Visiting the Temple of Literature – A morning journey back to Vietnam’s ancient classrooms

Last Tuesday, our Bilingual Elementary School took part in a meaningful field trip to the Temple of Literature (Văn Miếu - Quốc Tử Giám), widely recognized as a symbol of Vietnam’s strong tradition of learning and the country’s very first national university.

More than just a visit, the trip offered our young learners the opportunity to explore what education looked like during the feudal era, helping them gain a deeper understanding of Vietnam’s educational history through real-life experiences.

Students participated activities catered to their own grade level:

Grade 1:
• Exploring the ancient Quốc Tử Giám and traditional learning practices
• Observing and identifying historical study tools
• Experiencing ink grinding and brush writing on dó paper

Grades 2–3:
• Learning about ancient textbooks, woodblock printing, and how knowledge was preserved
• Practicing traditional bookbinding

Grades 4–5:
• Conducting thinking-based exploration in the exhibition area
• Taking part in a mock imperial examination experience
• Joining the creative game “Scholar Chess” (Cờ Trạng Nguyên)

This inspiring trip gave TNISers a chance to see history come alive, beyond textbooks and into real experiences. We hope the visit will deepen students’ love for history, strengthen their appreciation for knowledge, and nurture pride in Vietnam’s long-standing tradition of academic excellence.