Le Phan Duc Man, a 12th-grade student at Le Hong Phong High School for the Gifted, arrived at the airport on the afternoon of 21/7 after competing in the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) in Australia. Man won a silver medal with 28/42 points, contributing to the Vietnamese team's top 9 ranking among approximately 110 countries and territories.
Tran Thi Dieu Thuy, Vice Chairwoman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, acknowledged this as an honor not only for Man and his family but also for Ho Chi Minh City.
"The city hopes that more and more students will achieve international academic awards. We will also create conditions for Ho Chi Minh City students to participate in more competitions," she said.
"I am happy to have this achievement recognized; it is a worthy reward for all my efforts over the past time," Man shared.
According to regulations of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, Man will receive an additional 160 million VND for his achievement.
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Tran Thi Dieu Thuy (far right) presents Man with a certificate of merit and an award at Tan Son Nhat Airport on the afternoon of 21/7. Photo: Phuc Ho |
Tran Thi Dieu Thuy (far right) presents Man with a certificate of merit and an award at Tan Son Nhat Airport on the afternoon of 21/7. Photo: Phuc Ho
Duc Man recounted his love for mathematics since his early secondary school years, when he frequently participated in city-level gifted student competitions. He was then admitted to the specialized math class at Le Hong Phong High School for the Gifted, where teachers dedicatedly guided him in developing his passion for mathematics.
In 10th grade, Man competed in the 30/4 Olympiad but did not win a prize. In 11th grade, he made a comeback with a third prize in the city-level math competition for gifted students, and in 12th grade, he won second prize at the national level. He then passed the selection round to join the 6-member IMO team.
Man said that during the initial training period in Hanoi, he felt overwhelmed because his peers were exceptionally talented. Later, he gradually adapted to the environment and training methods, regaining his confidence.
The IMO exam consisted of 6 questions, translated from English to Vietnamese, which contestants completed over two days. Man chose to do the exam in Vietnamese, which was then translated into English by the organizers for grading.
While taking the exam, Man noted that the questions required more critical thinking than specialized knowledge. He focused on reading the questions carefully, identifying the necessary elements, and then solving them step by step. Man usually completed the easier questions first, saving the remaining time for the difficult ones.
"The final result was a silver medal, which I feel is adequate and I'm very fortunate," he said.
Man plans to study computer science at university and is considering studying abroad in the future.
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Duc Man surrounded by friends. Photo: Phuc Ho |
Duc Man surrounded by friends. Photo: Phuc Ho
At IMO 2025, the Vietnamese team had two gold medalists: Vo Trong Khai (12th grade, Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted, Nghe An) and Tran Minh Hoang (12th grade, Ha Tinh High School for the Gifted). Khai scored 38/42 points, placing among the top 10 highest-scoring contestants, while Hoang scored 35 points, ranking 27th.
Le Phan Duc Man, with 28 points, along with Nguyen Dang Dung (12th grade, High School for the Gifted in Natural Sciences, Hanoi National University) with 34 points; Nguyen Dinh Tung (11th grade, High School for the Gifted in Natural Sciences) with 31 points, won silver medals.
The only female student in the team, Truong Thanh Xuan (11th grade, Bac Ninh High School for the Gifted), won a bronze medal with 22 points.
Le Nguyen
