Nguyen Dinh Tung, an 11th-grade student at the High School for Gifted Students in Natural Sciences (under the University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi), recently won a silver medal at the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) in Australia. Scoring 31/42 points, he ranked 91st out of 630 participants from nearly 110 countries and territories. Tung, along with five other team members, helped Vietnam secure a spot in the top 9 teams overall.

Tung expressed pride not only in his achievement but also in the opportunity to compete in the world's most prestigious mathematics competition. Just three years ago, he hadn't even heard of the IMO.

"I study math because I enjoy it. It's exciting to solve difficult problems and learn new things. I never thought about studying for a specific achievement," Tung shared.

Dinh Tung at his study corner at home. Photo: Family provided

Dinh Tung at his study corner at home. Photo: Family provided

Originally from Quoc Oai on the outskirts of Hanoi, Tung attended a local village school. His father, Nguyen Dinh Khoi, recounts how teachers and acquaintances recognized Tung's exceptional mathematical talent. When Tung was 8, friends encouraged the Khois to send him to a city school for better opportunities. However, the 30 km one-way commute seemed daunting given Tung's young age.

"Initially, we were hesitant, but with the encouragement and Tung's enthusiasm, we decided to make the change," Khoi explained.

Following a recommendation, Tung met Ngo Van Minh, a teacher at Archimedes Academy Secondary School. Minh recalls testing Tung with mental math problems, which he solved rapidly. He then introduced Tung to combinatorics, a 6th-grade topic, and was astonished to see Tung grasp the concept and solve problems before the explanation was even complete.

Tung subsequently received a full scholarship to Archimedes Academy, starting in 3rd grade, which continued for seven years. His educational path transformed, both literally and figuratively.

Tung's daily routine involved waking up around 6 a.m. for his father to drive him to school on a motorbike. They returned home around 5 p.m. On days with extra classes, Khoi would wait until 9 p.m. for Tung to finish. Tung recounts how they would often have a quick snack and then have dinner together around 10 p.m. after arriving home.

"The commute was challenging, and I considered returning to my local school. But the encouragement and support from my teachers, coupled with my passion for math, helped me persevere," Tung shared.

Tung emphasizes that neither he nor his parents had specific expectations or goals for his mathematical pursuits. He simply enjoyed learning and considered it a passion, making the hard work feel effortless. Besides completing school assignments, Tung sought out math problems from other countries online. It wasn't until he was about to enter 10th grade that he learned about the IMO and aspired to participate one day.

Dinh Tung's collection of medals and awards. Photo: Family provided

Dinh Tung's collection of medals and awards. Photo: Family provided

In 2023, Tung secured direct admission to the High School for Gifted Students in Natural Sciences after winning first prize in the city's 9th-grade math competition. Under the guidance of specialized teachers, he successfully navigated the national math competition and the selection rounds for the 2025 IMO team.

In Australia, Tung and his teammates faced two days of exams, solving three problems each day within 4.5 hours. The maximum score for each problem was 7. Tung achieved perfect scores on the first four problems, earned 3/7 points on the 5th, and did not score on the last.

The author of problem 2, a geometry question, was Tran Quang Hung, a teacher at the High School for Gifted Students in Natural Sciences. Tung was surprised during the exam, despite a "familiar feeling" upon reading the problem, recognizing his teacher's style. With his strength in geometry, he easily secured 7 points.

Tung found problem 6, a combinatorics question, very difficult. This was an area where he wasn't as proficient, and he ran out of time. He felt most disappointed about problem 5, believing he could have solved it but ultimately only receiving 3 points for the initial part.

Overall, Tung believes he performed to the best of his abilities. He experienced no setbacks, maintained a positive attitude, and relished the experience of competing at the world's largest mathematics competition for high school students.

Associate Professor, People's Teacher Nguyen Vu Luong, Chairman of the Scientific and Training Council at the High School for Gifted Students in Natural Sciences, has taught Tung since 8th grade when he joined the school's prospective team. Luong describes Tung as highly intelligent, never overshadowed by older classmates.

According to Luong, in addition to knowledge, Tung possesses composure and tenacity – essential qualities for a student aspiring to excel in mathematics. While Luong expressed some disappointment that Tung didn't achieve a gold medal this year, he hopes Tung will continue to develop his skills and return to the competition next year to upgrade his medal.

Dinh Tung (5th from the left) with his teachers and the Vietnamese team at IMO 2025. Photo: Provided by the subject

Dinh Tung (5th from the left) with his teachers and the Vietnamese team at IMO 2025. Photo: Provided by the subject

Ngo Van Minh believes Tung's reading habit contributed significantly to his success. In 4th grade, he read about plane geometry, and by 6th grade, he was exploring advanced geometry. According to Minh, even with limited understanding, Tung remained enthusiastic.

"This habit significantly improved Tung's self-learning and research abilities," Minh noted.

Additionally, many unsung teachers supported Tung's journey through mentoring, guidance, and free tutoring.

"Tung's path exemplifies the process of discovering and nurturing young mathematical talents," Minh observed.

Three days after returning from Australia, Tung is taking some time to rest. He plans to study English for the IELTS or SAT exams. He believes this will open up more opportunities before deciding whether to pursue higher education domestically or abroad.

"I will also continue studying math independently and strive to join the IMO team again next year," Tung said.

Thanh Hang