The Temple of Literature Hanoi (Văn Miếu – Quốc Tử Giám) is Vietnam’s first national university, founded in 1070. In 2026 an adult ticket is 70,000 VND (~$3 USD) and it opens daily around 08:00–17:00. Plan 60–90 minutes for its five peaceful courtyards.
If you are building a Hanoi itinerary, the Temple of Literature Hanoi is the one historic site almost everyone agrees is worth the stop. It is calm, green, walkable in an hour, and it tells the story of a thousand years of Vietnamese scholarship in a way no museum display can. Here is exactly what it costs, when to go, and what to look for — with a few tips from our women-led KissTour team who send guests here most weeks.
Where Is the Temple of Literature Hanoi and Why Does It Matter?
The Temple of Literature Hanoi is a walled complex of temples and courtyards in the Đống Đa / Ba Đình area, about 2 km west of Hoàn Kiếm Lake. It was founded in 1070 to honour Confucius, and in 1076 an Imperial Academy, the Quốc Tử Giám, was added — making it Vietnam’s first national university. For nearly 700 years it trained the country’s top scholars, so it sits at the heart of how Vietnam thinks about education and respect for learning.
That heritage is official, not marketing: the temple’s 82 surviving doctoral stelae were inscribed on UNESCO’s Memory of the World register (Asia-Pacific in 2010, worldwide in 2011).
How Much Are Tickets and What Are the Opening Hours?
A visit to the Temple of Literature Hanoi is one of the city’s best-value sights: the adult ticket is 70,000 VND (~$3 USD), unchanged since the January 2024 price update.
| Ticket / Detail | Price (VND) | ~USD |
|---|---|---|
| Adult entry | 70,000 VND | ~$3 |
| Student / senior (with ID) | 35,000 VND | ~$1.5 |
| Children | Usually free* | — |
*The child age limit varies by source, so confirm it at the gate. Bring cash — card payment is not reliable here. Opening hours are daily, roughly 08:00–17:00; in summer (15 April–15 October) weekdays start earlier at 07:30 and close around 17:30, with last entry about 16:45. Hours shift for Tết and public holidays, so check before a holiday visit.
Prices are in Vietnamese đồng (VND); USD figures are approximate (≈26,000 VND to $1, checked October 2026) and may change.
What Should You See Inside the Temple of Literature Hanoi?
Inside, the Temple of Literature Hanoi is laid out as five courtyards along one axis, each quieter and more sacred than the last. Walk them in order and the visit tells itself.
The showpiece is Khuê Văn Các, the elegant two-tier “Pavilion of the Constellation of Literature” built in 1805. It is the same pavilion printed on Vietnam’s 100,000 VND banknote, so compare it with the note in your wallet. Just beyond it sits the third courtyard’s most moving sight: 82 stone stelae resting on the backs of carved stone tortoises. Erected from 1484 onward, they record the names of 1,307 scholars who passed the royal doctoral exams between 1442 and 1779. Further in, the fourth courtyard holds the altar to Confucius, and the rebuilt fifth courtyard marks where the Imperial Academy once stood.
When Is the Best Time to Visit the Temple of Literature Hanoi?
The best time to visit the Temple of Literature Hanoi is right at opening, before the tour buses arrive around 9:00. We point KissTour guests here first thing in the morning for a reason. The courtyards are nearly empty, the light is soft on the red pavilion, and you can actually hear the birds instead of a dozen tour guides. Autumn (October–November) and spring are the most comfortable seasons — see our guide to the best time to visit Hanoi for the full month-by-month picture.
A ticketed evening light-and-sound experience has also run on selected nights since around 2024; schedules change, so ask locally or check on the day if you want to see the temple after dark.
How Do You Get There and What Should You Wear?
Getting to the Temple of Literature Hanoi is easy: it is a 10–15 minute Grab ride from the Old Quarter (usually well under 100,000 VND), or a flat 25–30 minute walk past Hoàn Kiếm Lake. As an active place of worship, it has a simple dress code — cover your shoulders and knees, skip tank tops and short skirts, and remove your hat in the sanctuary areas.
It pairs naturally with a half-day on foot. Add lunch nearby (see our Hanoi food guide), a stroll through the Old Quarter, and the rest of a classic 3 days in Hanoi.
KissTour is now opening in northern Vietnam. Tour prices for the north are not published yet, so message our women-led team and we’ll build the day around you — you can book now and pay later.
Temple of Literature Hanoi: Quick FAQ
How much does the Temple of Literature Hanoi cost in 2026?
An adult ticket is 70,000 VND (~$3 USD). Students and seniors with ID pay about 35,000 VND (~$1.5 USD), and children usually enter free. Bring cash, as card payment is unreliable.
What are the opening hours?
It opens daily, roughly 08:00–17:00. In summer (15 April–15 October) weekdays open earlier at 07:30 and close around 17:30, with last entry near 16:45. Hours can change for Tết and holidays.
How long should I spend there?
Most visitors need 60–90 minutes to walk all five courtyards, see the doctoral stelae, and photograph the Khuê Văn Các pavilion.
Is the Temple of Literature the same as the one on the 100,000 VND note?
Yes — the pavilion pictured on Vietnam’s 100,000 VND banknote is Khuê Văn Các, which stands in the second courtyard of the Temple of Literature Hanoi.
What should I wear?
Cover your shoulders and knees, avoid tank tops and short skirts, and take off your hat in the sanctuary areas, as it is still an active place of worship.
Opening hours, ticket prices and evening programmes can change — figures were verified in October 2026 but please confirm current details before your visit.
