We often hear that Vietnam has won an international Olympic gold medal with mathematical prodigies. Is Vietnam really good at mathematics? If so, why is that and where are the typical faces? To say whether it is good or not, we need specific measures. These are not classes, tests, and university exams. And the most accurate measurement here is the International Mathematical Olympiad, often abbreviated as IMO or in English, we read it as IMO.
This is an annual international mathematics exam for high school students. First of all, let's talk about Vietnam's achievement in the IMO compared to the world. Since 1974 until now, Vietnam has participated nearly 50 times and has brought home a total of 69 gold medals, 117 silver, 85 bronze with three honors, and we have ranked eight globally for gold. As in the Olympics or the Sea Games, gold is always the highest. Compared to the king of IMO, they have 185 golds from 39 times, about three times more than us due to a huge population of 1.4 billion people and very strong investments and education from a young age, investing more than Vietnam.
In the USA, we are sometimes still cautious because their IMO team has very Asian participants, but the United States ranks second with over 150 gold medals. The advantage of a huge economy and better schools. Russia since 1991 after the depths of wilderness has had 106 golds, South Korea has 95 golds, Hungary had veterans from the 1980s, and there was also a lot of gold. The former Soviet Union has 77 golds, but we have caught up with them because the Soviet Union has melted away. It and Bulgaria surpassed gold, although they participated more, and all of the above-mentioned countries have scholars related to mathematics.
In short, Vietnam is not the number one in the world in terms of the number of gold medals won in the IMO, as usually at the top. And compared to equivalent economic countries, that is, similar learning conditions, Vietnam is always number one. Vietnam also leads in Southeast Asia, which ranked third in the world in years like 1999 and 2007. In recent years, as a world-class in 2022, 2023 is the seventh in the world. In other years, 2024 was slightly reset, but every year there was gold, also silver, and there was bronze. Almost so. It is rare to have a year without gold. Now let's turn the story behind these figures.
Why is Vietnam becoming a mathematical power despite experiencing war and poverty?
Of course, from the power here we must understand each other, and this is not an exaggeration. It all relates to a culture that places great importance on mathematics. It is one of the most vital changes, especially after the innovations. Since his grandparents, it has been a top priority in familiar sayings, such as “father of the father and mother.” Although not wealthy, Vietnam has achieved a literacy level of almost 100%. And according to the PISA survey in 2018, Vietnamese students ranked 13th globally in mathematics, surpassing countries like England and France in logical thinking and perseverance.
Compared to subjects like literature, history, and geography, Vietnamese parents are often more fanatical about mathematics and are willing to do a lot for their children to learn better, as they believe that mathematics opens doors to better universities or dream jobs. As a result, Vietnamese students are accustomed to studying mathematics and the pressure associated with it from an early age. But the real secret lies in the specialized training system that we often call “chicken training centers.” This term refers to centers that prepare top students, like fighting roosters, playing a key role.
Students who are recruited here will study mathematics and are almost focused on learning mathematics. First of all, national schools select students from middle schools through tough exams. Here they study advanced programs, solve old IMO problems weekly, and are often guided by teachers who have won international IMOs. Students here participate in training monthly before the national exam with a strict schedule, alternating theory, complex lessons, and testing, and using IMO books, which means the Vietnam Mathematics Olympiad with more than 300 classics from the 1960s. Almost every year, the IMO team comes from specialized schools in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, which is a global furnace. Although high pressure can cause stress, they create stability.
Moreover, the national and creative spirit is the attraction. The IMO in Vietnam is like the World Cup in football, winning is pride. What may be in other countries, they do not care about that. Vietnam has classic sayings. For example, “hundreds of salaries are not equal to a bonus” or “a play in the middle is more than a kitchen sieve.” Such thinking has been rooted in generations of the Vietnamese people, and we are a society that honors learning. Honoring the award, honoring the honor. Those who study well are always honored, as an example, stars for others in society to follow their children. And the story would not be complete without examples inspired by mathematical heroes.
