Day: December 6, 2025

Hanoi – The old and new – Vietnam Travel Diary 8

Cyclo Tour of Old District 

By sitting on a cyclo, slowly going through each street and alley to admire the cultural features and daily life activities of the people, international tourists have interesting experiences when visiting Hanoi. For Hanoians, the image of cyclos has long been an important part of the city’s typical cultural picture. The image of cyclo drivers leisurely pedaling on the old streets, with the characteristic curved glass bell, has become a symbol of peace and tranquility in urban life. It is a special highlight in the landscape of Hanoi, contributing to the diversity and richness of the capital’s culture.

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

The President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is a mausoleum which serves as the resting place of Vietnamese revolutionary leader and President Ho Chi Minh in Hanoi, Vietnam, is one of Vietnam’s most revered landmarks and stands as a powerful symbol of the nation’s history and independence.

The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is centrally located in Ba Dinh Square, Hanoi, an area of immense historical and political significance. It is surrounded by other key landmarks such as the Presidential Palace, One Pillar Pagoda, and the Ho Chi Minh Museum, making it a crucial stop in any Hanoi itinerary.

Water Puppet Show

Every year during the annual rice harvest, farmers in Vietnam’s Red River Delta region would gather for folk singing and dancing at village festivals. About one thousand years ago, water puppets were added to the list of performances at these festivals. The first shows were hosted in the harvested rice fields, which could be filled with water to create a watery stage.

Water puppetry as a folk art form evolved from serving everyday people to a show for royalty.  Under the reign of the Lý Dynasty in the 12th century, the country’s best water puppet troupes were chosen to entertain the king and guests, marking a new high for the art’s social status. Many centuries later, water puppetry (múa rối nước) still fascinates audiences, and is a cherished intangible cultural heritage of Vietnam.

Múa rối nước is a physically demanding craft. Puppeteers stand in water throughout the show, and use the movement of the water to create drama, perfect the illusion, and tell a story. The puppeteers’ secret lies in the material of the puppets themselves, which are made of buoyant fig wood and painted with lacquer. The puppeteers skillfully maneuver the puppet’s arms using bamboo sticks and strings. It takes decades to become a master water puppeteer.

Today in Vietnam, water puppet shows are not presented in flooded rice paddies but in pools of water. These pools are decorated with red tiered roofs, flags, and parasols to resemble an altar inside Vietnamese communal houses. On both sides of the stage sit the musical ensemble who bring the stories to life using their voices and traditional instruments.

A traditional show always starts with an introduction to Tễu, the comedic host. Tễu is an iconic character, a whimsical storyteller who will lead you through different scenes and stories as they unfold on stage. The brightly coloured puppets recreate daily life in Vietnam’s northern villages, including duck herding, fishing, rice planting, boat rowing, and royal parades. Some shows include depictions of Vietnamese folktales, which always carry a moral.

The show we saw was at Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre.

Here is the video of our Hanoi Tour

Temple of Literature – Vietnam Travel Diary – 7

Temple of Literature – Hanoi

Văn Miếu, literally translated as Temple of Literature, is a temple in Hanoi, northern Vietnam, dedicated to Confucius, the Chinese Scholar. The temple was founded and first built in 1070 at the time of Emperor Lý Thánh Tông. 

Over the next 6 years, his son established a new complex called the Imperial Academy, which educated royal members, such as nobles, princes, and bureaucrats. They would learn the doctrines of Confucius, as well as other Confucianism-relating theories.

The core belief of Confucianism is to focus on rigorously educating the rules of political, social, and ethical conduct. It is believed to bring wonderful values, encouraging each individual’s development in society.

In 1253, the Hanoi Confucius Temple first opened its doors to excellent commoners coming to study for 3 – 7 years. At that time, the official curriculum was under the strong impact of Imperial China, including the study of Chinese penmanship, literature, and poetry. Despite that, the values of Confucianism have been preserved to this day.

The First Courtyard (Dai Trung Mon)

After coming across the Great Middle Gate, visitors will be impressed by the green and fresh ambiance of Dai Trung Mon. On the right and left side, you can see two special-designed gates called Talent Gate and Virtua Gate respectively. Both gates expressed the expectation of the Vietnamese royalty towards the best achievements in the national educational system.

On the top of the gates, there is a symbol of a fish, which relates to a Vietnamese tradition in the past. Legend has it that the King or God organized a competition to find the strongest fish, which was compared to the way to seek the talents of a nation. Once they overcome all of the challenges, brilliant individuals represented by the symbol Dragon at the academy .

The Second Courtyard (Khue Van Cac)

Khue Van Cac (Pavilion of Constellation) is known as a symbol of the Temple of Literature Hanoi, which is a familiar image to most travelers. It is simply because when you exchange currency for a Vietnam dong, you can easily catch sight of Khue Van Cac on the 100,000 VND banknote.

The Third Courtyard (Thien Quang Well)

Thien Quang Well was constructed in a square shape, representing the earth, together with the circle on the top of the pavilion – meaning the sky. All of these things mean a wish for harmony between the earth and sky, bringing prosperous development to one country.

In this Courtyard of Temple Hanoi, visitors will also see stone turtles with large stelae, as a strong respect for the beliefs of Confucianism and the national Doctors. Although there are only 83 remaining stelae today, this site is one of the impressive royal styles, which is great for visitors to discover more about Vietnamese culture.

The Forth Courtyard (Dai Thanh Mon)

“Dai Thanh Mon” means “the great success” in Vietnamese, boasting the sanctuary to Confucius and the magnificent House of Ceremonies. In the center of the sanctuary, tourists can see an altar – decorated in Vietnamese tradition, with 5 basic elements, including Fire, Metal, Water, Wood, and Earth. Additionally, the altar is always filled with offerings and incense, expressing strong honors to the ancestors of the Vietnamese people. This also makes Dai Thanh Mon one of the most sacred areas in Van Mieu Hanoi.

The Fifth Courtyard (The Grounds of Imperial Academy)

The last courtyard in the Temple of Literature Hanoi is the Grounds of the Imperial Academy. It is the sole place belonging to this temple to be designed on 2 floors. When visiting the ground floor, you will see a statue of the famous Vietnamese teacher Chu Van An. Besides that, visitors also have a chance to discover more about Confucian education of Vietnamese Feudal Dynasties through some pictures and artifacts.

The second floor is the area to worship the three Kings who played important roles in developing Van Mieu Hanoi, including Ly Thanh Tong, Ly Nhan Tong, and Le Thanh Tong. With their contributions, the Vietnamese educational system has been preserved and maintained for thousands of years.

Here is my video