The program offered generations of teachers, alumni, and students an opportunity to look back on the journey of the tradition-rich school, share memories, and carry forward their pride in Quoc Hoc.

 The program connected the past, present, and future of Quoc Hoc - Hue through music

Built around the image of a flowing stream, the program was divided into three chapters: ‘Khoi trong mach nguon’ (‘Awakening the pure source’), ‘Ben yeu thuong’ (‘A haven of love’), and  ‘Hoa song trung khoi’ (‘Falling in line with the waves of the open sea’). The opening chapter, ‘From the source’, took audiences back to the school’s historic milestones, beginning with its founding in 1896 under Emperor Thanh Thai.

 An ao-dai collection by designer Ella Phan was showcased at the program

While the first chapter paid tribute to the school’s roots, ‘A haven of love’ took audiences back to their schooldays. Songs such as ‘Bui phan’ (‘Chalk Dust’), ‘Bai hoc dau tien’ (‘The First Lesson’), ‘Nho on thay co’ (‘Grateful to Our Teachers’), ‘Ta ao tim’ (‘The Purple ao-dai laps’), and ‘Con duong den truong’ (‘The Road to School’) evoked memories of teachers, friends, and the years of youth spent at the school by the Huong River.

The program also featured an ao-dai collection by designer Ella Phan, alongside a fundraising initiative titled ‘Giac mo ao trang’ (‘Dreams of white attire’). Notably, an auction of the ‘Quoc Hoc tinh hoa’ (‘Quintessential Quoc Hoc’) ceramic vase and the painting ‘Dau an thanh xuan’ (‘Imprints of youth’) raised more than VND 230 million for the school’s campus renovation fund.

 An auction was held to raise fund for the school’s campus renovation

Concluding the program, ‘Falling in line with the waves of the open sea’ brought youthful melodies to the stage, expressing the aspiration of today’s Quoc Hoc students to excel and integrate into the world.

After 130 years, Quoc Hoc - Hue High School for the Gifted is remembered not only for its educational achievements, but also for the deep affection shared by generations of teachers and students. The artistic night marked a milestone on that journey, where memories were awakened and new aspirations continued to be nurtured.

By MINH HIEN