One day before the university entrance exams, thousands of people flocked to Hanoi’s Van Mieu (Temple of literature) to burn incense and to touch heads of stone turtles to wish for luck. The university entrance exams 2011 began on July 4.

Van Mieu-Quoc Tu Giam houses the Temple of Literature and Imperial Academy, which is considered the first university in Vietnam. It taught disciples on the Confucian way of life and revered Chu Van An, one of Vietnam’s most respected scholars. Between 1076 and 1779, Quoc Tu Giam educated thousands of talented men to serve their country to the best of their abilities. Today the Temple is a popular historical and cultural site in the capital.

From two weeks before the university entrance exams, the number of visitors to the temple has witnessed a sharp increase.

Moved by their belief that touching the tortoises’ head or stelae would enhance their luck, every aspiring candidate tried to find ways to get close to the monuments and paid little attention to the signs asking visitors not to touch anything.

Dozens of student volunteers have been on guard at Van Mieu to protect stone turtles from being touched on their heads for luck.

Visiting the Temple of Literature to express gratitude to the scholars and ancestors, and study Vietnamese tradition and virtues are all noble and praiseworthy efforts, but must be done in a healthy manner so as to discourage the spread of superstitions.

PV