With a score of 8.5, Hung surpassed more than 900 other candidates from 11 countries and territories in the region to rank among the top five students who will receive 12,000 GBP (nearly US$19,000) each. The others come from the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia. 

Hung shared at the award ceremony in HCM City on August 10 that it was his speech introducing his favourite place in his hometown that helped him earn the honour. 

On this occasion, the British Council presented awards to the four most outstanding examinees in Vietnam. 

IELTS is the world’s most popular English language test for higher education and global migration with over 2 million IELTS tests taken last year. The British Council offers IELTS tests and preparation courses in its centres throughout the world. 

The contest has, to date, provided overseas study opportunities to 123 students in the East Asian region.