Temple of Literature & National University

Temple of Literature & National University

Temple of Literature & National University
4.5
Historic SitesPoints of Interest & LandmarksReligious Sites
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Duration: 1-2 hours
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  • Lynette Sadleir
    United States4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A Tranquil Haven of Learning and History
    Exploring the temple complex was a peaceful and enlightening experience. The beauty of its ornate gates, traditional-style pavilions, and well-manicured gardens captivated me at every turn. The mix of vibrant reds, greens, and golds created a visually stunning atmosphere.
    Visited July 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 16 October 2023
  • Garfieldluvr
    Denver, Colorado975 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful Place!
    This place is a must while in Hanoi. Anything that is featured on the currency of a nation is usually worth checking out. Really beautiful grounds with trees, plants, pools, temples, and other buildings. We walked here from the Old Quarter, it’s not very far. We spent about an hour, but you could spend more looking at some of the various exhibits. Add this to your Hanoi trip!
    Visited April 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 29 October 2023
  • GoPlaces51924752933
    7 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Is really a temple to education over the centuries.
    Peaceful place with steele, tablets of stone, commemorating successful students in national exams to select government officials for 500 years. Interesting bonsai trees with miniature figures. Old temples.
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 10 November 2023
  • HMKaren
    Los Angeles, California1,348 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Very nice! Worth a visit!
    Beautiful and peaceful! The oldest university in Vietnam, right in the middle of the city and easy to get to. The architecture was great. Lovely pools and plenty of greenery. Give yourself 45 minutes and enjoy. We were there in the middle of the afternoon, so there were a lot of people---it might have been less busy earlier, but it was not over crowded. There are nice shrines and some neat historical stuff to see. Worth a stop.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 25 November 2023
  • Fie Ka
    South Korea9 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Historical
    It was incredibly fantastic to hear about historical and current emphasis on morals and their education. Additionally, I was able to get contacts of why so many students will come and rub the heads of the turtle sculptures (despite the fact that they are protected today and are not intended to be disturbed). Even while we were there, there were parents walking about with their young children, encouraging them to approach the turtles and put their hands on their heads. The histories of the remaining structures are quite interesting.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 27 November 2023
  • IsaacG16
    Daw Park, Australia111 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful architecture and interesting history
    We very much enjoyed our visit to the Temple of Literature, which was built in the 11th century and dedicated to Confucius and various scholars, as well as being home to Vietnam’s first national university. The design and meaning of the various buildings was really interesting, and it was a very peaceful place despite being in the middle of the city. I highly recommend spending a couple of hours here.
    Visited April 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 3 December 2023
  • Wikumj
    Redhill, United Kingdom411 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Peaceful and pleasant, though not essential
    This is a peaceful manicured garden in the middle of the city and then some courtyards surrounded by small exhibitions. It doesn't take long to walk through. The exhibitions cover the history of the place, where student examinations were held and it is interesting to learn about that. You can also learn in general about the history of Hanoi city, and there are also some shrines dedicated to key rulers of the city. It is nothing groundbreaking and not truly essential, but worth a stop if you are in Hanoi for more than a couple of days.
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 5 December 2023
  • shirak g
    Sydney, Australia2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A true window into Vietnam's history
    A must-see for anyone looking to immerse themselves in unique Vietnamese culture. With its beautiful architecture, interesting displays, and ancient stelae, it is a perfect place to learn about the history of the country. The temple's courtyards and gardens are a tranquil haven in the bustling city, and the displays provide an insightful look into the past. An absolute must-visit for anyone looking to explore Vietnam's rich history.
    Visited December 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 8 December 2023
  • Donald F
    Dingwall, United Kingdom442 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Worth visiting
    We visited on a busy Sunday evening. It is a beautiful and peaceful place. Space for kids to run around. Older kids (like us) might enjoy the VR activities - don’t know if these are permanent. We also saw “the show” - worth seeing.
    Visited December 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 18 December 2023
  • andrea2359
    Asia304 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Educational walk
    Interesting place. There is an exhibition on the timeline of dynasties in Vietnam, stelaes and areas of worship. You could do this self-guided. Saw many graduating students and girls in the traditional ao dai here taking photos.
    Visited December 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 1 January 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles11,185 reviews
Excellent
5,100
Very good
4,547
Average
1,366
Poor
124
Terrible
48

Casey_H19
Canberra, Australia19 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020 • Couples
The audio guide really helped you focus on all the history captured in this place. If you're wanting something more tranquil, reflective, informative and slow paced would highly recommend.

