Temple & Pagoda
Temple of Literature (Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam) (Văn Miếu – Quốc Tử Giám)
Founded in 1070 under Emperor Ly Thanh Tong, Vietnam’s first national university honors Confucian scholarship across five walled courtyards.
Why Visit Temple of Literature (Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam)
Established in 1070 and expanded in 1076 as Quoc Tu Giam (Imperial Academy), the complex trained Vietnam’s mandarin scholars for over 700 years. Its 82 UNESCO-listed stone doctor stelae resting on carved stone tortoises record the names and birthplaces of royal examination laureates from 1442 to 1779.
What to See: Khue Van Cac (Pavilion of the Constellation of Literature—the symbol of Hanoi) • 82 UNESCO Memory of the World Stone Doctor Stelae on tortoise backs • Well of Heavenly Clarity (Thien Quang Tinh) and Sanctuary of Confucius
Local Visitor Tips:
- Rent the multilingual audio guide at the first gate (100,000 VND) for context on the imperial civil service exams.