From a young age, Vu Due was renowned for his diligence, intelligence, and studiousness. By the age of seven, he had mastered Confucian, medical, philosophical, and mathematical texts, composed Tang Dynasty-style poetry, and wrote couplets, earning him the nickname "Seven-Year-Old Prodigy" from the local people. At the age of 22, he passed the imperial examination and became the top scholar in the Canh Tuat year of 1490, the 21st year of the Hong Duc reign of Emperor Le Thanh Tong.
After passing the imperial examinations, he served as an official for a short time before resigning and returning to his hometown to live in seclusion, opening a school at the edge of the village, like many Confucian scholars of his time who "went to become an official when they advanced and retired when they became teachers." His students were people from the surrounding areas of Son Vi, Hac Tri, Son Tay, and Hung Hoa districts, as well as descendants of families who had known him during his time in office.
Students visited and learned about the life and career of the top scholar Vu Due.
During his more than 28 years of teaching in his hometown, many of his students went on to take examinations and achieve success. Notable among them were two who passed the highest level of the imperial examinations and one who earned a doctorate. All three were from the same former Son Vi district, Son Tay province, as he was. These were Nguyen Man Doc, a scholar who passed the second-highest level of the imperial examinations, from Dong village, Xuan Lung commune; Nguyen Nhu Thuc, a scholar who passed the third-highest level of the imperial examinations, from Mac village, Cao Xa commune; and Nguyen Trong Dat, a doctor of philosophy, from Mao Pho village, Luong Lo commune, Thanh Ba district.
The temple dedicated to the scholar Vu Due is currently located in Zone 11, Trinh Xa village, facing the dike and the Red River. Previously, his temple was built in 1522 (soon after his death) on the banks of the Red River. Later, due to riverbank erosion, the temple was moved by the people inside the dike. In 2001, the temple of the scholar Vu Due was recognized as a provincial-level historical relic by the Provincial People's Committee. Every year, the people of Trinh Xa village and descendants of the scholar Vu Due organize the Vu Due Temple festival (a ceremony at the temple) and hold incense offerings to commemorate the anniversary of his death.
The descendants of the top scholar Vu Due always offer incense, flowers, and gifts to commemorate him on important occasions throughout the year.
Comrade Nguyen Dinh Luan – Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Vinh Lai commune, said: The relic of the temple dedicated to the scholar Vu Due is not only a tribute to a distinguished figure but also a place to educate the younger generation about the tradition of studiousness and patriotism, and to affirm the historical and cultural values of the relic. Continuing the tradition of studiousness of the renowned scholar Vu Due, subsequent generations have always strived to study and work. Many have achieved success, have a comfortable life, and actively participate in contributing to and supporting local activities and movements, joining forces to build a new, prosperous, and civilized rural area.
Building upon the tradition of studiousness exemplified by the scholar Vu Due, the movement to promote learning and talent, and to build a learning society, is increasingly developing within families, clans, and throughout the commune. Schools in the district also frequently choose the temple dedicated to the scholar Vu Due as a destination for students to visit, learn about history, gain a deeper understanding of his life, career, and era, and spread his spirit of studiousness to the students.
Ms. Dao Thi Thu Ha, Deputy Principal of Vinh Lai Kindergarten (Vinh Lai commune), shared: "Visiting and experiencing historical sites in the district, including the temple of Scholar Vu Due, is part of the school's educational program. Through this, students gain a better understanding of the historical sites in their area, fostering pride, love for their homeland, and appreciation for the valuable traditions left by their ancestors, contributing to improving the overall quality of education for students."
The Vu Due Scholar and Talent Promotion Fund awarded prizes to teachers and students with outstanding achievements in learning and teaching in Lam Thao district during the 2023-2024 school year.
Always remembering and being proud of the scholar, over the years, Lam Thao district has invested in expanding, renovating, and upgrading the entire surrounding area, as well as building several other auxiliary facilities for the temple, thanks to the joint efforts of descendants of the family and businesses and individuals... Within the district, there is also a school named after him – Vu Due Secondary School (formerly Lam Thao Secondary School) with a rich tradition and proud academic achievements of generations of students.
At the same time, with pride in the historical and cultural traditions of the district - a land of outstanding people and home to many scholars and patriotic intellectuals - the district has established the Vu Due Scholar and Talent Promotion Fund to encourage and reward students from the district who achieve excellent academic results, possess talents in sports, arts, and scientific research, and to provide scholarships to students from disadvantaged backgrounds, motivating and assisting them materially and spiritually so that they can develop their talents in various fields.
The top scholar Vu Due is a shining example and a source of pride not only for the descendants of the Vu family in Trinh Xa village but also for the people of the region, particularly in Lam Thao – a land of rice and culture.
Thu Huong
Source: https://baophutho.vn/ve-den-tho-trang-nguyen-vu-due-233426.htm
![[Photo] "Hanoi Lotus Festival" honors the lotus flower that has been associated with Vietnam for thousands of years.](https://vphoto.vietnam.vn/thumb/1200x675/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2026/06/27/1782516943048_sen-ha-noi-2026-minh-duy-1-jpg.webp)
