Before the 39^th IPhO being held in late July in Vietnam for the first time, deputy Minister of Education and Training Banh Tien Long talked with the press about the preparations for this significant contest.

Reporter: Can you tell us why Vietnam will host the 39^th IPhO?

Mr Long: Vietnam has attended the International Olympiads many times in many subjects such as physics, IT, chemistry and biology and has won top prizes. Vietnam has also won gold, silver and bronze medals at the IPhO. The World Federation of Physics (WFP) has chosen Vietnam to host the 39^th IPhO after receiving agreement from the Vietnamese Government and its Ministry of Education and Training (MoET).

The IPhO is a get together of secondary school students who are excellent in physics. Therefore, the event, which will be held in Vietnam, will help to encourage the teaching and learning of physics, and train students who are excellent in physics.

Reporter: Last year, Vietnam successfully organised the International Mathematics Olympiad for the first time. As head of the organizing board, what do you expect the host country to gain during this Olympiad?

Mr Long: The 39^th IPhO will attract 390 students and nearly 280 educational officials and teachers from 85 countries and territories. Many countries such as Chile and El Salvado will take part in the event for the first time. The 39^th IPhO has attracted the largest number of participants so far and this is the first time a Southeast Asian country has hosted the event.

Besides the main event, many international physicians will attend the WFP conference to appoint its president.

The 39^th IPhO will also welcome renowned physicians and overseas Vietnamese such as Professor Tran Thanh Van from the central Paris University, Professor Truong Nguyen Tran from the Paris Technology University, Doctor Nguyen Thi Que Huong from Marshall University, the US, Dr Phan Le Kim from Twente University in the Netherlands, and Professor Dam Thanh Son from Washington University in the US. On the occasion, Professor Friedman who won Nobel prize in 1990, will deliver speeches to students in the three regions. Vietnam will do utmost to leave deep impression on participants.

Reporter: What are the differences between the IMO and the IPhO?

Mr Long: According to the IMO, Vietnam will be responsible for collecting questions from the participating countries. During the 2008 IPhO, a number of Vietnamese physicians will have a heavy task as they are responsible for compiling the questions. After that, other international physicians will evaluate and select the official questions to put forth by their Vietnamese colleagues. The task requires highly professional skills and affirms Vietnamese physicians’ position in the world.

Apart from exams on theory, there will also be practical exams. Therefore, Vietnam will have to produce 300 different kinds of equipment for the contestants to take the practical exams. To make the exams become successful, it is necessary to invest in improving professional skills and upgrading infrastructure. After the exams are concluded, all the equipment will be transferred to universities and high schools for students to use.

Reporter: The event will draw the participation from many countries and territories in the world, what are the preparations for the event?

Mr Long: All the necessary preparations have been completed so far. Since December 2007, Vietnam has had a website to facilitate exchanges between countries.

Since as early as September 2006, the Ministry of Education and Training has had guidelines in place. In addition, the organising board was set up to include many famous physicians while other sub-committees on external affairs, information technology, culture and tourism were also established. The Ministry has also organised regular meetings to assign tasks to the relevant agencies, especially the Vietnam Physics Association and the Hanoi Teachers’ College. Apart from the contest, candidates will visit some beautiful landscapes in Hanoi, Ninh Binh, and Quang Ninh.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan has also worked with the relevant agencies to discuss issues on security, and programmes concerning the opening and closing ceremonies, and a number of art performances.

The organising board has selected more than 200 volunteers out of 1,500 students to serve the event. Apart from State funding, the Ministry has also received further financial aid from the Sai Gon Securities Incorporation (SSI), the military-owned mobile service provider (Vietel), the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam.

Reporter: What are the opportunities and prospects for Vietnam’s educational sector after the event?

Mr Long: 2008 IPhO is the biggest external event for Vietnam’s educational sector in 2008, drawing the participation of many talented people around the world. The event will help to encourage Vietnamese students to study better, integrate well into the world to become future talents to contribute to the country’s socio-economic development. The winners will also become accomplished scientists in Vietnam over the coming years. I hope that after the 2008 IPhO, many candidates will become physicians and inventors in the ten or 15 years to come and will have regular cooperative relations with Vietnam. In future, the event will become a bridge for Vietnam to participate in scientific activities in the field of physics across the world.

Reporter: Thank you very much