Brian Jeffrey
Bach is one of two students from Vietnam who secured gold medals at the 2024 International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI), alongside Pham Cong Minh, a fellow 12th grader from the same school. The entire Vietnamese team this year was composed of students from the same institution, and all of them achieved medal standings.
Thanks to Bach’s success, Vietnam now ranks among the top four performing countries at the IOI, following the United States, Japan, and Poland. He expressed his joy over this accomplishment.
Le Thi Thu Huyen, Bach’s mother, shared her excitement about her son’s achievement, though she mentioned that it wasn’t unexpected due to his consistent determination over the past 11 years of schooling.
Bach started the competition ranked 46th out of 353 participants, needing to finish in the top 30 to earn a gold medal.
“I understood he was under immense pressure, so I sent daily messages encouraging him to manage his time wisely with the problem-solving tasks. I believed in his capabilities,” Huyen reflected.
A remarkable turnaround occurred for Bach on the second day, as he made it into the top 30 and maintained his 29th place until the contest concluded.
As the competition neared its end, Huyen felt compelled to message her son with encouragement, despite knowing he wouldn’t see it until after the exam. “I texted him, ‘Keep going! I believe in you!’,” she said, expressing her faith in a special connection with her son that could amplify his success.
Initially, Bach focused on mathematics, showcasing his talent from a young age.
In fourth grade, he received a second place award at the national ViOlympic Mathematics and English competition, followed by a silver medal at the IMSO in China when he was in fifth grade.
By sixth grade, he earned a gold medal at the APMOPS in Singapore and another gold at an international math competition that same year.
Unexpectedly, Bach shifted his focus to informatics, surprising his parents.
“When the Covid-19 pandemic hit during his seventh grade, he experienced some sadness while staying home. I encouraged him to explore informatics, and from that moment on, he immersed himself in the subject,” Huyen recounted.
Bach actively sought out resources related to informatics and quickly discovered a deep love for the field, appreciating its creativity. “After a brief period, he expressed a newfound passion for informatics,” Huyen noted.
Recognizing Bach’s enthusiasm for mathematics, Huyen assured him of her unwavering support. Within five months of starting informatics studies, he joined the team of talented informatics students at Hanoi-Amsterdam High School for the Gifted.
That same year, he won second prize in a city-wide informatics competition and first prize in a national youth informatics contest.
In 11th grade, he clinched the first prize in the national competition for outstanding informatics students and earned a silver medal at the 2024 Asia-Pacific Informatics Olympiad.
Bach attributes his success in informatics to hard work and a proactive approach to learning. He sometimes dedicates up to 14 hours a day to coding, losing track of time due to his passion. There was an instance where he worked on problems for three consecutive hours without realizing it.
In addition to his studies, Bach also manages housework and enjoys engaging in sports.
