Quoc Hoc Hue High School

Quoc Hoc Hue High School, now known as Quoc Hoc Hue High School for the Gifted, is one of the historical sites within the system of monuments and memorial sites associated with President Ho Chi Minh and his family in Hue City. The school witnessed the years of study and active participation in patriotic activities of the young Nguyễn Tất Thành in the early 20th century.

Throughout its long history, the former Quoc Hoc School has evolved into Quoc Hoc Hue High School for the Gifted, continuing its role as an important educational institution that nurtures talented students and contributes to the development of the country. At the same time, the school preserves memories of its historical traditions and the patriotic spirit associated with an important period in Vietnamese history.

The Establishment of Quoc Hoc School

Quoc Hoc School was established under an Imperial Decree dated 17 September in the eighth year of the Thành Thái reign, corresponding to 23 October 1896, and a decree issued on 18 November 1896 by the Office of the Governor-General of Indochina.

According to historical records, it was the principal Franco-Vietnamese school for the entire territory of Indochina. From its establishment, Quoc Hoc became an important educational institution in Hue and a place associated with the history of education, culture and patriotic movements in the early 20th century.

Nguyễn Tất Thành Came to Hue and Studied at Quoc Hoc

In May 1906, Nguyễn Sinh Sắc came to the imperial capital of Hue to take up the position of Thừa biện at the Ministry of Rites. Nguyễn Tất Thành and his elder brother Nguyễn Tất Đạt accompanied their father to Hue to live and study.

His father enrolled Nguyễn Tất Thành at the Dong Ba Franco-Vietnamese Primary School, where he was recognized as an intelligent, diligent and academically successful student. In the Primaire examination of 1908, Thành was among the ten best students of the Dong Ba Franco-Vietnamese Primary School and was allowed to take an accelerated examination to enter the second year of secondary education at Quoc Hoc for the 1908–1909 academic year.

Studying at Quoc Hoc gave Nguyễn Tất Thành greater opportunities to learn about Western education and civilization. At the same time, through his experience of contemporary society, he gradually gained a deeper understanding of the gap between ideals expressed through slogans such as “Liberty – Equality – Fraternity” and the reality of the colonial regime.

Patriotic Activities in Hue

In the early 20th century, patriotic movements initiated by figures such as Phan Bội Châu, Phan Châu Trinh and Lương Văn Can had a significant influence on the young generation of the time, including Nguyễn Tất Thành.

While studying at Quoc Hoc, Nguyễn Tất Thành became involved as a messenger for patriotic organizations and encouraged his classmates to support patriotic movements.

These activities are regarded as early milestones in Nguyễn Tất Thành’s involvement in the patriotic struggle. He later left Hue, gradually traveled southward and eventually went abroad in search of a path for national liberation.

For this reason, Quoc Hoc is not only associated with Nguyễn Tất Thành’s years as a student but also with an important period in the development of his patriotic awareness and activities.

Quoc Hoc School After 1975

After 1975, following national reunification, Quoc Hoc continued to develop as a high school and became an important institution for attracting and educating gifted students in Hue.

The school gradually strengthened its role within the local education system and contributed to the education of generations of students who went on to make contributions to society.

In 1990, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh’s birth, the Ho Chi Minh Museum in Hue and Quoc Hoc School jointly erected a statue of Nguyễn Tất Thành in the central area of the school grounds to commemorate the school’s distinguished former student.

The statue has become a prominent feature of the campus, recalling Nguyễn Tất Thành’s years at Quoc Hoc and the school’s connection with his early patriotic activities.

A National Historical Relic

The Quoc Hoc School historical site was recognized as a national historical relic on 26 March 1990 by the Ministry of Culture and Information, now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

On 31 December 2020, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 2280/QĐ-TTg, recognizing the System of Monuments Associated with President Ho Chi Minh in Thừa Thiên Huế as a special national historical relic.

The system comprises four sites that had previously been recognized as national-level relics:

• The Ho Chi Minh Memorial House on Mai Thuc Loan Street.
• The Site of Quoc Hoc Hue School.
• The Memorial House of President Ho Chi Minh’s Childhood in Duong No Village.
• Duong No Village Communal House.

The inclusion of Quoc Hoc in the special national historical relic system associated with President Ho Chi Minh in Hue highlights the site’s historical significance in documenting and presenting the years of his youth and his early patriotic activities in Hue.

Quoc Hoc Hue Today

Today, Quoc Hoc Hue High School for the Gifted remains one of the prominent educational institutions in Hue City. In addition to its educational function, the school campus preserves historical spaces and memories associated with more than a century of Quoc Hoc’s development.

The school therefore embodies two interconnected layers of value. One is its long-standing educational tradition and role in nurturing talented students. The other is its historical significance as a place associated with the years of study and patriotic activities of Nguyễn Tất Thành.

Over time, Quoc Hoc Hue has become an important site for understanding both the history of education and the history of patriotic movements in Hue, as well as a destination where visitors can learn more about Hue during the early 20th century.

Quick Information

Location: No. 12 Le Loi Street, Thuan Hoa Ward, Hue City, Viet Nam.