (2020). Phát triển tư duy Toán OpenMath, khối 1 – khối 5 (5 cuốn). Nhà xuất bản Giáo dục.
- Phạm Kim Chung, Trần Đình Minh, Nguyễn Bá Ngọc, Hoàng Thu Hà, Lê Chí Nguyện, Đặng Minh Tuấn (2023). Giáo trình dạy học phần “Năng lượng và sự biến đổi”. Nhà xuất bản ĐHQGHN.
Papers
- 2023Integrating educational robotics into the training program for developing students’ ICT competence in teachingDigital Integration and Transformation, Apple Academic Press
- 2023Fostering STEM education competency for elementary education students in university of pedagogy in VietnamSpringer Nature
- 2023Training Elementary Teachers in Vietnam by Blended Learning ModelSpringer Nature
- 2022The current status of STEM education for students majoring in Natural Science Pedagogy at the VNU University of EducationVietnam Journal of Education
- 2020Building and using STEM topics in teaching physics in high schoolVietnam Journal of Education
- 2020Using blended learning model improving self-study competence in physics subject of high school studentsVietnam Journal of Education
- 2020Orientation to develop a training program for teachers teaching Mathematics and Natural Sciences in English at the University of Education, Vietnam National University HanoiVietnam Journal of Education
- 2016The influences of the dielectric layer thickness on the negative permeability in MetamaterialsIWAMSN 2016
- 2014An optimal design towards metamaterial perfect absorber at THz frequenciesIWAMSN 2014
Symbol
The meaning of the symbol
At its center is Phi (Φ), the first letter of the Greek word for philosophy.
The square and circle draw on Khuê Văn Các at the Temple of Literature in Hanoi.
Vermilion carries Vietnamese identity; the minimal geometry suggests the clarity of a good argument.
Rooted in Vietnam, connected to the world of ideas.