At the 2026 IMO, Nguyen Le Nhat Nam, a 12th-grade student in the Mathematics 1 class at the High School for Gifted Students, Hanoi National University of Education, was one of two Vietnamese students to win a gold medal.

His achievement helped Vietnam finish fifth overall (according to the unofficial rankings) among 119 participating countries and territories, earning two gold medals, three silver medals and one bronze medal.

Speaking with VietNamNet, Nam said he was delighted to achieve a result that exceeded his expectations.

"Before the competition, I didn't set my expectations too high. I thought I would be happy with any medal as long as it reflected my own efforts. After finishing the second examination day, I realized I had a chance of winning gold, but I was still genuinely surprised," he said.

Earlier, at Vietnam's 2025–2026 National Excellent Student Competition in Mathematics, Nam won the first prize with the highest score nationwide, earning 36.5 out of 40 points.

Growing up in an academic family - his father is a lecturer at the School of Mathematics and Informatics, Hanoi National University of Education, while his mother also teaches at a university - Nam developed a love for mathematics from an early age.

He says he has always found great satisfaction in solving difficult problems or discovering elegant and concise solutions on his own.

By eighth grade, he had already decided to specialize in mathematics.

In ninth grade, Nam won first prize in Hanoi's city-level mathematics competition, qualifying for direct admission to several high schools. He ultimately chose the High School for Gifted Students at Hanoi National University of Education.

During grades 10 and 11, he won consecutive gold medals in mathematics at the Coastal and Northern Delta Regional Olympiad.

From disappointment in 11th grade to a breakthrough year

Last year, while still in 11th grade, Nam represented his school at the National Excellent Student Competition and won a second prize in mathematics.

Although proud of the achievement, he admitted feeling disappointed because the result fell short of his expectations.

He attributed it partly to exam-day pressure and partly to ineffective problem-solving strategies, which ultimately cost him a place in the selection round for Vietnam's IMO team.

Nam said he always concentrates fully during classroom lessons. At home, he searches online for challenging mathematical problems to explore.

"When tackling difficult problems, I don't focus on quantity. What's important is finding my own solution. If I still can't solve a problem after trying hard, I'll read the official solution, but only after making sure I truly understand the underlying ideas. In the evening, besides homework for other subjects, I usually spend about two hours studying mathematics. Understanding one difficult problem deeply each night is enough," he said.

Whenever he studies mathematics, Nam keeps a thick stack of scratch paper beside him.

He also admitted that during 11th grade he often stayed up late to study but eventually realized the habit was neither effective nor good for his health.

As a senior, he made it a rule to go to bed before midnight.

Alongside regular classes and national team training, he has also tried to maintain a healthy balance between study, rest and recreation.

At the beginning of 12th grade, Nam nearly missed selection for his school's mathematics team because his written solutions were poorly presented, making them difficult for teachers to follow and costing him valuable points.

He initially ranked 11th while only the top 10 students were selected.

After a review of the results, however, he was added to the team.

"That experience taught me the importance of presenting solutions clearly. It's not enough to solve the problem - you also have to explain your thinking in a way others can understand," he said.

A dream of becoming a mathematics teacher

According to Truong Trong Khanh, Nam's homeroom teacher and mathematics teacher, the student has always approached his studies with exceptional seriousness and determination.

"He worked extremely hard on difficult problems and advanced topics while constantly seeking new knowledge on his own. This result is entirely deserved," Khanh said.

He added that Nam made remarkable progress throughout his final year of high school, reaching peak form just in time for the International Mathematical Olympiad.

Reflecting on the previous year, Khanh recalled that Nam had been deeply disappointed after missing the IMO selection round.

"I reminded him that there is always a gap between expectations and reality. Failure helps us identify our weaknesses so we know what to improve. After that, Nam overcame the disappointment, regained his confidence and made tremendous progress, especially during the final months before achieving this success," Khanh said.

Friends describe Nam as cheerful and humorous, someone who often lightens the atmosphere.

He believes maintaining a relaxed mindset plays an important role in performing well.

"I think staying calm before every competition is extremely important. Back in 11th grade, I missed the IMO selection round largely because I wasn't mentally prepared during the exam," he said.
His final year of high school marked a dramatic turnaround.

He first became the national champion in Vietnam's mathematics competition before capturing a gold medal at the 2026 International Mathematical Olympiad.

With these achievements, Nam qualifies for direct university admission under Vietnam's regulations.

He has chosen to enroll in the Mathematics Education program at Hanoi National University of Education, pursuing his dream of becoming a teacher.

"I believe teaching suits me, just as it does my parents. I want to share what I've learned and help educate future generations of outstanding students," he said.

Thanh Hung