1. The school was established in 1908.
2. The school is described as one of the oldest and most prestigious state schools in Vietnam. It is pleasant and spacious with great views of the West Lake from the classroom windows.
3. Chu Van An was a famous Vietnamese Confucianism teacher during the Tran Dynasty. The school was later renamed after him.
4. No, it is not easy to be admitted to the school. Every year, there are approximately three thousand applicants but only about five hundred are admitted. Applicants have to take an entrance examination conducted by the Department of Education and Training of Hanoi.
5. The school is prestigious because it has a long history and reputation as one of the top schools in Hanoi. It has produced many successful and famous individuals, such as former Prime Minister Pham Van Dong, Doctor Ton That Tung, and poet Xuan Dieu. The school's prestige has been maintained over the years.