Temple of Literature, Hanoi

Visiting the Temple of Literature is one of Hanoi's oldest major monuments and comes highly recommended on Vietnam tourism sites, and it's obvious why. The entrance was swarming with tourists, which was a good indication of the popularity of the site, and the number of Vietnamese visitors was also an indication of the sites local importance. We entered the space with an extremely informative guide, which is needed for the knowledge seeking audience, as there is little to no information or interpretation signage. The Temple is not a large site (compared to other Vietnamese temple complex's), this was helpful for orientation, and although having a tour guide was useful, it's not necessary to find your way around the site.

It was welcoming with its wide open entrance and awe inspiring with its beautifuly crafted wood and stonework. Once inside, the space was a peaceful and reflective one that encouraged respect from its visitors. The Vietnamese people place extreme value on education and still treat the site as a place of pilgrimage.

 

"Talented and virtuous men are important for the development of the country" (inscribed on a greenstone tablet along with the names of ancient university graduates).

Students visit the site to leave offerings and make wishes to the first university headmaster, praying to pass exams or get into uni.

The site doesn't have issues drawing in tourists as it's an interesting and attractive  site away from busy hanoi traffic, it also offers a unique sensory experience with the smell of incense and sound of traditional music. As an active spiritual site it also has no issues attracting locals. What the Temple does need is a way to create further revenue, and this could be done easily without ruining the sanctity of the space. The site could benefit from sustainable educational programs that interest school groups and tourists. 

This could be as simple as having some interpretive signs placed around the site for students to search for, encouraging questions and active learning. Or drawing on the idea of a reawakening of the temple as a university, the site could offer workshops for traditional calligraphy and ink techniques, and a workshop on stone and woodwork. If the visitor gets to enjoy the site on a deeper level, maybe make something to carry with them such as a small tortoise (a symbol of long life) their experience of the site will be a memorable one.