Speaking at the press briefing, Professor Nguyen Tuan Hoa, secretary general of the Vietnam Mathematics Association, stressed that hosting IMO 2007 is a great honour for Vietnam, demonstrating the international community’s recognition of mathematics education in Vietnam. Mr Hoa said that Vietnam will do its utmost to successfully organise the Olympiad.

Vietnam first participated in the IMO in 1974 with five students, who bagged one first prize, one second prize and two third prizes. Since then, Vietnam has joined the competition 29 times and always ranks among the top 10 countries.