(TITC) - From Bo De Pagoda Wharf (Long Bien District, Ha Noi), Thang Long 18 Boat will bring visitors to some specific cultural relics along Red River in Thuong Tin District (Ha Noi) such as Dam Temple, Dai Lo Temple.
Dam Temple
Located in the spacious and airy precinct with 800-year-old banian tree, Dam Temple (Xam Duong Hamlet, Ninh So Commune) is dedicated to Mau Thoai (Holy Mother of Water Palace), one of four holy mothers of Vietnamese people. The three-door gate of the temple is flanked by young lions. The sanctum is a long house with fish-scale tiled roof and brown wooden columns. The altars inside sanctum are carved sophisticatedly and decorated with red-lacquer and gold leaves.
From Dam Temple, turning left about 300m to Dai Lo Hamlet (Ninh So Commune), visitors will arrive in Dai Lo Temple. This is a famous Holy Mother temple and a culture-belief centre of local people. The temple was built in Tran Dynasty and dedicated to Mau Thuong Thien (Holy Mother of Upper Sky Palace), Mau Thuong Ngan (Holy Mother of Forest Palace), Mau Thoai (Holy Mother of Water Palace) and Mau Dia (Holy Mother of Land Palace).
Departing from Thuong Tin District, the boat continues taking visitors to Hung Yen Province - the land of many plentiful and unique cultural relics as Xich Dang Temple of Literature, Chuong Pagoda, Hien Pagoda, Mau Temple, Da Hoa Temple.
Xich Dang Temple of Literature
Built in Le Trung Hung Dynasty (the 17th century) on the foundation of Nguyet Duong Pagoda, Xich Dang Temple of Literature (Lam Son Ward, Hung Yen City) is dedicated to Confucius, Chu Van An and Confucian sages. This is considered as a symbol of studiousness tradition of Pho Hien Land. The three-door gate of Xich Dang Temple of Literature is similar to the gate of Temple of Literature – Quoc Tu Giam (Ha Noi). The temple consists of bell tower, khanh tower, two ranges of ta vu (left house) and huu vu (right house), tribute house, central hall and harem. Xich Dang Temple of Literature was recognized as National Historical Cultural Relic in 1992.
Chuong Pagoda
After visiting Xich Dang Temple of Literature, visitors will arrive in Chuong Pagoda (Hien Nam Ward, Hung Yen City) built in Le So Dynasty (the 15th century). The pagoda has architectural works arranged symmetrically and harmoniously on an axis from three-door gate to post-house. Chuong Pagoda currently preserves unique clay Buddha statues, typically Vajrapani statues, 18 Arhat statues, 4 Bodhisattva statues along the two corridors. In 1992, Chuong Temple was ranked as National Art Architectural Relic.
Hien Pagoda (Hong Chau Ward) is also a famous relic in Hung Yen City. Built at the end of Ly Dynasty and the beginning of Tran Dynasty, the pagoda includes tien duong house, thieu huong house, thuong dien house and corridors. The pagoda is famous by the ancestral longan tree in the front of its gate. This longan tree has big fruit with thick pulp and sweet taste often chosen to offer Buddha, Tutelary God and Kings in the past.
Mau Temple
Leaving Hien Pagoda, visitors come Mau Temple (Quang Trung Ward). Well-known by sacredness and beautiful natural landscape, the temple is dedicated to Duong Quy Phi (Song Dynasty, China). Legend has it that she is the goddess who supported King Tran Anh Tong to conquer Champa Kingdom (Campanagara). The temple consists of major works such as three-door gate, dai bai house, tien duong house, harem... Mau Temple was recognized as National Historical Cultural Relic in 1990.
Da Hoa Temple
To Hung Yen Province, visitors also have the chance to visit Da Hoa Temple (Binh Minh Commune, Khoai Chau District), one of two temples dedicating to Chu Dong Tu and two his wives. Facing Tu Nhien Bank in Red River, the temple covers an area of 18,720m² and is divided into 3 areas. In addition to unique architecture, the temple also preserves many valuable and rare artifacts, typically 3 wooden altar tablets dating back to the late 17th century and 18th century, ceramic vases… Da Hoa Temple was recognized as National Historical Cultural Relic in 1962.
Longan garden
Especially, to Hung Yen in the harvest season of longan (the sixth lunar month), visitors will have the opportunity to visit the longan gardens laden with fruit and enjoy the sweet, fragrant taste of longan – a famous specialty of Hung Yen Province.
Thu Giang
Photo: Xuan Bach