Quoc Hoc High School

Lưu Ly · Public domain

A pink school on the Perfume River, open since 1896 and still teaching.

Quoc Hoc opened in 1896, among the oldest secondary schools in Vietnam, and its alumni list reads almost as a cross-section of twentieth-century history: Ho Chi Minh, Ngo Dinh Diem, Vo Nguyen Giap, Pham Van Dong, To Huu — men who would later stand on opposing sides. The grounds keep their old form: deep pink walls, long arcaded corridors, flame trees, and an East Asian triple gate at the front facing the Perfume River. It is a working school, so visitors see only the front courtyard and should come outside teaching hours.

Visitor information

When is the best time to visit Quoc Hoc High School?

Late afternoon or weekends, outside teaching hours

How long do you need at Quoc Hoc High School?

30 minutes

What are the opening hours of Quoc Hoc High School?

Outside teaching hours; front courtyard only

Did you know

The school opened in 1896 and is among the oldest secondary schools in Vietnam.
Many figures of twentieth-century Vietnamese history studied here.
The grounds keep their deep pink walls and arcaded corridors in colonial style.
The main gate is an East Asian triple gate facing the Perfume River.

Travel tips

This is a working school — visit only the front courtyard, and outside teaching hours.
Pair it with An Dinh palace and the south bank for an afternoon on foot.

Source: https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/695775622

Updated: 2026-08-16