Based on performance in HSG's separate entrance examination, about 300 students are accepted every year from more than 3000 applicants for each subject, who hail from Ho Chi Minh City as well as Southern provinces.

In addition to the national high school curriculum, HSG offers specialized instruction in eight subjects: English, Mathematics, Computer Science, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Literature, History.

The school also admits students to non-specialized classes who seek to prepare for university entrance examinations in Groups A, A1 and B (see Higher education in Vietnam).

Classes at the school are known for their innovative critical and creative approaches, as well as for being highly challenging and often incorporating university-level materials.

In particular, HSG students consistently win first and second places in the National Academic Competitions,[1][circular reference] the most intense competitions for high school students in Vietnam, and are regularly among those selected to represent Vietnam in the International Mathematical Olympiad[2][circular reference] and the International Olympiad in Informatics.