According to the historical data. King Gia Long built Quoc Hoc Duong (the National School) in 1803, after that it was re-named Doc Hoc Duong. In 1820, he rebuilt it in a larger scale and changed its name into Quoc Tu Giam. After times of reconstruction and natural disasters, King Duy Tan relocated it to the eastern Imperial citadel of Hue Imperial City in 1908. In 1910, the Nguyen Dynasty permitted to build Mieu Cong Than (a temple for meritorious officials) on the old foundation of Quoc Tu Giam. In the war between Viet Nam and France in 1947, the temple was destroyed. In 2012, the Centre for Preservation of Ancient Hue Imperial City conducted an excavation at Quoc Tu Giam site at Huong Ho precinct, Huong Tra town, Thua Thien Hue province. The architectural remains from the two architectural stages in the same position have been found in this excavation: - The remains of the architectural foundation of Quoc Hoc Duong - Doc Hoc Duong - Quoc Tu Giam in the stage between 1803 - 1908. - The remains of the architectural foundation and pillar bases of the Temple for Meritorious Officials in the stage between 1910 - 1947.