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Mr. Tran Quang Hung, 39, is currently a teacher at VNU HUS High School for Gifted students.
At the 2025 International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) held in Australia in mid-July, one of the six problems on the exam was authored by Mr. Hung.
This marks the fourth time a Vietnamese problem has been selected for the IMO, with the most recent occurrence nearly 40 years ago.
"The problem isn’t a scientific research result, but it is a memorable milestone in my career in elementary mathematics," Mr. Hung shared.
Born in the 1980s, Mr. Hung discovered his aptitude for mathematics in grade 7, when he first encountered negative numbers and functions. In geometry, he had a knack for identifying and drawing auxiliary lines to solve difficult problems. Whatever the teacher explained, he understood instantly. Eager to study more math, he applied to the math-specialized class at Chu Van An High School in Hanoi for grade 10.
However, the demands of a specialized class required him to balance all subjects, which proved challenging. After grade 10, Hung requested to transfer to a regular class. That experience, though, made him realize how much he loved math and confirmed his decision to pursue it in university. In 2004, he was admitted to the Faculty of Mathematics at the University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.
At first, Hung felt overwhelmed by the self-directed learning environment, as he wasn’t yet familiar with effective study methods. Gradually, he adapted by focusing on truly understanding the material rather than rote learning. His favorite subjects were geometry-related, such as differential geometry and topology. He found probability theory the most difficult, largely because he hadn’t yet grasped its practical applications.
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Despite his growing passion for mathematics, Hung hadn’t planned a specific career path after graduation. For about six months after receiving his bachelor’s degree, he worked as a tutor and wrote math books. Then, he reached out to Assoc.Prof Nguyen Vu Luong who was then head of the Math-Informatics specialized program at the VNU University of Science to ask for a chance to assist in teaching.
Recognizing it as a rare opportunity, the young teacher prepared thoroughly. After 1–2 months, Assoc.Prof. Luong gave positive feedback but challenged him to design even harder problems. Hung was thrilled, interpreting it as strong encouragement. After passing several selection rounds, he officially became a teacher at VNU HUS High School for Gifted students and has been training math talent ever since.
Assoc.Prof. People's Teacher Nguyen Vu Luong, now Chairman of the Academic and Training Council of the school, recalled that at the time of application, Hung wasn’t an outstanding candidate on paper and lacked experience. But what stood out was his exceptional math ability, dedication, and seriousness. He praised Hung’s work ethic, punctuality, and thorough lesson preparation. His geometry problems, in particular, were distinct, creative, and rich in content.