My partner was very grateful for a quiet afternoon browsing, and I (with the energy and concentration of a 10yo boy) kept myself engaged listening to the audio guide and choosing favourite trees and fish.

Wouldn't recommend for high energy children, unless you have just done another activity.
Written 11 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Couples
Young woman selling t shirts pulled a 200,000 dong bill from my wallet and returned a 20,000 when I tried to stop her. Basically stole. Another switched the cards I chose and replaced with smaller cheaper cards.
Walk away. Buy nothing from them.
Deceptively good looking but very dishonest.
“Please help me” they say and swarm you till YOU will be the one who needs help.
Written 29 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Adnan
Zurich, Switzerland13 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
It is a great showcase of Vietnamese architecture, education system, and a peaceful place to escape the hustle and noise of the city. I really enjoyed seeing the temple and the exhibits inside showing the preparation and materials used by the students. There are also some great statues and other relics on display. It is very well maintained.

I had a guide (did not get the audio guide so I can't comment) who explained some of the details of the temple and tablets, but her knowledge was not complete as she was part of the city scooter tour I was taking. But, what she did explain was very interesting. So, to really appreciate the historical significance, design elements, and meanings of the various elements you need a guide.
Written 1 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Craig R
Yarrawonga, Australia2,026 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023 • Couples
There is a fee to enter, and they offer a headset audio guide, I recommend you get the audio guide. The guide is very informative, and you change tutorial channels according to the numbers on the map. It explains the temple very well as you walk through the area. A very nice well-kept area well worth a look.
Written 7 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Alan R
Aiken, SC33 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Couples
If your staying in the old quarter the temple of literature is worth a visit. You can combine it with a trip to the citadel and military museum and make a morning of it all. But by itself it is not worth a visit. It was very beautiful, but large crowds from locals make it a challenge to really enjoy the beauty.
Written 4 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

julia b
60 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2019
I did enjoy wandering around the grounds, admiring the garden and seeing the architecture of the different gates. As this was used as a centre for learning for centuries, there is so much available information to the history of it and you can get a translation guide to use. In the middle courtyard there is a temple to Confusius, which has a beautifully decorated statue of the philosopher. In the farthest courtyard there are large cast iron urns with great detail, some fine gift shops and a man who specializes in Vietnamese writing and can make personalized pictures.
Written 5 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

DaniBastidas
Guayaquil, Ecuador102 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
The literature temple is a place worth visiting in Hanoi city. It transports you back in time and allows you to understand what the city was when the temple was built. The architecture and its gardens are beautiful. It gives you peace to walk through its corridors and you can appreciate manuscripts and clothing of the time.

El templo de la literatura es un lugar que vale la pena visitar en la ciudad de Hanoi. Te trasporta en el tiempo y te permite compreder como era la ciudad cuando se construyó el templo. La arquitectura y sus jardines son hermosos. Te da paz caminar por sus pasillos y puedes apreciar manuscritos y ropa de la época.
Written 13 April 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

kingvikramaditya
Dehradun, India584 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020 • Solo
It's a historical temple built in the tenth century dedicated to the greatest thinker of Ancient China, Confucius. Most popular among the student fraternity, they come here in droves to offer prayers for faring well in examinations. This temple shows the continuity of Vietnamese history as well as the Confucian hold on the local society.
Written 16 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

dekalbill
DeKalb, IL560 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
The tranquility of the gardens and courtyards welcome you to the Temple of Literature dedicated to education and the teachings of Confucius. The architecture of the temples and bell tower are representative of Vietnamese style and are beautiful. Have your guide explain the significance of the many turtle sculptures. This is an oasis of calm within a busy city.
Written 16 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

amanda5805
Duncan, Canada7,336 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
We arrived here mid afternoon. There was not many people around. Cost 30,000VND a person (about $1.75CAD). We were on a bit of a time crunch so we spent about an hour here.Which really wasn't enough.

It is an Incredible complex with five separate courtyards and somewhat quiet site with stunning grounds. It was built in 1070 during the Ly Thanh Tong Dynasty to honour Confucius. It became a prestigious school for top academics known as Vietnam's Imperial Academy.

The grounds are well maintained and it was very clean. It was nice to enjoying the quiet in a very hectic city. Really worth seeing.
Written 26 May 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Temple of Literature & National University, Hanoi

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