Starting from November 1st, the official nighttime tour program at the Temple of Literature and the Imperial Academy is open to serve both domestic and international tourists. The service hours will be from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
Temple of Literature: Specific information about the night tour
Recently, images of the night tour experience at the Temple of Literature and the Imperial Academy have been gaining significant attention on social media, attracting many Hanoi residents and domestic as well as international tourists seeking information.
The “Temple of Literature – Imperial Academy Night Experience” tour officially opens its doors to visitors on November 1st. The tour participation fee is 199,000 VND per person, and children under 1 meter in height are free of charge. Visitors can experience a 3D Mapping show (a technique using light to create 3D effects) with the theme “Essence of Scholarship” at 8:00 PM, 9:00 PM, and 10:00 PM every Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday.
The Temple of Literature – Imperial Academy Night Tour is the fourth night tour in Hanoi, following the night tours of the Hoa Lo Prison, Thang Long Imperial Citadel, and the Vietnamese Literature Museum. This offering promises to provide visitors with an entirely new perspective on the historical site, creating new experiences and different emotions compared to daytime visits and exploration.
What’s special about the Quoc Tu Giam Temple of Literature night tour?
As soon as you step through the main gate (Van Mieu Mon), visitors will be immersed in the gentle and serene atmosphere of colors and sounds within the Entrance Courtyard. Along the main axis from the Temple of Literature gate to the Great Middle Gate, the four words “Essence of Scholarship” are arranged vertically, conveying a message that the main path leading to the Temple of Literature and the Imperial Academy is the path to the essence of Vietnamese scholarship.
On both sides of the main axis within the Entrance Courtyard, the images of the four reliefs “Four Supernatural Creatures Teaching Their Offspring” (Lao Long Teaching His Offspring, Ky Lan Teaching His Offspring, Lao Quy Teaching His Offspring, and Phuong Hoang Teaching His Offspring) evoke the image of fathers teaching their children under a warm and peaceful roof. On the left side of the Entrance Courtyard, the image of a mother singing a lullaby to her child is displayed using mapping technology right at the base of an ancient ficus tree.
In the space of the Thang Dat area, visitors will experience Leap Motion technology (3D motion control). Visitors can interact with touchless sensors, moving their hands from left to right or vice versa to explore the content of the books at the historical site.
Also in the Thang Dat area, visitors will encounter a series of images representing four stages in the process of maturity and achievement of Confucian scholars. From the first strokes when young boys are still wearing the peach blossom tassel and learning to write to when they reach the level of reading the Sacred Books and setting off on the path to academic success, each posture of the scholars through each stage recalls the evolutionary process of humans, but in this case, it is the “evolution” of intellect and knowledge.
Upon entering the Doctoral Stele Garden, visitors will see the Thiên Quang Well transformed from its daytime appearance, illuminated by two elegant shades of LED lights, reflecting on the tranquil water surface. All the trees lining the perimeter of this area are illuminated with changing colors, making the rows of pavilions flanking Thiên Quang Well appear as if they are placed in a surreal and enchanting space.
In the Doctoral Stele Garden as well, visitors will have the opportunity to learn about the basic information on each doctoral stele with the assistance of advanced mapping projection technology. The first two steles placed on both sides of Thiên Quang Well will become impressive screens displaying not only a list of Vietnamese scholars over nearly four centuries, spanning the Lê-Mạc and Lê Trung Hưng dynasties but also introducing viewers to the number of candidates in each examination, the types of examination questions, the officials involved in each examination, or the honors received by the newly appointed scholars.
The next space in the Journey of the Temple of Literature and the Imperial Academy Night Experience is the Great Citadel, also known as the White Path area. The main content introduced in this area is the exhibition space of the Imperial Academy – the first national educational institution of Vietnam. In the White Path courtyard, visitors will experience a new and exciting virtual reality technology.
The highlight of the Temple of Literature and the Imperial Academy Night Experience program and the part that evokes the most exhilaration is the 3D mapping projection with the theme “Essence of Scholarship.” The entire front of the House of Precedence in the Thai Hoc Courtyard will transform into a giant screen for visitors to explore the most exquisite values of Vietnamese scholarship. The 3D mapping projection technology does not affect the space on the Thai Hoc rooftop or the landscape of the Temple of Literature but highlights the architectural beauty and conveys the valuable cultural and historical heritage.
