He shared the news with VietNamNet on February 5, stating: “I will officially begin my work at the University of Hong Kong in June 2026.”

At HKU, he will join the Department of Mathematics under the Faculty of Science. The institution is currently ranked number one in Asia, according to the 2026 QS Asia University Rankings.

In Vietnam, Professor Ngo Bao Chau continues to serve as the Scientific Director of the Vietnam Institute for Advanced Study in Mathematics (VIASM), a role he has held for over five consecutive terms.

His decision follows a broader trend among prominent Vietnamese scientists returning to Asia. Notably, Professor Vu Ha Van - another internationally renowned Vietnamese mathematician - recently left Yale University to also join the University of Hong Kong.

HKU highlighted Professor Ngo Bao Chau’s appointment on its official website, stating that his presence would further solidify the university’s standing as a global hub for fundamental research. The school emphasized its aim to foster transformative breakthroughs through interdisciplinary collaboration and intellectual curiosity.

Speaking about his vision at HKU, Professor Ngo Bao Chau said: “HKU’s global connectivity and interdisciplinary culture make it an ideal environment for transformative research. I look forward to working with the university’s outstanding scientists - not only to advance mathematics but also to help shape the future of the field.”

In 2010, Professor Ngo Bao Chau made history as the first Vietnamese mathematician to receive the prestigious Fields Medal - the highest honor in mathematics, awarded to researchers under the age of 40.

Thanh Hung