Historical site of Son Tay Temple of Literature, Son Tay Ward, Hanoi City

Son Tay Temple of Literature is a typical historical and cultural relic of the Doai region, closely associated with the Vietnamese people's tradition of studiousness, respect for teachers and moral principles, and spirit of valuing talented people. Son Tay Temple of Literature was built during the Nguyen Dynasty and established to worship Confucius, the Four Assessors including Yanzi, Zengzi, Zisi, and Mencius, together with 72 sages and notable degree-holding scholars of the Doai region. According to transmitted documents, this place once recorded the names of doctoral laureates, contributing to reflecting the tradition of study, imperial examinations, and the spirit of honoring talented people of generations of local residents.

The relic was built on a large plot of land, with walls made of laterite bricks – a traditional architectural material characteristic of the Doai region. The structures are arranged along a north-south ceremonial axis, including typical items such as the Temple of Literature Gate, Bell Tower, Khanh Tower, Left and Right Shrines, Upper Hall, Great Ceremonial Hall, and Khai Thanh Temple. Over time and through historical upheavals, many parts of the Temple of Literature have deteriorated and been damaged.

In 2014, the People's Committee of Son Tay Town restored and promoted the value of the relic. To date, a number of main items have been reconstructed on the old land with an area of nearly 4 hectares, contributing to restoring the appearance and cultural space of the Temple of Literature. In 2007, the relic was decided by the People's Committee of Ha Tay Province (now the People's Committee of Hanoi City) to be ranked as a provincial-level historical and cultural relic. In addition, Mong Phu Communal House currently preserves two khánh made of bronze and stone that originate from Son Tay Temple of Literature.

Today, Son Tay Temple of Literature is not only a site for sightseeing and research on history and architecture but also a place to educate the tradition of studiousness and arouse pride in the talented people of the homeland. Preserving and promoting the value of the relic is important in maintaining the cultural identity of the Doai region, while also contributing to spreading the spirit of studiousness, honoring knowledge, and nurturing the responsibility of generations in the cause of building the homeland and the country.