Specialized school students document Ho Chi Minh City's architecture in English, French

On March 20, Tran Dai Nghia Specialized High School held a foreign-language seminar titled 'Exploring the Scenic Landmarks and Architectural Heritage of Ho Chi Minh City.'

The event brought together students in grades 8 to 12, school staff, department heads, and English and French teachers from other high schools in the city.

Of more than 300 submitted projects, 70 were selected for display.

From idea to product

Tran Dai Nghia started getting its students across all grade levels exploring the city's scenic landmarks and architectural heritage since November 1, 2025.

Students worked in groups of four to six to research the city’s landmarks and architectural heritage and produce a final product in a foreign language.

Teachers assessed the work as part of continuous evaluation.

The student groups also drew on heritage sites beyond Area 1, the zone covering the former Ho Chi Minh City, extending their research into Area 2 (formerly Binh Duong Province) and Area 3 (formerly Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province).

Binh Duong and Ba Ria-Vung Tau were amalgamated into Ho Chi Minh City to make an extended metropolis on July 1, 2025, as part of a nationwide administrative restructuring where Vietnam reduced its province-level units to 34 from 63.

Tran Kim Duyen, head of the foreign languages department of Tran Dai Nghia Specialized High School, said the theme was introduced to help students understand the city’s cultural and historical identity following the administrative merger.

She said the idea is to strengthen students’ sense of national identity.

Creativity beyond expectations

The display included handmade books designed as foldable boxes that opened to reveal pages with images and 3D models of heritage sites.

Some projects incorporated elements of physics and fine arts, including a poster on Nha Rong Wharf that used focused lighting to highlight details.

"I am truly impressed by the students' creativity," said Duyen.

"The groups demonstrated many innovative ideas and highly effective teamwork, and applied their English and French skills well in both presentation and explanation."

Minh Nguyet, a student of class 10CA1, said this initiative helped her develop practical skills, including time management, task organization, idea generation, and teamwork.