A memorable trip!

In accordance with the 2012-2013 academic year activity plan, and on the occasion of International Women's Day on March 8th, the School's Trade Union Executive Committee, in coordination with the Committee for the Advancement of Women, organized a field trip for female staff, faculty, and trade union officials to visit several historical and cultural sites in Hai Duong province.The delegation included Associate Professor Dr. Dang Xuan Khang – Chairman of the Trade Union, Deputy Head of the Committee for the Advancement of Women of the University, along with more than 60 female staff members and trade union officials from various units. The first destination the delegation visited was the temple dedicated to the renowned figure Chu Van An – the first and eternal teacher of all Vietnamese people. The temple is nestled on Phoenix Mountain in Chi Linh district, amidst the vast green of pine forests, jagged rocks, and babbling streams. It boasts both the scenery of a cultural tourism area and a place where the teaching profession is honored. The word "Learning" prominently displayed before the complex of relics reminds everyone who comes here that they are arriving at a sacred place of "Learning." The temple is a place of majestic yet tranquil scenery, imbued with poetry, literature, and heroism, containing all the shining virtues of a talented individual, and embodying the profound humanistic meaning of the ethics and profession of teaching. As Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan stated at the inauguration ceremony of the historical site: “The life and career of educator Chu Van An have had a profound influence on all strata of the people, especially the Vietnamese intellectual class. Over 600 years later, the legacy and spiritual values ​​left by educator Chu Van An are invaluable assets that have been preserved and promoted alongside the cultural development of the nation.” This is also a place of spiritual retreat for many prominent figures from the Ly-Tran dynasties such as Thanh Mai, Tran Xa Loan, Luc Dau Giang... a place closely associated with the lives of Tran Hung Dao, Tran Nguyen Dan, Tran Khanh Du, Tran Quoc Chan, Phap Loa, Huyen Quang... The delegation from the school came to offer incense at the temple, hoping to reflect on the example of educator Chu Van An to strive, overcome difficulties, and contribute to the national education cause. The next stop was the Con Son - Kiet Bac historical and cultural relic site. Con Son and Kiet Bac are two famous historical sites in Chi Linh district, Hai Duong province. The ancient Con Son Pagoda is located in Cong Hoa commune, nestled between the Phuong Hoang and Ky Lan mountain ranges. The pagoda is one of the three centers of the Truc Lam Zen sect during the Tran dynasty, and was renovated and expanded in 1304. Kiet Bac Temple, located in the villages of Duoc Son and Van Kiet in Hung Dao commune, is a place of worship for the national hero Hung Dao Vuong Tran Quoc Tuan. Kiet Bac is a combination of the names of the two areas, Van Yen (Kiep village) and Duoc Son (Bac village). The temple's location is particularly special, situated near Luc Dau Giang – the confluence of six rivers: the Cau River, Thuong River, Luc Nam River, Duong River, Kinh Thay River, and the main branch of the Thai Binh River. The temple is about 5km from Con Son Pagoda. Con Son and Kiet Bac have long been deeply ingrained in the consciousness of Vietnamese history enthusiasts and have become famous tourist attractions in Hai Duong province in particular and Vietnam in general. The final destination visited by the school's delegation was Mao Dien Temple of Literature. Located along National Highway 5, 15 km north of Hai Duong city, in Cam Dien commune, Cam Giang district (Hai Duong province), Mao Dien Temple of Literature is known as one of the few provincial-level temples of literature still existing in Vietnam. Its history dates back over 500 years. Built during the reign of King Le Thanh Tong, it served both as a place of worship for Confucian scholars and as an examination center for the Eastern region (including the entire Hai Duong province, Hai Phong city, and Dong Trieu district of Quang Ninh province). From the mid-15th century until the last examination of the Nguyen dynasty, Mao Dien became the location for the provincial examinations in the Hai Duong region. Mao Dien Temple of Literature is a majestic and imposing cultural architectural work. Traveling along National Highway 5 towards Hai Duong - Hanoi, one can see the imposing triple gate of Mao Dien Temple of Literature from afar, nestled amidst vast rice fields. Beyond the triple gate stands an ancient, over 200-year-old kapok tree casting its shadow onto the cool, green lake, enhancing the solemn and tranquil atmosphere of the Temple of Literature. Legend says the tree was planted in the 9th year of the Canh Thinh era (1801). The main building of the Temple of Literature consists of two sections facing west, with seven bays, soaring curved roofs, and intricately carved dragon and phoenix motifs, closely joined together. The inner building is dedicated to Confucius. The outer building is where officials and scholars gathered for worship and houses the communal altar. On either side of the walls hangs a list of 637 doctoral laureates from Hai Duong province during the Vietnamese examination period. Inside the rear hall of the Temple of Literature are nine ancestral tablets. In the center is the tablet of Confucius. On either side are the tablets of Nguyen Trai, Chu Van An, Mac Dinh Chi, Nguyen Binh Khiem, Pham Su Manh, Vu Huu, Tue Tinh, and Nguyen Thi Due. Among the nine tablets is that of Nguyen Thi Due, the only female laureate of Vietnam. The one-day trip to Hai Duong, visiting historical and cultural sites, provided the school's staff with valuable knowledge about national history and culture, leaving unforgettable memories for everyone.