VAN MIEU NIGHT TOUR
99.000VNĐ
19h45: 1st showtime: Quintessences of education
20h45: 2nd showtime: Historical book is stone
1: Introduction
Welcome to the Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam Night Experience with the theme “Quintessence of Confucian Learning.” The immersive spaces here blend light and color, sound and emotion, offering you a familiar yet fresh perspective of Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam. The presence of sacred creatures and symbolic figures representing Vietnamese Confucian values—from the tradition of studiousness and respect for teachers to the philosophy of honoring talent—will be showcased through interactive imagery, activities, and unique projection technology.
Step through the Van Mieu Gate and let your senses guide you through a space both radiant and solemn, as you explore a new dimension of this special national relic. Wishing you a delightful and emotionally enriching journey!
2: The Path of Initiation
You are now in the first space of the Inner Sanctuary, called “The Path of Initiation.” This name signifies the beginning of one’s Confucian journey, guided by the educational motto: “First learn virtue, then acquire knowledge.” The path of learning for scholars did not start with their first written characters under a teacher’s guidance but rather with the moral upbringing from their parents at home. The spirit of diligence and perseverance was nurtured within the family.
The four words “Quintessence of Confucian Learning” displayed along the central axis leading to Dai Trung Gate embody the core theme of this experience. Flanking the gate are two smaller gates named Thanh Duc (Cultivating Virtue) and Dat Tai (Achieving Talent), symbolizing the dual ideals scholars must strive for.
3: The Four Sacred Beasts Teaching Their Young
The four reliefs—“Lao Long Huấn Tử” (Dragon Teaching His Young), “Ky Lin Huấn Tử” (Kylin Teaching His Young), “Lao Quy Huấn Tử” (Turtle Teaching His Young), and “Phuong Hoang Huấn Tử” (Phoenix Teaching His Young)—are framed within traditional roof-like structures, evoking the image of fathers instructing their children under warm family roofs. These teachings on life and conduct form the foundation of familial Confucian values, embodying the idea that “a father is a child’s first teacher.”
The Four Sacred Beasts (Dragon, Kylin, Turtle, Phoenix) have long appeared in Vietnamese religious architecture, but they are typically depicted as individual symbols. Only at Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam are they portrayed as father-child pairs. These images originate from the reliefs atop the Four Pillars in front of Van Mieu’s gate.
4: The Sweetness of Lullabies
Surely, each of us has heard lullabies sung by grandmothers, sisters, or mothers. These could be folk melodies or tender, profound verses. Such lullabies are a gentle stream nurturing emotions that help us grow daily. A mother’s heartfelt lullabies are an inseparable part of every Vietnamese child’s upbringing. Through the imagery of flying storks in these lullabies, the world unfolds, beginning with the familiar landscapes of one’s homeland.
Often, these lullabies carry aspirations for learning and a bright future. This desire is passed down so that every child is instilled with a love for knowledge from the cradle. The image of tirelessly flying storks mirrors a mother’s unwavering support, guiding her child’s dreams.
5: Overcoming Adversity
Education and examinations were a path to glory for successful candidates but also a formidable challenge for many scholars of the past. Driven by curiosity and perseverance, scholars overcame poverty to achieve success.
Vietnamese history records many exemplary figures, such as the impoverished scholar Nguyen Khuyen, who topped three royal exams, or Nguyen Hien, the youngest laureate. These scholars studied at Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam, honing their knowledge and ethics to become talents who served the nation. Some faced extreme hardship but, through persistence, succeeded in “leaping over the Dragon Gate.” Their stories epitomize Vietnam’s tradition of diligence and resilience.
6: The Achievement Zone
You are now in the second space, “The Achievement Zone.” Ahead lies Khue Van Cac (Pavilion of the Constellation of Literature), while behind you stands Dai Trung Gate. For the first time in Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam’s night experience, you will witness the magical glow of Sao Khue (the Star of Literature), illuminating the pair of carp adorning the gate’s roof.
In folklore, a scholar’s success was likened to “a carp transforming into a dragon.” Each carp must struggle upstream, overcoming three cascades at Long Mon (Dragon Gate) to achieve this metamorphosis. Here, the dragon symbolizes not imperial power but the noble essence of knowledge attained through perseverance.
7: The Confucian Journey
A series of images depict four stages in a scholar’s path—from a boy’s first strokes of writing to reading sacred texts, traveling to the capital for exams, and finally returning home in glory. Each posture reflects an intellectual evolution, mirroring humanity’s progress but in wisdom and learning.
8: Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate
The image of carp leaping symbolizes scholars’ relentless efforts. The path was never smooth—each fish must battle currents, rising and falling, but never giving up. These struggles test one’s perseverance for a brighter future. Success requires not just one leap but relentless determination.
9: The Window of the Star of Literature
The Sao Khue Window is recreated with reflective water effects. Ancient belief held that Sao Khue—the constellation resembling the character “Van” (Literature)—radiated wisdom wherever its light shone, awakening scholarly aspirations.
10: The Story of Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam
Confucian learning is rooted in traditions of diligence, respect for teachers, and reverence for talent. Today, it remains a Vietnamese ideal.
In the Achievement Zone, LeapMotion technology lets you interact with digital books about Van Mieu’s history. Gesture controls allow you to explore these stories seamlessly.
11: Khue Van Cac
Built in the 19th century, Khue Van Cac quickly became a symbol not only of Van Mieu but also of Hanoi’s thousand-year civilization. Its Sao Khue Window represents Confucian education’s pinnacle. Tonight, for the first time, the star’s light is artistically projected, transforming the pavilion into a “lighthouse of knowledge.”
12: The Doctorate Stelae Garden
Here stand 82 stelae honoring 1,304 scholars from 1442–1779. Advanced mapping projection brings two stelae to life, displaying exam statistics, candidate numbers, and royal honors. The Thien Quang Well, lit by LED reflections, adds enchantment.
13: Stone Stelae Tell Stories
The turtle-backed stelae are iconic symbols of Vietnam’s scholarly tradition. Projection mapping animates the earliest stelae (1442, 1448), turning them into vivid storytellers of three centuries of examinations.
14: Immersive Experience Space
Interactive zones let you explore Confucian values through light, sound, and check-in spots. The climax is a 3D mapping show—“Quintessence of Confucian Learning”—alongside calligraphy lessons and scholar role-playing.
15: Virtual Reality (VR) Experience
VR headsets transport you to a calligraphy world where you can create your own art or sketch freely under a starry sky.
16: Quoc Tu Giam Exhibition
This exhibit traces Vietnam’s first national university over 800 years, blending contemporary design with tradition. Artifacts, calligraphy, and stories highlight its legacy.
17: The Scholar’s Classroom
Education in old Vietnam was not one-way instruction but a process of moral and intellectual shaping. Teachers were revered figures who imparted not just knowledge but ethics, customs, and history.
In tonight’s experience, you can join a “Scholar’s Class,” trying your hand at calligraphy or role-playing as a diligent student.
18: 3D Mapping Show – “Quintessence of Confucian Learning”
From its earliest days, Vietnam’s rulers prioritized selecting and honoring talent. This show brings to life symbolic figures—phoenixes with books, the Four Sacred Beasts teaching their young, carp leaping the Dragon Gate, and the stelae-bearing turtles. The radiant Sao Khue shines as a guiding light, while the stelae emerge not just as stone carvings but as embodiments of nature’s harmony, celebrating scholarly achievement.
Source: https://vanmieunighttour.com/
