Vietnamese Robotics Teams Show Outstanding Performance at World Competition in the United States

Five teams from Vietnam have won important prizes at the world’s largest VEX Robotics Contest, according to the STEAM for Vietnam Foundation. This is a significant achievement, as it demonstrates the creativity and technological prowess of the Vietnamese teams. It is also a testament to the dedication and hard work of the students and mentors who have put in tremendous effort to make this success possible. It is a great example of how STEM education can be used to inspire young minds and open up new opportunities.

Held annually, the VEX Robotics World Championship, the largest robotics competition in the world, attracts more than 3,000 teams from over 60 countries. Source: STEAM for Vietnam Foundation

Gathering for the first time at the VEX Robotics World Championship 2023 (VEX Worlds), held in Dallas, Texas, were more than 30,000 students from over 50 countries and 50 states across the US. The teams from Vietnam have truly impressed their international friends not only with their robotics knowledge, but also with their confidence and enthusiasm for cultural exchange. Each individual was an ambassador for Vietnam, demonstrated in the grand parade at the opening ceremony of the contest.

More specifically, five out of 19 high school and primary teams won prizes in their first international competition, along with four teams that made it into the top 20 in their respective groups.

In order to select the finest teams to represent Vietnam in the VEX Robotics World Championship 2023, STEAM for Vietnam, in conjunction with the American Centre and Hanoi University of Science and Technology, hosted the National VEX IQ Robotics Championship. The event was held in order to identify the best teams from Vietnam and provide them with an opportunity to compete on the international stage.

During their time in Texas, the students also had the opportunity to visit NASA in Houston and interact with international peers, further enriching their educational experience.

During the journey to the VEX World Championship 2023 in the US, STEAM for Vietnam has developed an experience program to provide opportunities for students, parents, and teachers to explore technology and education in the US. This program hopes to inspire students to reach for their dreams and strive for greater heights.

Among them are visits to prestigious Stanford University, the esteemed Texas A&M University, the renowned Tech Interactive Museum – one of the leading pioneering museums of technology in Silicon Valley, and the esteemed Center for Aeronautics and Astronautics, NASA headquarters in Houston, and enjoy some quintessential American culture such as outdoor BBQ parties and road trips.

Most notably, the students had the chance to explore Google’s headquarters in Silicon Valley, engage with Vietnamese engineers working there, and enjoy a hearty breakfast and an inspiring chat with astronauts at NASA.

The US Embassy, The American Centers in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city, work together with STEAM for Vietnam, and the Hanoi University of Technology, to nurture Tech talent and inspire Vietnamese students to follow their dreams and pursue STEAM careers.

The organizers of the “A Year of Robotics 2023” project are delighted with the results achieved by the Vietnamese teams. Initially, the goal of the Vietnamese delegation was merely to exchange and learn, yet the outcome has exceeded expectations. It is hoped that the students, parents, and teachers who took part in the project this year will remember it fondly and that it will motivate more and more Vietnamese students to participate in future events. According to Dr. Tran Viet Hung, co-founder of STEAM for Vietnam, “We are extremely happy with the results that the Vietnamese teams have achieved.”

Joining international arenas such as VEX Worlds is a giant step forward for Vietnam’s competitive robotics teams. It will not only provide them with the opportunity to compete on a global stage, but also to gain the skills necessary to become future global citizens and invaluable human resources for their country. Excitement is already high among the teams, and they are eagerly looking forward to working with more partners in the future to make the next seasons even greater.

The dedication and hard work of these students and the support of their teachers and mentors have paid off with such an outstanding accomplishment.

STEAM for Vietnam and its esteemed partners, the Consulate General of Vietnam in San Francisco, the American Center (under the US Embassy and Consulate in Vietnam), Hanoi University of Science and Technology, VinUniversity, Vietnam Airlines, and the Asia Sun Travel logistics unit, joined forces to make this incredible experience possible for the students.

They hope that the VEX journey, especially the tour in the US in 2023, will spark an inspirational movement for Vietnamese students across the globe to invest in STEAM learning and robotics, thus becoming global citizens with the ability to compete in the international arena. They hope that the VEX journey, especially the tour in the US in 2023, will become an inspiration for Vietnamese students around the world to invest in STEAM learning and robotics, thereby becoming global citizens, able to compete in the international arena.

Immediately after their journey, STEAM for Vietnam and its partners initiated the project “A Year of Robotics 2024” and devised a plan to provide classes on Robotics Programming and to hold the National Championship in the 2023-2024 period, in anticipation of the 2024 World Championship tournament in the United States.

Cao Bang’s Team Rises to the Top of the World Rankings

At the prestigious VEX Robotics World Championship, the greatest robotics competition on the planet, the Cao Bang provincial team achieved an outstanding rank of 183 out of the 1,000+ teams present. This exemplary performance was reported by Cong Ly newspaper.

In terms of expertise, the Robotics 11 Cao Bang team has improved their standing by an impressive 1,000 places in the skill test, which includes robot driving and automatic programming.

Prior to the tournament, the Cao Bang team was ranked 1,187th; however, following the World Championship, their ranking rose to an impressive 183rd.

The Robotics 11 Cao Bang team is internewed by US media.

The Robotics 11 Cao Bang team achieved an impressive result of 30th/77th in the group stage of the control competition, amassing a total of 191.75 points. This is not only higher than the score of the team that won the Vietnamese national championship, but also 1.6 times higher than the Robotics 11 Cao Bang team’s performance in the February national championship.

A teacher and three students from the impoverished province of Cao Bang, Vietnam, have earned praise from the US media for their ambitious journey and determination in overcoming numerous obstacles. Although the teacher and the students had limited prior knowledge of robotics, they persevered and managed to secure a ticket to the US. Unfortunately, the team faced financial difficulties and it was only with the timely assistance of provincial leaders that they were able to purchase their plane tickets at the last minute.

The Cong Ly newspaper recently interviewed Ha Tien Sy, the principal of Cao Bang School for the Gifted, who praised the students’ efforts. “I’m so proud of the hard work and dedication our students have put into their studies,” Sy said. “Their accomplishments are a testament to their dedication and commitment to excellence.”

Thanks to the timely support and encouragement of the leaders of Cao Bang province and STEAM for Vietnam’s robotics model, coupled with the dedication and hard work of the teachers and students, the Cao Bang team achieved an impressive feat. Initially, the Cao Bang provincial team was ranked 1,187 worldwide, but now they have officially moved up more than 1,000 places to 183rd. This is truly an unexpected success.

The Cao Bang provincial team ranked 183th worldwide. This is a tremendous achievement considering that all the students had only short time of experience with VEX robotics.

Dr. Tran Viet Hung is thrilled to see that students from all corners of Vietnam now have the chance to learn and participate in robotics competitions at the international VEX arena. By taking part in the world championships in the US, these young people will gain immeasurable knowledge and develop the necessary skills to be able to compete in the global market with confidence in the future.

All three members of the Cao Bang team are Tay ethnic people, one of whom is facing very difficult circumstances but is driven by a formidable will and determination to overcome. The children displayed remarkable confidence as they interacted with international friends, speaking to them fluently in English about Vietnam and Cao Bang. The story of the Cao Bang team has piqued the interest of the US and foreign media and will be broadcasted around the world as a source of motivation for students who strive to overcome the challenges of learning robotics and STEAM, said Hung.