From the very first round of appointments for professors and associate professors in 1956 until now, Vietnam has had only three female mathematics professors: Hoang Xuan Sinh, Le Thi Thanh Nhan, and Ta Thi Hoai An. Despite being a field in high academic demand, mathematics remains a domain where few female candidates reach the professor level.

A rare milestone in Vietnam's academic history

The first woman to be granted the title was Professor Hoang Xuan Sinh in 1980. She was followed by Professor Le Thi Thanh Nhan in 2015 and most recently, Professor Ta Thi Hoai An in 2023.

Hoang Xuan Sinh was born in 1933 in Cot village, Tu Liem, Hanoi. Her passion for mathematics was evident from the moment she completed her first Baccalaureate degree at Chu Van An High School.

In 1951, she was brought to France by her uncle to study at the University of Toulouse, where she earned a second Baccalaureate degree specializing in mathematics.

Returning to Vietnam in 1960, she joined the Mathematics Department at Hanoi National University of Education, where she simultaneously taught and conducted research.

During this period, she authored a dissertation titled "Gr-category theory" under the guidance of the renowned French mathematician Alexander Grothendieck.

In 1975, she returned to France to defend her doctoral thesis at the University of Paris 7, part of the Sorbonne system. She earned the distinction of being the first Vietnamese woman to receive a doctorate in mathematics under the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.

In 1980, she was officially awarded the title of professor by the National Council for Professorship Titles, becoming Vietnam’s first female mathematics professor.

Le Thi Thanh Nhan, born in 1970 in Thai Nguyen, developed a love for mathematics early on, which led her to enroll in the Mathematics Department at the Vietnam Bac University of Education. Graduating with honors, she began teaching at the university at just 20 years old.

She earned her master’s degree from Hanoi National University of Education in 1995 and her doctorate from the Institute of Mathematics in 2001. In 2005, she became an associate professor at the age of 35, making her the youngest associate professor that year.

In 2007, Nhan was honored with the Vietnam Institute of Mathematics’ prestigious Scientific Award for her research in commutative algebra. This award is given biennially to no more than two outstanding Vietnamese mathematicians under the age of 40.

She also received the Kovalevskaia Award in 2011, an esteemed recognition granted annually to female scientists working in the natural sciences.

In 2015, she was promoted to the rank of professor, becoming the second female mathematics professor in Vietnam.

Ta Thi Hoai An, born in 1972 in Nghe An, graduated with a degree in mathematics from Vinh University in 1993. She earned her master’s and doctoral degrees in mathematics from the same institution in 1997 and 2001, respectively.

In 2015, she received a Doctor of Science degree in mathematics from Blaise Pascal University in Clermont-Ferrand, France. She was appointed associate professor in 2009 and was promoted to full professor in 2023, becoming Vietnam’s third female mathematics professor.

No female math professor candidates in 2025

In 2025, there are 36 candidates for professor and associate professor titles in mathematics. However, all three professor candidates are men: Phan Thanh An (Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology), Vo Hoang Hung (Saigon University), and Do Duc Thuan (Hanoi University of Science and Technology).

There are only three female associate professor candidates in mathematics: Nguyen Thi Nhung, Dang Thi Oanh, and Le Hai Yen.

Nguyen Thi Nhung, born in 1981 in what was formerly Ha Nam province, is currently the head of the Mathematics Department at Thang Long University. She holds a bachelor's degree in algebra and number theory (2003), a master’s degree in mathematical analysis (2007), and a doctoral degree in geometry and topology (2021) from Hanoi National University of Education. She has published 14 research papers, 13 of which appeared in prestigious international journals.

Dang Thi Oanh, born in 1969 in Bac Giang, serves as a senior expert and Deputy Director of the Department of Information Technology under the Ministry of Education and Training. She holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Vietnam Bac University of Education (1993), a bachelor's degree in information technology from Hanoi University of Science and Technology (2000), a master’s in computer science from Thai Nguyen University (2006), and a doctorate in computational mathematics from the Institute of Information Technology, under the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (2012). She has published 12 scientific papers, including nine in internationally recognized journals. She is also a recipient of the Third-class Labor Medal.

Le Hai Yen, born in 1987 in Hai Phong, is a senior researcher at the Institute of Mathematics, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology. She earned her bachelor's degree in mathematics education from Hanoi National University of Education in 2008, her master’s in 2010, and a doctorate in applied mathematics in 2013 from the University of Toulouse III, France. She has published 15 research papers, all in reputable international journals.

Le Huyen