Academics

Vietnam delelgate concerned about economic growth when implementing environmental measures

My first MUN ever! I was nervous and excited to re-present Viet Nam, and even more thrilled to earn my first award in my MUN journey. I drew on everything I had learned about Viet Nam through Geography, where we study both the physical and socioeconomic landscapes
of our country and the world.

Delegates at their desks during a Model UN session
The whole committee squeezed into one classroom photo

UAE delegate fights for water accessibility in developing countries

Geography strikes again! At HMUN 2025’s UN DISEC, I drew on what I knew about each country’s environment to find realistic solutions while balancing competing national interests!!!

Gia Han listening in committee at HMUN 2025

A journey to the top of Vietnam’s toughest Geography competition

The Geography team in green uniforms, fists up, in the school yard

My first climb. In Grade 9, I took on the Hanoi City Geography Competition for the first time. I fell in love with Geography because it is more than memorizing facts - it is a key to decoding the rules that shape our world.

I realized I loved this puzzle because Geography helps me make sense of what I see, connect the physical world with socioeconomic forces, and find answers to the questions I carry about society.

Students gathered on the steps of a red pavilion by the lake
Award ceremony for Hanoi's outstanding students, the whole group on stage
Gia Han holding her certificate on stage

And so, I made it through every round, all the way to the national competition. My final answer drew on real experiences from Trạm Tấu – perhaps a little extra credit from life itself!