Champions Crowned in Vietnam’s Digital Dragons Cybersecurity Challenge 2023

Discover the champions of Vietnam’s ‘Digital Dragons: Cybersecurity Challenge 2023’ and explore the evolving landscape of cybersecurity and digital innovation.

In a nationwide cybersecurity competition, ‘Digital Dragons: The Cybersecurity Challenge 2023’, held in Vietnam and co-hosted by EVVO Labs, a leading digital transformation service provider based in Singapore, and the Vietnam-Korea University of Information and Communication Technology (VKU), four outstanding participants from the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM) have emerged as the victors.

This competition, endorsed by the Vietnam Authority of Information Security (AIS) and sponsored by HUAWEI Cloud, Agentis Intelligence, and Roundesk, represents a significant achievement for EVVO Labs, following their recent entry into the Vietnamese digital landscape. More than just a platform for knowledge exchange between Singapore and Vietnam, this partnership underscores their shared commitment to nurturing the next generation of computer scientists and cybersecurity experts. This initiative aligns with Vietnam’s broader mission to advance cybersecurity technology and innovation, thereby supporting national development and defense efforts.

The competition, which spanned from August to September 2023, saw participation from over 100 teams hailing from prestigious universities across Vietnam. Teams engaged in a series of “Capture the Flag” (CTF) challenges, where they had to identify and exploit system vulnerabilities to reach the digital flag, represented as a sequence of concealed characters within a database. Challenges covered a range of skills, including reverse engineering, cryptography, and digital forensics.

The grand finale unfolded at the Vietnam-Korea University of Information and Communication Technology (VKU) on September 16, 2023, and was attended by notable figures, including Assoc. Prof. Dr. Huỳnh Công Pháp and Dr. Trần Thế Sơn from Vietnam-Korea University (VKU), along with Mr. Lê Công Phú and Mrs. Bùi Thanh Hà representing VietNam Computer Emergency Response Team (VNCERT – MIC), Mr. Mai Tấn Linh from the Danang Department of Education, and Mr. Huỳnh Sang from the Department of Science and Technology in Danang.

The triumphant team from Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM) consisted of Lê Thanh Duẩn, Tô Đỉnh Nguyên, Nguyễn Đăng Nguyên, and Lê Khắc Trung Nam, securing the first-place position with a total score of 2282 and a prize of US$1500. The first runner-up team, representing Duy Tan University (DTU) and the Academy of Cryptography Techniques Ho Chi Minh City, achieved a score of 2014 points, earning them US$750. The third-place team, also from VNU-HCM, received a prize of US$350, having accumulated a final score of 1532 points.

Vince Chew, COO of EVVO Labs, expressed, “The competition’s success represents the first step in our comprehensive plan to cultivate cybersecurity talent in Vietnam. Central to our strategy is a lifelong learning program aimed at equipping individuals with cutting-edge cybersecurity skills while fostering global citizenship and essential competencies like problem-solving and ethical reasoning. Our future plans include expanding workshop offerings, launching mentorship programs, and establishing collaborations with more local universities. We hope that these initiatives will contribute to nurturing a versatile talent pool capable of addressing cybersecurity challenges, both local and global.”

EVVO Labs, along with its team of experts, remains committed to continuous innovation and the provision of diverse digital solutions, all while advancing technology. Their successful partnerships with SMEs, agencies, startups, and established companies position them to empower a broader range of organizations with state-of-the-art solutions, thus fostering operational excellence and driving significant digital progress within their respective industries.

The ‘Digital Dragons: Cybersecurity Challenge 2023′ not only crowned deserving champions but also symbolized a significant leap forward in Vietnam’s cybersecurity landscape. With EVVO Labs’ commitment to nurturing the next generation of cybersecurity experts and its mission to empower organizations with cutting-edge solutions, the future looks promising for both the cybersecurity field and the digital landscape in Vietnam. This competition serves as a testament to the power of collaboration, innovation, and knowledge exchange in shaping the digital world’s security and growth, underscoring the vital role that both local and global initiatives play in driving progress and excellence.