(VOVworld) - The Temple of Literature (Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam), Vietnam’s first university, is named Special National Relic. At Monday night’s ceremony in Hanoi, attended by national and local leaders and UNESCO representatives, the temple received a certificate recognizing its 82 doctoral steles of the Le and Mac dynasties from 1442 to 1779 as a World Documentary Heritage. Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan addressed the ceremony: “Leaders of the capital city and of the culture and education sectors, each family and citizen will find their own ways to make our offspring more proud of the temple of literature and our tradition of learning for national development.”

Deputy PM Nguyen Thien Nhan hands a certificate recognizing Van Mieu-Quoc Tu Giam as a Special National Relic

The Temple of Literature was founded in the 11^th century and became the biggest Confucius educational center which trained thousands of talents for the nation during the feudal time. Through 1,000 years of history, the site has retained its original architecture and precious artifacts.

UNESCO chief in Vietnam Katherine Muller Marin hands a certificate recognizing 82 doctoral steles of the Le and Mac dynasties from 1442 to 1779 as a World Documentary Heritage