Literature Temple

The Van Mieu is a famous ancient monument consisting of the Temple of Literature and Vietnam's first university. The Temple of Literature was built in 1070 in honor of Confucius, his followers and Chu Van An, a moral figure in Vietnamese education.

Six years later, Quoc Tu Giam, the first university of Vietnam, was built on the premises of Van Mieu. It was the first educational school for royal family members, and was later opened to talented students. In 1482, Emperor Le Thanh Tong ordered the erection of stelae with inscriptions of the names, places of birth, and achievements of the grad­uates who had taken examinations at the university. Names from 1441 to 1789 are recorded on these stelae. Presently, 82 stelae stand at Van Mieu.

 The Temple of Literature is located on Van Mieu St., 2km west of  Returned Sword  Lake.