Dong Nai not only has many attractive entertainment options for the youth but also has

famous historical
relics such as Tran Bien Temple of Literature. This location has existed for over 300 years and is
considered a place to preserve and honor the cultural and educational values of Bien Hoa. Let's explore its
unique beauty.
Tran Bien Temple of Literature is located in a total area of 15 hectares, in Buu Long ward, Bien Hoa city,
Dong Nai. Visitors can easily reach here by various means of transportation such as motorcycles, cars, or
buses.
Tran Bien Temple of Literature is the first Temple of Literature built in Dang Trong in 1715 under the
reign of Lord Nguyen Phuc Chu. This place was established to honor Confucius, Vietnamese cultural
celebrities, and to train talents. Tran Bien Temple of Literature is considered the "National Confucian
Temple" of the Southern region, symbolizing the academic tradition, prestige, and culture of the people of
Southern Vietnam.
In 1698, when Nguyen Huu Canh arrived in Dong Nai, the land was quite prosperous with a bustling
trading port, namely Cu Lao Pho. To preserve, promote, and honor the cultural and educational values of
the Vietnamese people in the new land, 17 years later, in the year At Mui (1715), Lord Nguyen Phuc Chu
ordered the construction of Tran Bien Temple of Literature. This was the first "Temple of Literature " to
be built in Dang Trong, preceding the Temple of Literature in Vinh Long, Gia Dinh, and Hue.
According to the description in the Dai Nam Nhat Thong Chi, Tran Bien Temple of Literature was built
on beautiful land: facing the Phuoc Giang River to the south, backed by the Long Son mountain to the
north, it was a place of elegant beauty, with lush vegetation...
Similar to the Hue Temple of Literature, next to it is the Quoc Tu Giam for teaching students. In Bien
Hoa, next to the Tram Bien Temple is the Provincial School (the provincial school of Bien Hoa). The
large school of the whole province was only moved to Tan Lai village (now part of Hoa Binh ward, Bien
Hoa) during the reign of King Minh Mang. Thus, in addition to its role as a place of worship, Tran Bien
Temple of Literature also served as a cultural and educational center of the ancient city of Bien Hoa and
the whole Southern region before the emergence of the Gia Dinh Temple of Literature.
Tran Bien Temple of Literature has undergone two major renovations and was recorded in the Gia Dinh
Thanh Thong Chi by the famous scholar Trinh Hoai Duc. In 1794, this temple was renovated for the first
time. The second renovation took place in 1852. Each time, the renovations were carried out on a large
scale.
The ups and downs of the history of the Southern land have left their mark on the fate of Tran Bien
Temple of Literature. This structure was destroyed by the French invaders when they occupied Bien Hoa
in 1861. After 146 years of existence, the first temple in the Southern region was destroyed by the
colonialists. In 1998, the temple was restored and completed in 2002. Tram Bien Temple was recognized
as a national historical relic in 2016. (End of the text)
This is a building constructed in the style of the Temple of Literature - Quoc Tu Giam in Hanoi,
consisting of traditional Tran Bien - Dong Nai steles, Khue Van Cac, Tinh Quang lake, triple gate, the
second stele house to worship Confucius, and finally the spacious main temple. Tran Bien Temple of
Literature is a place to uphold the tradition of respecting teachers and honoring talents.
Standing out in the spacious space filled with trees are the curved tiled roofs, covered with green glazed
tiles. The color of the glazed tiles is considered a symbol of the temple.
This was the first temple built in the Central Region (in 1715), established to honor Confucius, cultural
celebrities of Vietnam, and to educate talents to serve the regime. Tran Bien Temple is considered as a
"Quoc Tu Giam Temple of Literature " of the Southern region. It is a symbol of the learning tradition,
pride, and culture of the Southern Vietnamese people.

The courtyard of the Temple of Literature is very spacious like a miniature royal citadel. Here you can
find parallel sentences displayed on vertical wooden boards, clearly reflecting the scholarly spirit and the
humanitarian cultural traditions of the nation. Located in the heart of the Temple of Literature, right in
front of the main altar, is a large stone stele engraved with the words: "Fortune is the resource of the
nation". The main church is built in the style of ancient architecture in the style of a three-storey two-aisle
house, painted with gold lacquer, paved with ship tiles, on double hanging columns.

In the central hall, there is an altar dedicated to President Ho Chi Minh, with a characteristic bronze drum
symbolizing the cultural heritage of the Hung Kings.
On the left side of the house is a place to worship Vietnamese cultural celebrities such as Chu Van An,
Nguyen Trai, Nguyen Binh Khiem, Le Quy Don,... On the right to worship famous people of Southern
Vietnam such as Vo Truong Toan, Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Trinh Hoai Duc, Ngo Nhan Tinh, Le Quang
Dinh, Bui Huu Nghia, Nguyen Thong ...
In this pavilion, there is a special display of 18 kilograms of earth and 18 liters of water brought from the
Hung temple, symbolizing the 18 generations of Hung kings, the origin of the Vietnamese nation.

In front of the main temple on both sides, there are two shrines, one to honor the ancestors and the other
to honor the virtuous predecessors. In front of the main temple: There is also the Craft Village Pavilion
(displaying the 4 traditional craft villages of Bien Hoa - Dong Nai: metalwork, woodworking,
stonemasonry, pottery). In harmony with the Craft Village Pavilion is the Archive House - where ancient
documents, historical records, and writings about the history, culture, and people of the Bien Hoa - Dong
Nai region are displayed.
Furthermore, the Tran Bien Temple of Literature also has a traditional activities area including a
traditional house, traditional steles, and auxiliary structures. The Tran Bien - Dong Nai traditional stele
inscribes a comprehensive essay on the cultural and educational traditions of Bien Hoa in the past and
present. The traditional house is mainly used to display and honor individuals and units that have
achieved state titles. Nowadays, more and more tourists visit the Tran Bien Temple of Literature due to its
spacious and elegant landscape, combining ancient charm with grace.
The Tran Bien Temple of Literature often organizes ceremonies to pay tribute to ancestors, acknowledge
achievements, and honor talents in various fields, especially in cultural and educational areas, as well as
cultural events such as festivals, art performances, and boat races on the lake.
The Tran Bien Temple of Literature is a place that preserves, promotes, and honors the ancient and
present cultural and educational values. These values belong to the nation, the Southern region in general,
and the land of Dong Nai in particular. The Temple of Literature contributes significantly to the
development of cultural and artistic tourism.