Honoring the winners of the 2025 'Echoes of History' painting contest

The event was organized by the Center for Cultural and Scientific Activities of the Temple of Literature in collaboration with the Hanoi Watercolor Artists Club and the Vast Clouds.

After 6 months of launching, the "Historical Echoes" contest in 2025 has received nearly 269 paintings with diverse materials from oil paint, silk, wood carving, iron pen to acrylic and watercolor... sent by students of art and design schools nationwide and young artists and art lovers aged 18-30.

Screenshot 2025-11-24 at 00.43.55 — Mr. Le Xuan Kieu, Director of the Center for Cultural and Scientific Activities of the Temple of Literature - Quoc Tu Giam, spoke at the ceremony.

Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Le Xuan Kieu - Director of the Center for Cultural and Scientific Activities of the Temple of Literature - Quoc Tu Giam, Head of the Organizing Committee of the contest said: " This is the second time the contest has been held at the Temple of Literature - Quoc Tu Giam, we hope to have the participation of many artists, especially young artists from all over the country, drawing about the Temple of Literature - Quoc Tu Giam. Through the works, convey the spiritual values and messages about Quoc Tu Giam, the first national school of the country - where Vietnamese moral values are nurtured.

Through this contest, the values that are spread can arouse and nurture the love for heritage of the younger generation. We hope that the success of the contest will become a premise and a strong inspiration so that in 2026, on the occasion of the 950th anniversary of the founding of Quoc Tu Giam, we will have a larger-scale painting contest, with works of higher quality in both content and form .

After 2 rounds of competition, the jury selected 17 outstanding works from 200 works submitted to the contest. The judging was conducted independently and anonymously to ensure fairness. The 17 best works were selected for awards including: 1 First Prize, 2 Second Prizes, 2 Third Prizes, 10 Consolation Prizes, 1 Special Prize and 1 ViA Special Prize for watercolor works.

The winning authors of the 2025 "Historical Echo" Contest.

The entries show a diversity of perspectives, stories, ideas and expressive materials. Architectural images such as the Temple of Literature Gate, Khue Van Cac, Doctoral Stele House, and typical motifs such as sword heads, dragons, phoenixes, turtles, etc. Through this, viewers can feel the flow of history and culture vividly recreated from the youthful, creative perspective of today's generation.

Evaluating the works participating in this year's competition, Master. Painter Nguyen The Son, lecturer at the School of Interdisciplinary Science and Arts, Vietnam National University , Hanoi (VNU-SIS), Head of the Jury, said: " As a judge at the 2025 "Historical Echoes" Painting Competition, I am particularly impressed with the works using traditional materials such as lacquer, watercolor, silk, etc., which are expressed in a creative and richer way in both content and form. In addition, there are also outstanding works on paper, silk, and even art pens in the style of painting. In general, the works this second time are excellent ."

The exhibition of the final works will be on display at the Temple of Literature - Quoc Tu Giam from November 23, 2025 to December 7, 2025, so that the public can admire the colors of history and listen to the echoes of heritage through youthful and creative brushstrokes.