HÀ NỘI — A national ceremony celebrating the 950th anniversary of Văn Miếu – Quốc Tử Giám (the Temple of Literature) will take place this weekend at the famous cultural and historical relic site in the centre of Hà Nội.

Directed by Phạm Hoàng Giang and themed Tinh Hoa Đạo Học (The Essence of Scholarly Tradition), the celebration will be held on November 14 and will honour the pursuit of education in Việt Nam.

The event is structured as an artistic programme reflecting a journey back to the roots of national education, honouring the spiritual values ​​that have sustained this tradition throughout history, according to the organising board. 

Organisers will use technology to enhance the audience experiences and fully convey the programme's core message.

Drawing on a policy decision issued in 1076 to establish the Temple of Literature and the long tradition of supporting and nurturing talent, the programme upholds the role of scholarly pursuit in fostering intellect, shaping human character and instilling a sense of responsibility towards the nation in successive generations.

The event consists of both ceremonial and festive activities, combining the 'opening of the written word literature' ritual with performances and blending traditional cultural elements with the language of contemporary art.

Under Giang's general direction and his creative team, the programme combines singing, dance and music – featuring original compositions, musical mash-ups and archival footage – complemented by cutting-edge performance technologies such as 3D mapping, laser lighting, augmented reality (AR), LED mesh displays and fireworks.

Artistic and technological elements will be used to create a highly symbolic performance space, helping to evoke a sense of history and convey the spirit of scholarly tradition through a language that resonates with contemporary audiences.

The artistic content is structured into two chapters themed Mạch Nguồn Đạo Học (The Source of Scholarly Tradition) and Hiền Tài Là Nguyên Khí Quốc Gia (Talent is the National Vital Essence), which highlight the tradition of nurturing talent and the aspiration for national development.

Along with the ceremony, a series of artistic performances will take place this week at the Temple of Literature and across Hà Nội to commemorate the 950th anniversary of the relic site, including a programme themed Ánh sao Khuê Minh Triết  (Starlight of Wisdom) on November 13 at Văn Lake and another called Nội Tự (Inner Nature). An artistic programme for students and young audiences, Thanh Xuân Viết Tiếp Mạch Nguồn (Youth Continuing the Legacy), will be held on November 15.

A national scientific seminar is scheduled for November 12, examining the Temple of Literature’s historical significance and its contributions to education, the imperial examination system and Vietnamese culture.

The seminar will explore strategies for preserving and promoting the value of this heritage relic, while drawing lessons from the scholarly tradition for contemporary education, training and the development of a skilled workforce.

Phạm Xuân Tài, deputy director of the Hà Nội Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said that the 950th anniversary celebration provides an opportunity not only to reflect on the site’s history and pay tribute to predecessors, but also to confirm the values ​​that have created Vietnamese culture and their significant contributions to the country in the future.

In the current context, the scholarly tradition needs to be sustained through a desire to learn, the spirit of creativity, the responsibility to contribute and policies to identify, nurture and make effective use of talent, he said.

According to the official, the activities are meant to "respect the heritage of the past, promote its values in the present and arouse aspirations for future development, combining scientific research, heritage conservation, education about these traditions and contemporary artistic creation". — VNS