Temple of Literature & National University, Hanoi

Devoted to the Chinese ancient teacher and philosopher Confucius, Temple of Literature & National University houses the first university of Vietnam founded in the 11th century. Constructed under Ly Thanh Tong dynasty in the typical Vietnamese traditional architectural style--from wood and tiles--the temple features five historic courtyards. See the statues representing the ancient teacher and his honored disciples, the 82 stelas commemorating notable scholars, and a small collection of student and mandarin traditional uniforms. Walk the lanes planted with century-old trees and look for a tortoise head--you can see students rubbing it for good luck before taking exams. Plan to visit Temple of Literature & National University and other customer-reviewed, writer-recommended Hanoi attractions using our Hanoi road trip planner.