The secret to success of IMO golden boy Tran Minh Hoang

Not only innate talent, Hoang's success comes from perseverance, systematic training methods and a relentless desire to conquer the peak.

At the 2025 International Mathematics Olympiad, Tran Minh Hoang, Ha Tinh High School for the Gifted, won the Gold Medal.

This year, all 6 Vietnamese students participating in IMO won medals, including 2 Gold Medals, 3 Silver Medals and 1 Bronze Medal, ranking 9th among participating countries and territories.

With this medal, Tran Minh Hoang not only brought glory to the country but also wrote a perfect ending for his journey to conquer the peak with his perseverance in "changing the color" of the Medal.

Tran Minh Hoang, Ha Tinh High School for the Gifted, won the Gold Medal at IMO 2025.

The journey to change the color of the medal of the 'expert in passing exams'

Born in Xuan Thanh commune (Nghi Xuan, Ha Tinh), Tran Minh Hoang inherited the tradition of studiousness from his family when both his father and mother were dedicated teachers. His father is Mr. Tran Minh Do, Vice Principal of Cuong Gian Secondary School, and his mother is teacher Tran Thi Thu Hoa. It was in that "cradle" where knowledge was always respected that Hoang's passion for Mathematics was nurtured very early.

With the Gold Medal, Tran Minh Hoang contributed to Vietnam's 9th place among the countries and territories participating in IMO 2025.

"Even before entering first grade, Hoang was able to read and calculate simple calculations," Thu Hoa, Hoang's mother, proudly recounted. His love for numbers and math grew and was nurtured every day by the guidance of his parents and teachers.

Hoang’s journey is a series of incredible leaps forward. In grade 8, Hoang won first prize in the provincial math competition for grade 9 students. A year later, he continued to affirm his position as valedictorian.

Before registering for the IMO, Hoang already owned an impressive collection of international medals, including gold medals at the English Mathematical Olympiad (SEAMO), gold medals at the Singapore and Asian Mathematical Olympiad (SASMO), and a special prize at the Young Mathematical Talent Search (MYTS) in 2019.

The big turning point came in grade 10, when he just entered Ha Tinh High School for the Gifted. Hoang took the exam to advance his level and won first prize in the national excellent student competition. By grade 11, he had his hands on the first Silver Medal at the International Mathematical Olympiad.

Not resting on his laurels, with a progressive spirit and perseverance, the student from Ha Tinh quietly made efforts, and then in his final return to the IMO, Hoang successfully turned his dream of changing the color of his medal into reality.

For Hoang, Mathematics is not just dry formulas but a tool to train logical thinking, effectively supporting other subjects. After the victory, Hoang modestly shared: "Today's result, in addition to a part of luck, is also due to my own efforts, the companionship and support of teachers and loved ones", Minh Hoang shared.

The gold medal is not the final destination, but the door that opens a new path. Hoang said that he will continue his path of in-depth research in Mathematics in the future.

Persistence, passion and outstanding ability

Speaking to the reporter of Knowledge and Life, Mr. Hoang Ba Hung, Principal of Ha Tinh High School for the Gifted, said that Tran Minh Hoang's achievement is a great honor not only for his hometown Ha Tinh but also for Vietnam. This is the result of a long-term educational process, demonstrating the correctness of the viewpoints and policies of the industry, not an overnight success or of a single school.

Teacher Hoang Ba Hung shares joy with students.

To achieve this result, two main factors must be mentioned. The first is Hoang's own qualities and efforts. He is an excellent student, demonstrated by his perseverance, passion and outstanding ability.

“The clearest proof is that last year, after winning the Silver Medal at the International Mathematical Olympiad, many students could have chosen another path such as studying abroad, but with his passion for mathematics, Hoang continued to participate in the national excellent student competition, won first prize and continued to be on the team competing in the IMO this year. That shows a valuable quality, responsibility and passion,” said Mr. Hung.

Tran Minh Hoang won the Silver Medal at IMO 2025.

The second factor that contributed to Hoang's success was the support of educational management agencies, schools, and teachers who directly taught him. The teachers had a very clear direction, set goals, and always encouraged him to enthusiastically participate in exams.

“The students’ talents are discovered early, nurtured, and they participate in playgrounds such as exams, competitions, and exchanges… From there, they are inspired and passionate. A gold medal at a major competition like IMO is the highest result in high school, the sweet fruit of a long process of striving,” said Mr. Hung.

Speaking more about the role of specialized schools, Mr. Hung said that the mission of specialized schools is not to "train talents" but to discover, nurture, nurture and create opportunities for students to train themselves at higher levels of education, striving to become talented people, to become the country's elite intellectuals in the future. Outstanding achievements like Hoang's are a solid foundation, a great opportunity for him to continue striving on that path.

Mr. Tran Dinh Huu, Tran Minh Hoang's homeroom teacher, likened him to a "good seed" planted on "fertile alluvial soil". That soil is the strong and long-standing teaching and learning tradition of the Math Department of Ha Tinh Specialized High School, a united collective where previous generations of students have won 5-6 international medals. When a student with qualities like Hoang is placed in that environment, success is inevitable.

Sharing about the student he has been close to and accompanied Hoang for 3 years at Ha Tinh High School for the Gifted, Mr. Tran Dinh Huu, homeroom teacher of grade 12 Math 1, said that Hoang does not have any "supernatural" learning secrets, but all comes from diligence, seriousness and a very professional learning attitude. On the teachers' side, the Math team has built a long-term, methodical roadmap right from when the students enter grade 10, with a reasonably designed lesson plan, going from easy to difficult.

“Teaching students to compete in the Olympics is like coaching a soccer team, you have to be patient and slow, because "haste makes waste"", Mr. Huu emphasized.

Tran Minh Hoang's achievements at international mathematics competitions: Gold medal (HCV) in the English Mathematics Olympiad (SEAMO) in 2019; Silver medal (HCV) in the Singapore Mathematics Olympiad (SMO) in 2019; Gold medal (HCV) in the Singapore and Asian Mathematics Olympiad (SASMO) in 2019; Special prize in the Young Mathematics Talent Search (MYTS) in 2019; Gold medal (HCV) in the Iran Geometry Olympiad for Intermediate level in 2022...

Source: https://khoahocdoisong.vn/bi-quyet-thanh-cong-cua-chang-trai-vang-imo-tran-minh-hoang-post2149041670.html