On September 16, 2023, the final round of Vietnam Information Security Competition  “Digital Dragons: The Cybersecurity Challenge 2023” (DDC 2023) took place at Vietnam-Korea University of Information and Communication Technology (VKU), the University of Danang. The competition was co-organized by Vietnam-Korea University of Information and Communication Technology and Evvo Labs, Singapore and endorsed by Information Security Department – Ministry of Information and Communications, and FISU Vietnam.

Overview of DDC 2023 final round opening ceremony

Attending the Final Round, on the side of the Department of Information Security – Ministry of Information and Communications, there were Mr. Le Cong Phu – Deputy Director, Vietnam Cybersecurity Emergency Response Team/ Coordination Center (VNCERT/CC), Ms. Bui Thanh Ha – Person in charge of VNCERT/CC, Da Nang Branch, Representatives of Education and Training Department and Science and Technology Department of Da Nang city, Representatives of Da Nang University and universities in the Central – Central Highlands. On the side of businesses, there were Representatives of the following units: Huawei Company (Representative of the sponsors), IRTech Company, Sapota Company, ST United Software Company, DataHouse Asia Company, Orient Software Company – Da Nang Branch, CodeGym Vietnam and Da Nang Port Joint Stock Company. On the side of the Organizing Committee, there were PhD. Tran The Son – Vice Rector of Vietnam-Korea University of Information and Communication Technology, Head of the Organizing Committee, Mr. Vince Chew – CEO of Evvo Labs Company, Co-Head of the Organizing Committee, Mr. Wong Yee Long – General Sales Director of Evvo Labs Company, along with leaders of faculties, departments, lecturers, students, a large number of students joining the event as online participants and especially all of the members from the 5 excellent teams.

Digital Dragons: The Cybersecurity Challenge 2023 is a competition for university students across the country who love information technology as well as information security to create an attractive and rewarding playground that encourages students’ learning and creativity in this field. Despite the fact that the competition was first organized, it attracted 100 teams (equivalent to 500 members) from universities nationwide.

PhD. Tran The Son, VKU’s Vice Rector, delivered an opening speech at the DDC 2023 final round.

Delivering the opening speech of the DDC 2023 final round, PhD. Tran The Son – VKU’s Vice Rector, Head of the Organizing Committee emphasized: The competition is not only an opportunity to show off students’ talent and creativity, but also an important step forward to raise people’s awareness and knowledge of information security in the community. In the increasingly digital age, information and data become valuable assets, requiring us to learn and master information security knowledge. However, the advancement of technology also results in progressively complex cybersecurity risks and threats. The competition will be an opportunity for students to demonstrate their abilities and learn more about information security. We believe that the competition will become a healthily and creatively competitive environment, helping students practice their skills, expand their knowledge and discover breakthrough solutions to information security.

Mr. Le Cong Phu – Deputy Director of VNCert/CC, Representative of the endorser  shared relevant information at the DDC 2023 final round.

Representing the endorser, Mr. Le Cong Phu – Deputy Director of VNCert/CC shared: DDC 2023 is of great significance in seeking information security talents, to meet the demand for human resources which are currently in short supply in Vietnam’s digital transformation process, especially information security resources. We hope and wish that VKU will continue to coordinate with domestic and foreign organizations to hold plenty of competitions including DDC 2023 and that VNCert/CC will always accompany and endorse to find many more new talents to enhance training and nurturing programs to contribute to serving the country.

Mr. Vince Chew – CEO of Evvo Labs, Co-organizer of the event spoke at the final round.

As for the co-organizer, Mr. Vince Chew – CEO of Evvo Labs Company was pleased to say that thanks to the success of DDC 2023, Evvo Labs had been continuing its strategy of developing cybersecurity talents in Vietnam with lifelong learning criteria so as not only to equip them with advanced cybersecurity skills but also promote their global citizenship and important core skills such as problem solving and ethical reasoning, contributing to nourishing a talent pool capable of dealing with local and global cybersecurity challenges.

