Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan made the remark in Hanoi on February 25 at a ceremony to recognise the complex as a Special National Heritage Site.
He urged Hanoians to preserve and promote the treasured temple so that younger generations can learn about the country’s tradition of study from it.
Also at the ceremony, Chief Representative of UNESCO in Vietnam Katherine Muller Marin presented a certificate recognising 82 stone steles, which honour doctoral laureates in the Le-Mac dynasties (1442-1779), as a World Documentary Heritage to Hanoi city authorities.
The UNESCO official shared the delight with those in attendance for receiving the honour. She spoke highly of Vietnam’s efforts to preserve the country’s heritage over the past years and hoped that the country will continue to uphold the value of the 82 stone steles while positively participating in UNESCO’s World Documentary Programme.
Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam consists of Van Mieu (Temple of Literature) and Quoc Tu Giam (Vietnam’s first university). The Temple of Literature was built in 1070 under the reign of King Ly Thanh Tong to honour Confucius, his followers and Chu Van An, a moral figure in Vietnamese education. Quoc Tu Giam was built in 1076 under the reign of King Ly Nhan Tong. Over its course of hundreds of years during the feudal, thousands of Vietnamese scholars graduated from this university.
