PM Pham Minh Chinh introduced PM Christopher Luxon to the history of this site, which was established nearly 1,000 years ago as the country's first university.
The two PMs stopped at the Stelae Garden, where stone stelae inscribed with the names of distinguished scholars from the Le and Mac dynasties' imperial examinations are displayed.
These doctoral stelae serve as a testament to Vietnam's deep-rooted tradition of academic excellence. In 2011, UNESCO recognised them as a World Documentary Heritage and designated them as National Treasures in 2015.
At the Thai Hoc Courtyard, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon struck the Thunder Drum. The resounding drumbeats, akin to thunder, symbolise prosperity and bring joy and happiness to the people. This drum was crafted in celebration of the 990th anniversary of Thang Long - Hanoi and was the largest in Southeast Asia at the time.
The two high-ranking leaders proceeded to the Hau Duong House, where Chu Van An, regarded as the first rector of the Temple of Literature, was honoured.
Calligraphy master Ngau Thu introduced the art of requesting calligraphy, a longstanding tradition believed to bring good fortune, knowledge, and success in life.
He also shared insights into do paper, a unique Vietnamese material used for calligraphy. It is valued for its durability, natural colour, and excellent ink absorption, which enhance the quality of the calligraphy.
The temple's Centre for Cultural and Scientific Activities presented the two leaders with calligraphy works bearing the words of success and prosperity.
The two leaders enjoyed performances of traditional Vietnamese arts, including quan ho folk singing, dan bau (monochord), dan tranh (zither), and other distinctive musical pieces.
Prime ministers Christopher Luxon and Pham Minh Chinh also savoured Vietnamese tea and traditional cakes.
Additionally, both prime ministers had the opportunity to personally experience playing the dan bau, one of Vietnam's most unique and culturally significant musical instruments.
