NGUYEN MINH TRI
HELLO! IT'S MINH TRI HERE!
"I don’t even know why or since when I started liking math. It feels like mathematics has been deeply ingrained in my subconscious passion since childhood. I still remember when I was five years old, my parents took me to learn mental math at UCMAS, located at the Hanoi Children's Palace on Ly Thai To Street. There, I was taught how to perform addition and subtraction using an abacus — something completely new to me at the time. I quickly became fascinated by the calculation rules, and my parents soon realized my interest and talent."
In the stillness of calm, the deepest lessons unfold...
When I entered first grade at Le Ngoc Han Primary School in Hanoi, I was always at the top of my class in math. While my classmates were still learning and practicing addition and subtraction within the range of 10, I could already perform mental calculations — addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division — within the hundreds of thousands, even up to millions, with numbers containing six to seven digits.
Noticing this difference, my homeroom teacher introduced my mother, during the summer after first grade, to a training center for students passionate about mathematics. Through that, I got to know Mrs. Chau Linh, a retired teacher who was well-connected with many excellent educators.
The stories with my teachers...
The first teacher I studied with at Mrs. Linh’s center was Mr. An. We called him “Mr.” because he was already retired — a man with a long beard, formerly a mathematics professor who had taught at universities, and was now teaching primary school students. His lessons were engaging and inspiring; his math problems broadened my mind and made me even more eager to dive deeper into this journey.
I especially loved the way he assigned and graded our work — I enjoyed collecting his perfect 10s, simply because they made me feel fulfilled and excited. He didn’t focus too much on format or presentation; instead, he taught us how to think critically and find the quickest way to solve problems.
For me, learning from him felt like playing with math — solving problems quickly, rushing to have them graded, and proudly earning that perfect score if I was both correct and first. My five years of primary school were closely tied to Mr. An and several other teachers invited by Mrs. Chau Linh, whose lessons were well-suited to our curriculum and level.
Then, moving up to secondary school, with my outstanding achievements in primary school, I was fortunate to be admitted to Ngo Si Lien High School and placed in class 6A4, the school’s advanced mathematics class for gifted students. There, I met my math teacher and homeroom teacher, Mr. Cai Viet Long — the one who ignited my passion for mathematics and guided me step by step along the journey of pursuing it. He often incorporated real-life examples into his lessons, making learning both engaging and relatable.
He also encouraged me to join the school’s math club, where I was exposed to challenging problems that sharpened my logical thinking. Mr. Long recognized my potential and recommended me to study alongside 9th-grade students — members of the school’s math competition team — while I was only in grades 7 and 8, allowing me to gain experience and enhance my problem-solving skills.
Time passed quickly, and soon it was my final year of lower secondary school. The city-level gifted student competition and the entrance exams for prestigious specialized high schools were approaching. In addition to intensive review sessions at school, my mother introduced me to To Kien A1 Math Club, led by Mr. Nguyen Tien Lam. The center, located on Nguyen Thi Thap Street, Trung Hoa, Hanoi, gathered many talented students and devoted teachers, such as Mr. Nguyen Tien Lam and Mr. Nguyen Trung Kien.
Thanks to their dedicated guidance and my determination, I was able to achieve remarkable and proud accomplishments.
Some specific stories include:
National Champion – Perfect Score in the IKMC 2020
IKMC stands for Vietnam Kangaroo Math Contest, the largest international mathematics competition in Vietnam, organized as a non-profit event with over 7 million participants from nearly 100 countries worldwide. This is a contest I have participated in annually, but my most remarkable result was in IKMC 2020, where I achieved the National Champion title in Vietnam with a perfect score.
Thanks to this achievement, I was invited to attend the Kangaroo Summer Camp 2020. Spending four days away from my family, living and studying with other math enthusiasts who shared similar achievements, was truly an unforgettable experience. There were countless activities at the camp — from team games such as code-breaking, finding secret number sequences, and puzzle challenges with limited matchsticks, to individual competitions like “Golden Bell Challenge,” where participants solved riddles within a set time limit.
Although I did not win any additional prizes there, competing alongside others who shared the same passion for mathematics was an incredible experience. We ate, slept, laughed, and played games together in our dorm rooms — moments that I will never forget.