Le Ba Khanh Chinh
Perhaps everyone has heard this name. Le Ba Khanh Chinh is known as one of the legends of Vietnamese mathematics, having scored the highest score of 40/40 and received a special prize for the participant with the best solution at the International Mathematical Olympiad in 1979. Le Ba Khanh Chinh won a special prize for his solution to problem number three at the IMO that same year. According to him, before participating, he caught a cold, which weakened his body and made it lifeless. Entering the examination room, due to inattentiveness in reading the question, he misunderstood the meaning of the question and realized this mistake only when time was almost up. In this urgent moment, he quickly devised a way to present the solution as concisely as possible. The solution he proposed was very concise, not as verbose as the original official solution.
Because of this simplicity, the jury initially suspected possible flaws. However, after careful examination, they found no errors and appreciated the novelty of the method. Professor Tony Gardie, who was on the jury at the time, proposed to establish a special award in honor of this unique approach. Le Ba Khanh Chinh's achievements not only brought fame to Vietnam on the mathematical map of the world but also awakened interest in this science among countless students.
His innovative solution is considered a typical example of flexible intelligence and excellent adaptability. To this day, he remains the only representative of Vietnam to have received a special prize for an exquisite solution in the IMO, confirming an outstanding position in Vietnam's mathematical journey. This solution was later included in the collection of the mathematics olympiad instead of the original version of the organizers. And, of course, you also know the name Ngo Bao Chau.
Ngo Bao Chau
Professor Ngo Bao Chau said that if he had not participated in the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), he would not have become the mathematician he is today. Immediately after high school, he was enrolled in a specialized mathematics class at Trung Vuong School in Hanoi. In high school, his mathematical talent developed in the general block of the specialized department of mathematics and information technology at Hanoi National University. Today it is the University of Natural Sciences at Vietnam National University in Hanoi. In the summer of 1988, Ngo Bao Chau won a gold medal at the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) in Caberra, Australia, with a perfect score. That year he was 16 years old and was in 11th grade.
In the summer of the following year, he joined the IMO in Germany and won a gold medal again. This is the first case when a student from our country won two gold medals at the IMO. He was the first and only Vietnamese to achieve a perfect score at the IMO, becoming an excellent source of inspiration for the next generation. His achievements not only contributed to the position of Vietnamese mathematics but also opened up his future career, leading to a victory in the fields in 2010, the most prestigious award in mathematics. But mathematics is not easy, and achieving a score of 10 is challenging.
The general mathematics curriculum in Vietnam is considered too complex and deep, equivalent to the first year of university in some developed countries. For example, Vietnamese students often have to study advanced topics such as analysis, geometry, and space at an early stage. In the USA, the general mathematics curriculum is easier, focusing on practical applications instead of abstract theory. This leads to a situation where Vietnamese students have to spend a lot of time on extra classes, causing economic and psychological pressure on the family.
Compared to developed countries, for example, in Southeast Asia, there is Singapore, in the West, in the USA, the teaching of mathematics in Vietnam often emphasizes a complex set of calculation and problem-solving skills, while other countries prioritize creative thinking and practical applications to reduce the burden of memorization. Vietnam also stands out with high achievements in international competition flags, surpassing many developed countries. However, this comes with heavy pressure. From excellent student exams to university entrance exams, achievement is considered a decisive factor for the future.
In other countries, such competitions do not create as much pressure, as the education system is more flexible and less dependent on grades. In contrast, in Asia, the pressure from Vietnam is no different from the pressure from China and South Korea, where students often study late into the night and under very high pressure. Compared to the USA or Europe, Vietnam is significantly higher in pressure, leading to a very high rate of anxiety among students, and many of them have faced tragic outcomes. In short, Vietnam excels in mathematics due to a strong culture, thanks to peak chicken ovens and an indomitable spirit, a journey from war to global peaks. These figures and examples are not only achievements but also lessons about effort.