“KHAI VĂN” – HONORING VIET NAM’S TRADITION OF LEARNING, INSPIRING A LOVE OF LEARNING AND THE ASPIRATION TO CONTRIBUTE

On the evening of September 12, 2026, Giám Garden at Văn Miếu – Quốc Tử Giám was transformed by light, music, and the timeless beauty of its historic architecture as the “Khai Văn” art program unfolded in this evocative heritage setting. Bringing together traditional values and contemporary artistic expression, the program invited audiences on a journey through Viet Nam’s enduring tradition of learning, from the cultivation of knowledge and character to the aspiration to contribute to the community and the nation.

Held within the Special National Monument of Văn Miếu – Quốc Tử Giám, “Khai Văn” was one of the cultural and artistic highlights of the 2nd Thăng Long – Hà Nội Festival 2026, leading up to the 950th anniversary of the founding of Quốc Tử Giám (1076–2026). More than an artistic performance, the program offered a contemporary interpretation of the values that have shaped Quốc Tử Giám for nearly a millennium: devotion to learning, respect for teachers and education, and the honouring and nurturing of talent.

The program was attended by distinguished guests, including Mr Hoàng Đạo Cương, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Mr Trần Đình Thành, Deputy Director General of the Department of Cultural Heritage, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Ms Lê Thị Ánh Mai, Deputy Director of the Hà Nội Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Mr Vũ Xuân Hùng, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People’s Council of Văn Miếu – Quốc Tử Giám Ward; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Đỗ Văn Trụ, President of the Vietnam Cultural Heritage Association; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Đặng Văn Bài, Vice Chairman of the National Cultural Heritage Council; Ms Joanna Skoczek, Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to Viet Nam; and Mr Thomas Gass, Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation to Viet Nam.

Also in attendance were representatives of cultural management agencies, museums, and heritage sites; experts and scholars; teachers; artists and artisans; and organisations and individuals engaged in creative activities. The event was also attended and covered by national and Hà Nội-based media agencies.

The evening performance was staged at the Octagonal Pavilion (Nhà Bát Giác), amid the historic and sacred surroundings of Văn Miếu – Quốc Tử Giám. Against the Hà Nội night sky, carefully arranged lighting gently illuminated the traditional architectural features, accentuating the timeless beauty of tiled roofs, rows of columns, and spaces bearing the traces of history. The stage shimmered with an almost dreamlike quality while remaining in harmony with the heritage landscape, creating an artistic setting that was both dignified and poetic.

Amid this interplay of light and traditional architecture, the program opened with evocative songs about Hà Nội—profound and lyrical, yet stirring—calling to mind a Thăng Long – Hà Nội shaped by a thousand years of cultural tradition, where heritage, memory, and aspirations for the future converge. From the historic setting of Văn Miếu – Quốc Tử Giám, the program unfolded the story of Viet Nam’s tradition of learning: a journey from acquiring knowledge and cultivating character to nurturing aspirations, building one’s path in life, and contributing to the community and the nation.

Speaking at the event, Mr Lê Xuân Kiêu, Director of the  Centre for Cultural and Scientific Activities Văn Miếu – Quốc Tử Giám, shared:

“What is most precious here is an enduring spiritual legacy—a tradition of devotion to learning, respect for teachers and education, the honouring and nurturing of talent, and the aspiration to advance through knowledge and personal cultivation. We commemorate 950 years not simply to take pride in a long-standing heritage, but to draw from that heritage and inspire new aspirations for the future.

I hope that, after the sound of the ‘Khai Văn’ drum tonight, each of us—especially young people—will ask ourselves: What will I learn? How will I cultivate and improve myself? And what can I contribute to my community and my country?

If every generation can answer these questions through concrete action, then the 950-year journey of Quốc Tử Giám will be more than a number. Its story will continue to be written by new generations, new minds, and meaningful, tangible contributions to Viet Nam.”

Inspired by the tradition of learning cultivated over centuries at Văn Miếu – Quốc Tử Giám, “Khai Văn” tells the story of a journey of learning and personal development—from acquiring knowledge and cultivating character to nurturing aspirations, building one’s path in life, and contributing to the community and the nation.

The program is structured around five core values: Khai Tâm – Awakening the Heart; Khai Trí – Enlightening the Mind; Khai Chí – Inspiring Aspiration; Khai Nghiệp – Building One’s Path; and Khai Sáng – Illuminating the Future. Together, these five values form a coherent journey in which learning is not simply about acquiring knowledge, but is also inseparable from self-cultivation, the formation of aspirations, and each individual’s responsibility towards society.

By combining traditional arts with contemporary forms of expression, the program brings the stories and values associated with Văn Miếu – Quốc Tử Giám closer to today’s audiences, particularly younger generations. The performances follow a coherent narrative and incorporate modern performance technologies, offering a fresh way to engage with the tradition of learning and heritage.

Holding the program at Giám Garden also creates a direct connection between artistic performance and the heritage setting. Here, performance becomes a means of storytelling, helping to illuminate the historical and cultural values embodied in Văn Miếu – Quốc Tử Giám.

As a meaningful cultural and artistic event within the 2nd Thăng Long – Hà Nội Festival 2026, “Khai Văn” contributes to the journey towards the 950th anniversary of Quốc Tử Giám. From the lights illuminating the Octagonal Pavilion to songs celebrating Hà Nội, and from the legacy of earlier generations to the aspirations of people today, the program carries forward the enduring values of devotion to learning, respect for teachers and education, and the honouring and nurturing of talent—values deeply woven into the cultural heritage of Thăng Long – Hà Nội and Viet Nam.

Trường Thành

TL: LH