Gold Medal – Highest Scoring Contestant, Winner of the Laurel Wreath of Honor at the WMTC 2022
This is an international mathematics competition held annually among countries and territories around the world, first launched in 2010. To prepare for this contest, we underwent months of intensive training with many of Hanoi’s most distinguished professors and teachers, including Professor and Doctor of Science Do Duc Thai, along with several other outstanding educators from the city.
The results were truly incredible — I won the Gold Medal and was also the highest-scoring contestant of the entire competition, receiving the Laurel Wreath of Honor. Words could hardly express the immense pride and joy I felt at that moment: standing on stage to receive the medal, certificate, and laurel wreath from Professor Thai of the Vietnam Institute of Mathematics; taking commemorative photos with him, with the teachers from the Hanoi Department of Education and Training, with my school principal at Ngo Si Lien Secondary School, and my beloved homeroom teacher, Mr. Cai Viet Long, all while being surrounded by the love and pride of my parents.
That moment remains unforgettable to me — the moment when all my hard work was truly rewarded.
First Prize in Mathematics – City-level Competition for Excellent Students in Academic and Scientific Subjects
This was an extremely challenging and prestigious competition, the ultimate goal for students passionate about mathematics like myself. We trained diligently — attending school team sessions in the morning, district-level team practices in the afternoon, and self-studying at home in the evening.
The result was truly rewarding, a well-deserved achievement for all my hard work and my burning passion for mathematics. Winning the First Prize was an incredible honor and recognition of my dedication.
Thanks to this achievement, I was honored to receive a congratulatory letter from my school principal, as well as direct admission invitations from some of the most prestigious specialized high schools, such as the High School for Gifted Students, Hanoi University of Science (HUS) and the High School for Gifted Students, Hanoi National University of Education (HNUE).
I was also awarded a Certificate of Merit by the Director of the Hanoi Department of Education and Training, and invited to attend the Commendation Ceremony for Outstanding Students of the Capital City in the 2022–2023 academic year — a moment of immense pride and gratitude.
Second Prize in Mathematics – National Excellent Student Competition
This is a prestigious national competition that many math-specialized students dream of, yet only a few are fortunate enough to be selected to represent their city at the national level. I was truly honored to be among those few, ranking in the Top 5–6 math students of Hanoi, and competing alongside 12th-grade seniors in the National Round.
I will never forget the months of intense preparation with the city’s team before the competition. I received tremendous support from the Hanoi Department of Education and Training, the Board of Directors of Hanoi–Amsterdam High School, and my homeroom teacher Ms. Thai Thi Thanh Hoa, as well as from the dedicated instructors who coached the team. Above all, I was sustained by the loving care and encouragement of my parents and family.
I devoted all my time and energy to preparing for the competition, studying tirelessly day and night — from 8:00 to 12:00 in the morning, 2:00 to 5:00 in the afternoon, and 8:00 to midnight. Fueled by my mother’s nourishing bird’s nest soups and my unwavering passion for mathematics, I successfully conquered the National Excellent Student Competition and proudly won the Second Prize in Mathematics — a moment so surreal it felt like a dream.
This achievement granted me direct admission privileges to the country’s top universities and programs of my choice, such as the Talented Engineer Program at Hanoi University of Science and Technology, the Information Technology Faculty at Vietnam National University, the IT Faculty at the University of Science, and many other prestigious universities across Vietnam. It also opened opportunities for international education, with full-ride scholarships offered to outstanding international students by top universities such as Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and National University of Singapore (NUS), as well as Australian universities including the University of Sydney, Monash University, and University of Adelaide.
Thanks to this result, I was deeply honored to receive the Certificate of Merit from the Minister of Education and Training, and to be recognized at the Commendation Ceremony for Outstanding Students of Hanoi for the 2024–2025 academic year, where I also received a Certificate of Merit from the Director of the Hanoi Department of Education and Training — a truly proud milestone in my academic journey.
