The story of an over-65-year-old crescent-shaped school

More than 65 years have passed, marked by the ebbs and flows of history and the maturity of countless generations of pupils, yet the crescent-shaped classroom block nestled near the foot of Ba Ra Mountain remains intact. A row of white frangipani trees in front of the building further enhances the school’s serene and poetic beauty. This distinctive crescent-shaped classroom block is now an integral part of Thac Mo Secondary School in Phuoc Long ward, Dong Nai province.

Thac Mo Secondary School today. Inset photo: Nhat Linh Secondary School in the 1960s. Photo: Hai Yen

For decades, residents of Phuoc Long have continued to call this school Nhat Linh School - the name it has borne since its early years, and taken from the pen name of writer Nhat Linh, a prominent figure of the Tu Luc Van Doan (Self-Reliance Literary Group).

The distinctive crescent-shaped school

In the 2022–2023 academic year, Thac Mo Secondary School celebrated its 20th anniversary. Although the school itself is now only 23 years old, the crescent-shaped classroom block, where generations of Thac Mo Secondary School’s pupils have studied, has existed for more than 65 years.

To this day, few people remember exactly when the classroom block was built or when it was officially put into use. According to a summary of Thac Mo Secondary School’s formation and development, the crescent-shaped building was constructed and completed in 1961. The school was designed by architect Ngo Viet Thu and named Nhat Linh Secondary School, after the eldest member of the Tu Luc Van Doan literary group.

After the complete liberation of the South and the reunification of the country on April 30, 1975, the school was assigned to the Continuing Education School for management. By the 1989–1990 academic year, it became the study location for students of Phuoc Long High School. Over the following 13 years, this place served students at both secondary and high school levels from Thac Mo ward and neighboring communes in the former Phuoc Long district. Since it was the only public high school in the district at that time, students entering Grade 10 from areas such as Phuoc Binh, Dak O, Da Kia, Phu Nghia, and Bu Nho all enrolled at the school.

As student enrollment increased, a new two-story classroom block was built to the right of the original building. During the 2002–2003 academic year, Phuoc Long high school was divided into two separate institutions: Phuoc Long High School and Thac Mo Secondary School. The Phuoc Long High School was later relocated to a new location on August Revolution Street, opposite the Phuoc Long Area Medical Center. The secondary pupils remained at the original school, which included both the new classroom block and the crescent-shaped building, which was over 40 years old at that time.

Peacefully situated on Nguyen Tat Thanh street, with Thac Mo stream flowing in front and Ba Ra mountain rising just behind, Thac Mo Secondary School boasts a distinctive beauty rarely found among other schools. This unique setting has left a lasting impression on generations of teachers and students who studied and worked there, ensuring that memories of the old school remain vivid and enduring.

Proud of the school’s long-standing traditions, generations of students at Thac Mo Secondary School have always been aware of the importance of maintaining a clean, beautiful school for long-term use. However, after more than 65 years, the aging classroom block has inevitably deteriorated. In the future, this building will be reconstructed to ensure safety and meet current classroom space standards. As former pupils, we hope that the newly-constructed classroom block will preserve the crescent-shaped design—the distinctive feature of this school in the mountainous area of Phuoc Long.

Le Thi Bich Thuan (Residential Quarter 3, Phuoc Long), a former student of Phuoc Long High School and currently a parent of a student at Thac Mo Secondary School, shared

Proudly writing the next chapter of the future

In its first academic year (2002–2003) under the name Thac Mo Secondary School, the school had four grade levels, including 28 classes and nearly 1,100 students. By the 2025–2026 academic year, the Thac Mo Secondary School has 26 classes with more than 1,000 students, supported by a staff of 60 administrators, teachers, and employees.

In addition to the two classroom blocks built at the time of its establishment, additional classroom blocks have since been built to meet the pupils’ learning and practical training needs. At present, its facilities are relatively well developed, comprising five classroom blocks with 26 classrooms and various specialized rooms, including information technology labs, physics laboratories, chemistry–biology laboratories, technology practice rooms, music rooms, and English rooms. The school also has a multi-purpose hall and basic teaching equipment that meet the requirements of teaching, learning, and educational activities. As for the crescent-shaped classroom block, the nine rooms on the upper floor continue to be used as classrooms, while those on the lower floor serve as functional rooms and the school’s tradition room.

Vu Duy Ha, Principal of Thac Mo Secondary School, was among the first cohort of students of Phuoc Long High School to transfer to this school in the 1989–1990 academic year. He vividly recalls the school’s appearance at that time. “Back then, the school had only one crescent-shaped classroom block. To this day, despite several minor renovations, it has largely retained its original form. From this school, countless generations of students have grown up, many of whom have gone on to achieve success and make meaningful contributions to society,” Ha reflected.

Building on the legacy of previous generations, over the past two decades, Thac Mo Secondary School has consistently been a leading institution within the education sector of the former Phuoc Long town.

Upholding a strong sense of responsibility, the school’s teaching staff have remained united in overcoming challenges and improving the quality of teaching and learning. The school places strong emphasis on experiential activities and on educating students in ethics, lifestyle values, and life skills, earning the trust and high regard of Party committees, local authorities, and parents alike. In recognition of its sustained efforts, Thac Mo Secondary School has received certificates of commendation from the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Education and Training, as well as numerous other awards.

By Hai Yen – Translated by Hong Van, Thu Ha