Mao Dien Temple of Literature

Viethavvh at Vietnamese Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0

The north's second-ranking provincial temple of literature, where the old Hai Duong region held its regional exams.

If Hanoi's Temple of Literature belonged to the whole country, Mao Dien belonged to the eastern region. This is where old Hai Duong held its regional examinations, and under the Mac dynasty it four times hosted the higher metropolitan exam — rare for a provincial temple. The complex faces open fields, and its long timber hall holds tablets to Confucius alongside eight Vietnamese scholars, among them Chu Van An, Nguyen Trai, Mac Dinh Chi and Nguyen Thi Due, the only woman ever to pass the doctoral exam. Two ancient kapok trees in the forecourt flower red in March, just as local students arrive to burn incense before their own exams.

Visitor information

When is the best time to visit Mao Dien Temple of Literature?

February to April

How long do you need at Mao Dien Temple of Literature?

1 hour

What are the opening hours of Mao Dien Temple of Literature?

07:00 - 17:00

Did you know

One of the few surviving temples of literature in Vietnam, second in the north in scale and age.
Built for the Hai Duong regional exams; under the Mac dynasty it hosted four metropolitan exams.
It honours Confucius and eight Vietnamese scholars, including the woman laureate Nguyen Thi Due.
It sits beside Highway 5, about 15km west of central Hai Duong.

Travel tips

Come in March, when the two old kapok trees in the forecourt are in red flower.
Combine with Con Son – Kiep Bac for the full eastern-region heritage route.

Source: https://vi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Văn_miếu_Mao_Điền

Updated: 2026-08-06