Effective as it was, the Confucian educational system failed to evolve over the centuries. By the nineteenth century, what had once been the premier system in the world lagged badly behind Western schools, particularly in technology and the natural sciences. As the Qing Dynasty neared its end, China abolished its Confucian curriculum in 1905 and adopted a more Western style of teaching and learning. Viet Nam followed suit in 1919, but the traditional respect for learning remained.
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| Start of the new school year |
Ly Thai Tong, Ly Nhan Tong, and Le Thanh Tong, three kings who played a major role in establishing a Confucianism based educational system in Viet Nam, are now honoured in the Temple of Literature. Chu Van An, the renowned scholar who was once vice director of the university, is also honoured there.
In 2000, Viet Nam celebrated the 990th anniversary of Thang Long (Ha Noi). Craftsmen rebuilt the National University in the Temple of Literature and restored the Temple of Literature.