Việt Nam's team competing at the 2026 Asia-Pacific Mathematics Olympiad. Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Education and Training

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam's team at the 38th Asia-Pacific Mathematics Olympiad (APMO) 2026 won one Gold Medal, two Silver Medals, four Bronze Medals and three Certificates of Merit, the Ministry of Education and Training announced on June 6.

The organising committee officially approved results for 417 candidates nominated for awards from 45 countries and territories. It awarded 166 official prizes – comprising 19 Gold Medals, 41 Silver Medals and 106 Bronze Medals – and presented 174 Certificates of Merit to students with outstanding performance.

Under competition rules, each country may register a maximum of 10 candidates, with medals capped at one Gold, a combined maximum of three Gold and Silver, and a combined maximum of seven Gold, Silver and Bronze. The Vietnamese team won the maximum number of medals permitted.

Việt Nam's Gold Medal went to Trần Đại Thành Danh, a Year 12 student at the High School for the Gifted, Việt Nam National University HCM City, who scored 27 points.

The two Silver Medals were awarded to Phạm Đăng Nguyên, a Year 12 student at Hà Nội–Amsterdam Gifted High School, and Nguyễn Hoàng Phương, a Year 11 student at Phan Bội Châu Gifted High School in Nghệ An Province, both scoring 25 points.

The four Bronze Medals went to Phan Thành Huy, Year 12, Hà Nội–Amsterdam Gifted High School; Trần Anh Quân, Year 12, Lê Quý Đôn Gifted High School, Điện Biên Province; Nguyễn Đình Tùng, Year 12, Natural Sciences Gifted High School, Việt Nam National University Hà Nội; and Nguyễn Bảo Khánh, Year 11, Lam Sơn Gifted High School, Thanh Hóa Province.

Three students received Certificates of Merit: Lưu Trọng Phúc, Year 12, Phan Bội Châu Gifted High School, Nghệ An Province; Bùi Nhật Minh, Year 10, Pedagogical Gifted High School, Hà Nội National University of Education; and Võ Sỹ Quốc Anh, Year 12, Hà Tĩnh Gifted High School.

With those results, Việt Nam ranked seventh among the 45 participating countries and territories, behind the United States, South Korea, Japan, India, Malaysia and Singapore.

The performance is seen as a further affirmation of the quality of mathematics education in Việt Nam, and of the effectiveness of efforts to identify, select and nurture gifted students.

The achievement also strengthens Việt Nam's standing on the international mathematics olympiad circuit and is intended to encourage the study and research of mathematics among students nationwide.

The 2026 APMO was held on March 10 at the Việt Nam Institute for Advanced Study in Mathematics. The Vietnamese delegation comprised 22 students, including two members of the 2025 International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) team and 20 students with the highest results at the 2025–26 National Excellent Student Competition.

The competition was held simultaneously in 45 countries and territories – 43 official participants and two observers – an increase of eight countries compared with 2025.

The year marks a special milestone for the Vietnamese mathematics olympiad movement: the country returned to APMO participation after a 25-year absence. From 2026, Việt Nam will also serve as principal coordinating country for the competition during the 2026–28 period, a role equivalent to that of host. The Việt Nam Institute for Advanced Study in Mathematics has been assigned by the Ministry of Education and Training to lead the organisation of APMO in Việt Nam.

Under competition rules, each candidate sits a four-hour paper comprising five problems of varying difficulty, worth a maximum of seven points each. After the competition, scripts and results are sent to the international organising committee for verification, with official results announced after marking and score coordination among participating countries are complete.

The Asia-Pacific Mathematics Olympiad is one of the most prestigious academic competitions for secondary school students in the region and worldwide, and aims to promote exchange, develop mathematical ability and identify young talent.

The Vietnamese student delegation also won numerous medals at the 22nd International Mathematics and Science Olympiad (IMSO), held in Malaysia. — VNS