A print of the Constellation of Literature pavilion: a red timber upper storey with a round window and curled eaves on four white pillars, framed by dark green and ochre leaves. — The Constellation of Literature pavilionOchre, Sappan red, Shutter green, key blockVăn Miếu – Quốc Tử GiámLine drawn by FLUX.2 [klein] 4B, an image model, after a photograph by Daderot, Photograph by Daderot, CC0. Cropped for this site.

A photograph of the Constellation of Literature pavilion: a red timber upper storey with a round window and curled eaves on four white pillars, framed by dark green and ochre leaves. — The Constellation of Literature pavilionOchre, Sappan red, Shutter green, key blockVăn Miếu – Quốc Tử GiámLine drawn by FLUX.2 [klein] 4B, an image model, after a photograph by Daderot, Photograph by Daderot, CC0. Cropped for this site.

In the city

The first university

Văn Miếu – Quốc Tử Giám, then the lacquer and silk rooms of the Fine Arts Museum.

Length: 4 hours
Starts: 08:30
Group: Up to 8
From: USD 55 a guest

What happens

Văn Miếu – Quốc Tử Giám was built in 1070, and the imperial academy beside it was founded in 1076. We spend the morning in its courtyards, then walk to the Fine Arts Museum for the lacquer and silk rooms.

08:30
We meet at the main gate, before the tour groups.
08:45
The courtyards in order, in the way a student of the academy would have crossed them.
09:30
The stone steles on the backs of turtles, and what is cut into them.
10:15
Khuê Văn Các, the red pavilion on its four white pillars, and the pond in front.
11:00
A walk to the Vietnam National Museum of Fine Arts.
11:20
Lacquer, then silk. How a picture is made from a hundred layers of resin.
12:30
We say goodbye at the museum door.

Included: Entry to Văn Miếu and the museum; A guide for up to eight guests.

What you will see

Photographs, graded to look like one shoot. Select one to see it larger, with its credit.

Good to know

What to wear

Shoulders and knees covered, and shoes for stone paving.

Walking

About 3 km, flat, between the temple and the museum.

Children

From 8. The courtyards are quiet and the museum rooms are long.

Access

The courtyards are paved but uneven. The museum has stairs between rooms: ask us about a step-free route.

Temples and dress

Students still come here to ask for luck before an exam. Keep your voice low and ask before photographing anyone who is praying.

The weather, by season

Xuân February to April: highs 22 to 29°C, about 53 mm of rain a month.
Hạ May to August: highs 33 to 35°C, about 239 mm of rain a month.
Thu September to November: highs 27 to 32°C, about 148 mm of rain a month.
Đông December and January: highs 20 to 21°C, about 20 mm of rain a month.

Láng station normals, 1991 to 2020. The four seasons

Where we meet

The main gate of Văn Miếu, on Quốc Tử Giám Street.

We have your entry tickets already.

Open in Google Maps (new tab)Open in OpenStreetMap (new tab)

Văn Miếu – Quốc Tử Giám. We link to maps; we do not embed one.

Cancelling

Cancel up to 48 hours before the start for a full refund. Between 48 and 24 hours, half is refunded. Within 24 hours, nothing is, unless we cancel: then you are refunded in full, or moved to another day.

Sample terms. The cancellation policy