Temple of Literature Hanoi: ticket, opening hours and visit (2026)
The Temple of Literature (Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam) is Hanoi's Confucian temple and the site of Vietnam's first university. Founded in 1070 under the Ly dynasty, it has five successive courtyards, pavilions and doctoral stelae set on stone turtles. It is one of the calmest and most photogenic places in the centre. Allow 1 hour. The adult ticket is 70,000 VND, the site opens from 8:00 to 17:00 according to recent guides, and you pay in cash at the gate. The temple is 2 to 3 km from Hoan Kiem Lake: combine it with Hoa Lo Prison and the National Museum of History in a one-day itinerary.
Highlights
The main gate
The three-opening gate on Quoc Tu Giam street leads to the courtyards and shaded paths. The first two courtyards are quiet gardens.
The turtle stelae
In the third courtyard, 82 stone stelae set on turtles carry the names of the doctors who passed the imperial examinations between 1442 and 1779. They are on UNESCO's Memory of the World register. Students still come here to look for luck before their exams.
The Constellation of Literature pavilion
The Khue Van Cac, a two-storey pavilion from 1805, is the emblem of the site and one of Hanoi's symbols. It is best photographed from the courtyard opposite, without the groups.
The sanctuary court and the old university
At the back, the altar halls honour Confucius and his disciples; the old Quoc Tu Giam, the first national university, is the most recent, rebuilt part of the complex.
Practical info
Tips
- The ticket is 70,000 VND for an adult, with reduced fares for Vietnamese students and free entry for children under 15, according to guides from September 2026; payment is in cash. Entry does not include a guided tour: guides at the gate offer their services, so agree a price first. Dress modestly (shoulders and knees covered). To avoid the crowd, arrive at opening time, before group excursions. Night shows are also held on some dates: check current ticket offers.
How to get there
58 Quoc Tu Giam street, Dong Da district, Hanoi. About 2 to 3 km from Hoan Kiem Lake: 10 to 15 minutes by Grab or taxi from the Old Quarter. On foot from the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, about 20 minutes.
Opening hours
Our guides that feature it
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