THE INNER SANCTUARY OF VAN MIEU - QUOC TU GIAM

Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam is located to the south of the ancient Thăng Long Imperial Citadel (present-day Hanoi), facing south and covering an area of 54,331 square meters. The complex includes Van Lake, Giam Garden, and the Inner Sanctuary.

The Inner Sanctuary is divided into five areas: the Entrance Courtyard (Nhap Đao Area), the Great Success Courtyard (Thanh Đat Area), the Doctoral Stelae Garden, the Great Success Sanctuary   , and the Thai Hoc Area. Together, they form a harmonious architectural ensemble aligned along a sacred central axis running throughout the site.

Van Mieu was established in 1070 during the reign of Emperor Ly Thanh Tong as a place to worship Confucius and distinguished scholars of Confucianism. Crown Prince Can Duc (later Emperor Ly Nhan Tong) also studied here.

Quoc Tu Giam was founded in 1076 under the reign of Emperor Ly Nhan Tong and became the highest educational institution in Vietnam during the feudal era. Through nearly a thousand years of historical changes, Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam has preserved its ancient beauty, featuring many valuable architectural works and artifacts from the Le and Nguyen dynasties, such as Khue Van Pavilion, Great Success Sanctuary, inkstones, brushes, worship statues, as well as the UNESCO-recognized World Documentary Heritage of the 82 Doctoral Stelae. Ancient banyan and frangipani trees within the site have silently witnessed centuries of ceremonies, learning, and scholarly traditions of Đai Viet.

In the past, Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam was a center for educating talented scholars and nurturing the core values of Vietnamese learning and scholarship. Today, it continues to preserve and promote the nation’s humanistic traditions while standing as one of the leading cultural and historical attractions of Hanoi and Vietnam.