The doctors' stelae
82 tablets on stone turtles.
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Vietnam's oldest seat of learning: a temple to Confucius founded in 1070, joined in 1076 by the Imperial Academy (Quoc Tu Giam), the country's first university, which trained scholars and court officials for centuries until the late eighteenth century. The Khue Van Cac pavilion in the second courtyard is today the symbol of Hanoi and appears on the 100,000-dong banknote. The complex is a row of five walled courtyards linked by gates. In the third, around the Well of Heavenly Clarity pond, stand 82 stone stelae on the backs of stone turtles, inscribed with the names of the doctoral laureates of the imperial examinations held between 1442 and 1779; they are on UNESCO's Memory of the World register. The fourth courtyard holds the hall where Confucius and his disciples are honoured, and the fifth the Thai Hoc hall, rebuilt on the site of the old academy and flanked by a drum tower and a bell tower. Allow an hour to ninety minutes. The courtyards are busiest in exam season, when students come before their own exams, and in graduation season, when new graduates pose for photos.
82 tablets on stone turtles.
Hanoi's symbol, on the 100,000 note.
From the gate to the Thai Hoc hall.
58 Quoc Tu Giam Street, Dong Da District
One Pillar PagodaA small Buddhist shrine set on a single pillar in the middle of a square pond, s11 minutes walk4.4
Imperial Citadel of Thang LongFor centuries the heart of power in Vietnam: the Ly dynasty founded its capital,12 minutes walk4.3
Ho Chi Minh MausoleumA massive marble mausoleum holding the embalmed body of Ho Chi Minh, leader of t12 minutes walk4.6
Hoa Lo PrisonA prison the French built in the heart of Hanoi between 1896 and 1901 and called15 minutes walk4.4
Hoan Kiem LakeA small lake at the edge of Hanoi's Old Quarter, and the city's best-known landm21 minutes walk4.6The names of the doctoral laureates of the imperial examinations held between 1442 and 1779, on 82 surviving stelae carried by stone turtles. They are on UNESCO's Memory of the World register.
Yes, on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 18:30 to 22:00, for the evening programme. On other days it closes at 17:00.