About 7 kilometers from the center of Hue City, 3 kilometers far from Nam Giao Esplanade, the 28-hectare Huyen Tran Culture Center at the foot of Ngu Phong Mountain is famous for its splendid landscapes and its solemn atmosphere for pilgrims to express love and gratitude to Princess Huyen Tran of the Tran Dynasty.
Long time ago, Hue people set up a temple to Princess Huyen Tran at a place to the south of Hue City, but wars and time caused its disappearance. On the occasion of commemorating 700 years of Thuan Hoa - Phu Xuan - Thua Thien Hue (1306 - 2006), the Huyen Tran Culture Center has been built and located at 151 Thien Thai, An Tay Ward, Hue City.
Princess Huyen Tran, a beloved and beautiful daughter of a king of Dai Viet - King Tran Nhan Tong, sacrificed her own love and happiness and brought Dai Viet a sacred and immense Chau O, Chau Ly areas - from the south of Hieu River (present Dong Ha - Quang Tri Province) to the north of Thu Bon River (present Quang Nam Province).
The center is a complex of cultural, historical and religious works. It is surrounded by an endless pine forest. The temples of King Tran Nhan Tong and Princess Huyen Tran are located at the foot of Ngu Phong Mountain. At the top of the mountain, which is 108 meters above the sea level, is the Hoa Binh (Peace) bell-tower. On the bronze bell, which is 1.6 tons in weigh and 2.16 meters in height, was engraved 8 words The gioi - Hoa binh - Nhan loai - Hanh phuc (or World – Peace – Humankind – Happiness) and the images of four pagodas: Giac Lam (Ho Chi Minh City), Thien Mu (Thua Thien - Hue), Dien Huu (Ha Noi) and Truc Lam Yen Tu (Quang Ninh) at the four directions with the meaning that the sound of the bell vibrates and pervades in quite space to pray for Peaceful World - Happy Humankind should bring peace to humankind. From the top of Ngu Phong Mountain, tourists can catch a panoramic view of the city which is well-known for a lot of ancient relics.
Besides, some other constructions are built at Huyen Tran Culture Center such as Zen monastery of king Tran Nhan Tong, Orchid House, Calligraphy Garden... and some houses for composing music, art, literature, a library for preserving and studying documents on kings Tran Nhan Tong and Tran Anh Tong, Princess Huyen Tran, Doan Nhu Hai, Truong Han Sieu... and other heroes and heroines under the Tran Dynasty.
A festival is organized annually on the 9th day of the first lunar month to pay homage to Princess Huyen Tran for her contributions to building the country.
The festival attracts thousands of people from Thua Thien-Hue Province as well as neighboring provinces. The main cultural activities include an incense-offering ceremony at the temples of Princess Huyen Tran and King Tran Nhan Tong, bell-ringing ceremony, traditional art and music shows, martial arts performances, human chess, floral arrangement contest, and others.
Once visiting the site, tourists can not only pay tribute to the princess, but also can learn more about history and enjoy the peace and quiet of the site.
More information:
+ Entrance tickets:
- Adult: VND 10,000
- Children: VND 5,000
+ Visitors should register at the Reception Desk for free guiding to the site.
Phuong Anh (Collected)