Okay, so I’ve been meaning to visit the Temple of Literature in Hanoi for ages, and I finally made it happen! Let me tell you, it was quite the experience, and I snapped tons of photos along the way.
Getting Started
First things first, I looked up some basic info online. You know, opening hours, entrance fee, that sort of stuff. Found out it’s pretty central, which was a bonus. I hopped in a Grab (like Uber, but local), and bam, I was there in about 15 minutes. Super easy.
Exploring the Grounds
I paid the entrance fee, which was pretty cheap, and stepped inside. Wow. It’s way bigger than I expected! There are these different courtyards, one after the other. I started by just wandering around, taking it all in.
- The first courtyard is all grassy and peaceful, with these huge trees. I sat down for a bit, just enjoying the shade.
- Then, I moved on to the next one, and there were these cool stone tablets on top of giant turtles! Apparently, they have the names of scholars from way back when.
I spent some time reading the information plaques (thank goodness for English translations!). It was cool learning that its was the first national university long time ago. The history is just incredible. I kept walking, and got to another courtyard, I found the temple itself.
Inside the Temple
Inside the temple, it was really ornate. Lots of red and gold, very traditional. There were statues of Confucius and his disciples. I took some photos, trying to be respectful, of course. It felt really serene in there.
Final Thoughts
I probably spent a good two hours there, all in all. I wandered through all the courtyards, read about the history, and just soaked up the atmosphere. It was very peaceful to visit the place. Definitely a must-see if you’re ever in Hanoi!
Oh, and I grab a Banh mi, which is the local sandwish after exiting the place, It tasted really good. Anyway, got to plan my next adventure!
