On the afternoon of March 9, the Vietnam Institute for Advanced Study in Mathematics held the opening ceremony for the 2026 Asia-Pacific Mathematical Olympiad (APMO).

The Asia-Pacific Mathematical Olympiad is an international mathematics competition for high school students from countries in the Pacific Rim. Starting in 2026, Vietnam will host and coordinate the competition as the main organizing country for three consecutive years from 2026 to 2028. The Vietnam Institute for Advanced Study in Mathematics has been assigned by the Ministry of Education and Training to organize the competition domestically.

This year’s contest draws participation from nearly 50 countries and territories. Vietnam’s team includes students who won prizes at the 2025 International Mathematical Olympiad as well as those who secured first prizes in mathematics at the national excellent student competition for the 2025-2026 academic year.

Among the 22 contestants, the largest representation comes from Hanoi - Amsterdam High School for the Gifted and Lam Son High School for the Gifted in Thanh Hoa province, each with three students.

According to the organizers, with two medalists from the 2025 International Mathematical Olympiad and several newly crowned national champions, this year’s team is expected to achieve remarkable results.

Professor Nguyen Ngoc Ha, Deputy Director of the Department of Quality Management under the Ministry of Education and Training, said that discovering, nurturing and developing young talents in mathematics carries significance not only for the education sector but also for building the country’s future scientific and technological workforce.

According to Ha, the 22 students represent the intelligence, ambition and potential of Vietnam’s younger generation.

“You carry not only knowledge but also the pride and expectations of your teachers, families and the nation. I believe that with intelligence, creativity and determination, you will overcome the challenges of the competition and continue nurturing your passion for science, contributing to the country’s development in the future,” he said.

The competition is structured as a four-hour written exam consisting of five problems with increasing levels of difficulty. Each problem carries a maximum score of seven points.

Each participating country is responsible for organizing the exam domestically while strictly following common regulations regarding timing, exam format and confidentiality. The problem set and official solutions are provided by the coordinating country, based on submissions proposed by participating nations and refined through academic review to ensure quality and fairness.

The 2026 Asia-Pacific Mathematical Olympiad will take place on the morning of Tuesday, March 10 for countries in Asia and the western Pacific region, and on the afternoon of Monday, March 9 for countries in Oceania and the Americas.

In Vietnam, the competition will be held on March 10 at the Vietnam Institute for Advanced Study in Mathematics in Lang ward, Hanoi, with the exam running continuously for four hours from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

List of 22 Vietnamese students competing in the 2026 Asia-Pacific Mathematical Olympiad

Nguyen Dinh Tung, Grade 12, High School for Gifted Students in Natural Sciences, under the University of Science, Vietnam National University Hanoi.

Truong Thanh Xuan, Grade 12, Bac Ninh High School for the Gifted, Bac Ninh province.

Vo Sy Quoc Anh, Grade 12, Ha Tinh High School for the Gifted, Ha Tinh province.

Phan Van Cuong, Grade 12, High School for the Gifted, Vinh University.

Tran Dai Thanh Danh, Grade 12, High School for the Gifted, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City.

Do Anh Duc, Grade 12, Bac Giang High School for the Gifted, Bac Ninh province.

Nguyen Duc Hien, Grade 11, Bac Ninh High School for the Gifted, Bac Ninh province.

Ha Manh Hung, Grade 11, Hanoi - Amsterdam High School for the Gifted, Hanoi.

Phan Thanh Huy, Grade 12, Hanoi - Amsterdam High School for the Gifted, Hanoi.

Nguyen Bao Khanh, Grade 11, Lam Son High School for the Gifted, Thanh Hoa province.

Nguyen Canh Khanh, Grade 12, Thai Nguyen High School for the Gifted, Thai Nguyen province.

Le Phuc Khanh, Grade 12, Lam Son High School for the Gifted, Thanh Hoa province.

Le Vinh Ky, Grade 12, Lam Son High School for the Gifted, Thanh Hoa province.

Bui Tung Lam, Grade 11, Le Hong Phong High School for the Gifted, Ho Chi Minh City.

Cao Hoang Lam, Grade 12, Luong Van Chanh High School for the Gifted, Dak Lak province.

Bui Nhat Minh, Grade 10, High School for Gifted Students, Hanoi National University of Education.

Nguyen Le Nhat Nam, Grade 12, High School for Gifted Students, Hanoi National University of Education.

Pham Dang Nguyen, Grade 12, Hanoi - Amsterdam High School for the Gifted, Hanoi.

Nguyen Hoang Phuong, Grade 11, Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted, Nghe An province.

Luu Trong Phuc, Grade 12, Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted, Nghe An province.

Tran Anh Quan, Grade 12, Le Quy Don High School for the Gifted, Dien Bien province.

Nguyen Duy Thanh, Grade 12, Vinh Phuc High School for the Gifted, Phu Tho province.

Thanh Hung