The Huyen Thien Tran Vu statue in the Tran Vu Temple in Thach Ban Ward, Long Bien District, Ha Noi was announced as a precious national object at a ceremony held by the district People’s Committee on April 9.
The statue, 3.96 metres in height and four tonnes in weight, was made from 1788 - 1802. It is one of the biggest monolithic bronze statues in Viet Nam.
The same day, the Tran Vu Temple festival began, featuring rituals to commemorate Huyen Thien Tran Vu.
In Oriental culture, Huyen Thien Tran Vu is the saint who administers the north. Since the ancient times, the Vietnamese have worshiped Saint Tran Vu. Ngoc Tri Village (now Thach Ban Ward, Long Bien District) is one of the locations worshipping Tran Vu.
It was said that Huyen Thien Tran Vu was worshipped by people along the Red River dyke in order to pray for good weather and flood control.
According to the 1820 stone stele installed at the temple, King Le Thanh Tong stayed one night at the location where the temple is after attacking Chiem Thanh. He met Saint Tran Vu in his dream. He then built the temple for the Saint.