5. Outstanding Student Representative – Awarded by the Trade Union of the State Bank of Vietnam
In recognition of my achievements, in 2025, I was honored to be selected as one of the outstanding students who are children of officials and employees in the banking sector to attend the Commendation Ceremony for Outstanding Students (2022–2025) organized by the Trade Union of the State Bank of Vietnam.
At the ceremony, I proudly received the Certificate of Commendation and Commemorative Medal from the Trade Union of the State Bank of Vietnam, marking a meaningful milestone in my academic journey and a heartfelt acknowledgment of my continuous efforts and accomplishments.
And there are many, many more proud achievements and memorable stories throughout my journey of pursuing my passion for mathematics, bearing even more “sweet fruits”:
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Gold Medalist at the World Mathematics Invitational (WMI) in 2020, 2022, and 2024.
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Top scorer at the test center and ranked within the top 5% internationally in the AMC 8 (2022) and AMC 10 (2021) competitions.
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Gold Medalist at the Philippine International Mathematical Olympiad (PHIMO) in 2021 and 2022.
Beyond numbers and mathematics:
1. Applying and Expanding Mathematics Beyond the Classroom: IMMC, Math Club, and Teaching in Remote Areas
I had the opportunity to apply my mathematical thinking in the International Mathematical Modeling Challenge (IMMC) — a team-based competition that required us to design an algorithm to determine whether a household was suitable to own a pet.
For the first time, we had to explore real-life “variables” in order to construct a practical and applicable model. We spent a long time conducting research to identify all the factors influencing pet ownership — such as health conditions, monthly income, and living environment — and to determine which variables were critical and which were not.
In the end, our team produced a research paper of over 20 pages, presenting our algorithm and reasoning in detail. Although we only earned a Third Prize, partly due to our limited experience with real-world modeling problems, we were still proud of our achievement. The experience proved to us how flexible and powerful mathematical thinking can be when applied to real-life situations.
2. Rubik and Lego – Creativity Through Logic and Design
Since I was a child, I have always been passionate about solving Rubik’s cubes. Using different formulas and algorithms to return the cube to its uniform color pattern gives me an incredible sense of satisfaction. There was even a time when I experimented with almost every type of Rubik’s cube — from the traditional 3x3, 4x4, and 5x5 cubes to more unusual shapes like spherical and triangular variants. I often solve Rubik’s cubes as a way to relax or pass the time, sometimes competing with friends for fun.
When it comes to Lego, my favorite sets are the Lego Technic series, because their pieces resemble mechanical components such as gears, motors, and power sources, allowing me to build movable mechanical models. However, since official Lego sets are quite expensive, I usually build with replica sets based on models I find online, or sometimes my mom would rent original Lego sets so I could continue pursuing my passion.
I still remember one particular time when I watched a video on how to make a Lego safe with a coded lock. I found it so fascinating that I spent an entire day creating a larger version, combining both a numeric keypad and a rotary dial. It worked perfectly, and I still keep that model to this day. Whenever I talk about creativity with others, I always mention that project as an example — a symbol of innovation built upon what we already know. And to me, that’s truly wonderful.
3. Beyblade – Strategy in Motion
From the very first time I saw Beyblades, I was immediately fascinated by the strategic depth hidden behind their colorful designs. Contrary to what many people think, Beyblades are not just about spinning tops — they are a combination of physics, engineering, and strategy.
There are four main types of Beyblades: Attack, Defense, Stamina, and Balance, each moving differently on the stadium floor and appealing to different play styles. Even a small adjustment — such as changing the tip shape, weight distribution, or shifting the center of mass inward or outward — can significantly affect the Beyblade’s speed, endurance, and striking power.
The launching technique also plays a crucial role in every match. A tilted launch instead of a straight one can alter the movement path, allowing players to predict and control interactions during battle, leading to surprising outcomes.
Victory in a Beyblade match can be achieved in three ways: stopping the opponent’s spin, knocking them out of the stadium, or bursting them into separate parts after a strong collision — each earning different points. This makes every battle thrilling and full of tactical possibilities, where small changes in design or technique can completely turn the tide.
To me, Beyblade isn’t just a toy — it’s a way to experiment with mechanics, physics, and strategy, all wrapped in an exciting, fast-paced competition.
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