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Located in Van Mieu,
the Temple Of Literature was built in 1070 in
honor of Confucius, his followers and Chu Van
An, a moral figure in Vietnamese education and
it is located about two kilometers west of the scenic Hoan Kiem Lake. Six years later, the
first university of Vietnam was built in the
premises of Van Mieu and this Literature Temple was the first
educational school for princes and children of
the royal family. It was later opened to
talented students of the common families.
Collectively, this
ancient
Temple of Literature and Vietnam's first
university are known as Quoc Tu Giam, Vietnam's
famous historical and cultural relic. All
visitors to Hanoi must definitely visit this
well preserved jewel of traditional Vietnamese
architecture and has become the most recognized
landmark and also the most famous tourist
attraction in Hanoi. Five astonishing courtyards are
enclosed within the grounds. The front gate is
inscribed with a request that visitors dismount
from their horses before entering. There is a
peaceful reflecting pool in the front courtyard
and the Khue Van Pavilion is located at the back
of the second courtyard. There are so many good
spots for photographs that you do not know where
to begin.
In 1484, Emperor Le
Thang Tong ordered the establishment of stelae
honoring the men who received doctorates in the
triennial examinations dating back to 1442. Each
of the 82 stelae that stands here is set on a
stone tortoise representing the nation's
longevity and the architecture found here in the
temple is sure to fascinate you.
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