French Ambassador visits Văn Miếu – Quốc Tử Giám heritage site

On January 23, 2026, French Ambassador to Vietnam Olivier Brochet paid a visit to the Special National Heritage Site of Văn Miếu – Quốc Tử Giám on the occasion of preparations for the traditional Tết Bính Ngọ 2026. The visit not only reflected the Ambassador's interest in Vietnam's traditional cultural values but also contributed to nurturing the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and France.

In an atmosphere deeply imbued with national cultural identity, Ambassador Olivier Brochet donned a traditional Vietnamese áo dài, offered incense in remembrance of the sages and venerable scholars at the Thái Học area, and toured the iconic architectural works of Văn Miếu – Quốc Tử Giám. On this occasion, Dr. Đường Ngọc Hà — Deputy Director of the Văn Miếu – Quốc Tử Giám Center for Cultural and Scientific Activities — introduced the Ambassador to the history of the heritage site's formation and development, as well as its outstanding values in the history of Vietnamese education and culture.

The Ambassador then visited the exhibition "Quốc Tử Giám – The First National University" — the result of collaboration between the Văn Miếu – Quốc Tử Giám Center for Cultural and Scientific Activities and French experts. The exhibition helped recreate the process of Quốc Tử Giám's formation and development, while also reflecting the positive outcomes of cooperation between both sides in the fields of research, preservation, and promotion of heritage values.

During the visit, Ambassador Olivier Brochet experienced calligraphy writing, personally inscribing his own spring wishes, and beat the Thunder Drum in the Thái Học courtyard — a ritual symbolizing prayers for a new year of peace, prosperity, and national well-being. These experiences offered the Ambassador an opportunity to gain a deeper appreciation of Vietnam's traditional cultural values.

Expressing his admiration for Vietnam's ancient culture and its long-standing tradition of reverence for learning, Ambassador Olivier Brochet highly praised the role of Văn Miếu – Quốc Tử Giám as a symbol of Vietnamese scholarly culture. On the occasion of the upcoming Tết Bính Ngọ 2026, he emphasized that the traditional Tết is a distinctive cultural treasure and an opportunity for families to reunite and preserve traditional values, and extended his warmest New Year wishes to the Vietnamese people.

At the conclusion of the visit, Dr. Lê Xuân Kiêu — Director of the Văn Miếu – Quốc Tử Giám Center for Cultural and Scientific Activities — presented Ambassador Olivier Brochet with souvenirs bearing the hallmarks of Vietnamese cultural identity.

The French Ambassador's visit to Văn Miếu – Quốc Tử Giám was an occasion to celebrate the Vietnam–France friendship, acknowledge the positive results of cooperation in the fields of culture and heritage, and open up new prospects for future collaboration, contributing to the strengthening of cultural exchange and the bonds between the peoples of both countries.