DDC 2023 was organized with 4 preliminary rounds, quarter-finals, semi-finals (online) and the final round (at VKU) on September 16, 2023, attracting 100 teams with more than 400 candidates from more than 25 universities and institutes nationwide such as: Vietnam – Korea University of Information and Communication Technology, Can Tho University, Polytechnic University, University of Information Technology, Vietnam National University – Ho Chi Minh City, Duy Tan University, Academy of Cryptography Techniques, Posts and Telecommunications Institute of Technology, FPT University, Van Lang University, Quy Nhon University, Ho Chi Minh City  University of Technology and Education,…

Before holding competition rounds, from June 27 to August 8, 2023, the Organizing Committee conducted a series of online seminars (webinars) with the participation of leading experts in information security such as PhD. Tran The Son (VKU), Mr. Tran Van Loc (Engineer, Evvo Labs), Mr. Duong Thanh Vinh (VNCert), Mr. Tan Hwee Hong (Huawei), Mr. Nguyen Khuyen (Engineer, GHTK) and Mr. Bach Trong Duc (BKAV) about following topics: Learn about security vulnerabilities and explore information security careers, Resolve web application vulnerabilities and explore cloud security, Popular network models in CTF Attack – Defense, Necessary knowledge for CTF and Practice taking simulation tests.

After 3 rounds of competition, DDC 2023 has found 5 excellent teams qualified for the final round: r3kapig (Duy Tan University), PepeAgane (Polytechnic University, Vietnam National University – Ho Chi Minh City), A.k.a.t.s.u.k.i and Ctrl Shift N (Academy of Cryptography Techniques, Ho Chi Minh City Branch) and P3 (University of Information Technology – Vietnam National University – Ho Chi Minh City). They competed directly at Vietnam – Korea University of Information and Communication Technology, the University of Da Nang and were covered by the Organizing Committee for food, accommodation, and travel expenses (airplane).

In the final round, 5 teams went through direct competitions with many challenges in penetrating web applications, networks, cryptographic techniques, reverse algorithms, XXE (XML External Entity) vulnerabilities, binary exploitation, advanced cryptography and real-world scenarios. The referee team was comprised of experts in network security and information security, including PhD. Tran The Son (VKU), Mr. Nguyen Thanh Khanh (VNCert) and Mr. Nguyen Tien Minh (Consulting Analyst, Evvo Labs).

Teams competed in the Vietnam information security competition at VKU

After 4 hours of intense competition, the Organizing Committee awarded 01 First prize to P3 (University of Information Technology, Vietnam National University –  Ho Chi Minh City), 01 Second prize to r3kapig (Duy Tan University), 01 Third prize to PepeAgane (Polytechnic University, Vietnam National University – Ho Chi Minh City) and 02 Consolation prizes to A.k.a.t.s.u.k.i and Ctrl Shift N (Academy of Cryptographic Techniques, Ho Chi Minh City Branch) with a total prize value of more than 100,000,000 VND, along with many other attractive prizes.

The competition was honored to receive the support and endorsement of the Information Security Department, the Ministry of Information and Communications and FISU Vietnam, along with major domestic and foreign sponsors such as Huawei International Pte. Ltd., Roundesk Infocomm Pte. Ltd., Agentis Intelligence Pte. Ltd., and so on.

On behalf of the sponsors, Mr. Dao Quang Vinh – Product Director, Huawei Company stated: we are very happy to accompany and contribute to DDC 2023. Through this competition, I hope students’ passion and awareness of Cybersecurity will be spread and strongly promoted, not only among candidates but also in the ICT community. Accordingly, students will have a clear direction when participating, contributing, building, and creating high-quality human resources for cybersecurity, which helps Vietnam’s digital transformation process take place much more powerfully and steadily.

The success of DDC 2023 will provide students with many opportunities to demonstrate and develop their information security knowledge and skills, and gain practical experience, thereby discovering more new applications and possibilities in the field of information security. VKU believes and hopes that this competition will become an annual event to attract the active participation of university students nationwide and that it will grow into a remarkable event in the field of information security, contributing to improving knowledge and awareness of information security for the community.

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