Discover "Thang Long Tu Tran" in Hanoi

Hanoi is a land of thousands of years of civilization with a rich history and unique culture, in which one cannot help but mention "Thang Long Tu Tran" - a unique spiritual feature of the capital and at the same time a symbol of the beauty of Vietnamese folk culture and beliefs, a place where we have the right to be proud of the history of our ancestors in ancient times.

Thang Long Tu Tran includes: Bach Ma Temple, Voi Phuc Temple, Kim Lien Temple and Quan Thanh Temple. These are four sacred temples worshiping four gods guarding the four vital directions of Thang Long land to protect the ancient Thang Long citadel and the present-day Hanoi capital to always be peaceful. Each temple has its own meaning and characteristics. These places are not only historical relics but also symbols of the spiritual and cultural life of Vietnamese people in general and Hanoi people in particular.

1. Bach Ma Temple - Tran Tay

Built in 866, located in the old quarter at 76 Hang Buom, Bach Ma Temple is the most ancient and sacred temple in Hanoi. Bach Ma is the guardian of the East of Thang Long, built in the 9th century to worship Long Do (Dragon's Navel) - the original god of ancient Hanoi. Legend has it that when King Ly Cong Uan moved the capital to Dai La citadel in Canh Tuat year 1010, he planned to build a new citadel but every time the citadel collapsed, the king sent someone to pray and saw a white horse coming out of the temple, wherever the white horse went, it left footprints, then returned to the temple.

The image of the white horse worshiped inside the temple has long been a very sacred symbol of the temple, revered and respected by the people for generations. Inside the temple is also a place to preserve many valuable ancient relics and many unique architectural works, especially the image of 15 steles recording the legends and myths in the construction of the temple, the rituals of worshiping the gods and the times of restoration and renovation of the temple in great detail. In addition to being a historical relic, Bach Ma Temple is also a sacred destination to pray to the gods to eliminate evil and diseases in the four towns of Thang Long.

The highlight of the architecture inside the temple is the entire wooden frame with a system of large ironwood columns, the roof support is made in the style of "gong price, double beam, double beam", the meticulous, strong, and sturdy carvings in the style of the Nguyen Dynasty are highlighted. When visiting Bach Ma Temple, you should pay attention to the following order: Tam Quan, Phuong Dinh (front yard), Dai Bai (outer hall), Thieu Huong, Cung Cam (inside the Forbidden Palace is the place to worship the statue of the god Bach Ma).

Bach Ma is not only a temple to worship the god guarding the East of Thang Long citadel but also a place that marks the typical architectural style of the Nguyen Dynasty with a fairly large architectural scale, facing the South, arranged in a very harmonious way with the ceremonial gate, the courtyard, the main worshiping hall, the forbidden palace, the incense burner, and the council house in the back. The meticulous, logical architecture of the ancient times is really admirable, isn't it?

The temple covers an area of over 500 square meters. Although it has undergone many renovations, it is still well preserved. Bach Ma Temple opens from 8am to 11am and from 2pm to 5pm every day. On the 1st and 15th of the lunar month, the temple opens longer for people to come and pray for peace, luck and happiness for their families. A small note for you is that the temple is not open on Mondays. And on the 12th and 13th of the 2nd lunar month every year, the temple attracts a lot of tourists to visit and watch the festival. Remember to come early so as not to miss any of the sacred and unique rituals of the temple.

2. Voi Phuc Temple - Tran Dong

Nestled among the majestic, ancient trees that have been through thousands of years of history, in Cau Giay Ward, Ba Dinh, next to Thu Le Park, Voi Phuc Temple is known as one of the "Four Guardians of Hanoi". Voi Phuc Temple (also known as Thu Le Temple) is the place to worship Linh Lang Dai Vuong. In addition to its meaning of protecting the ancient Thang Long citadel, the temple is also a place where many different cultures intersect throughout the flow of historical culture and has become a beauty of Hanoi that needs to be preserved and conserved.

Having gone through many events and wars, especially after being destroyed by the French colonialists, Voi Phuc Temple has been restored and repaired many times and today has become more spacious, although there are many changes compared to the original. The temple gate has two kneeling elephant statues, that is why people call this relic Voi Phuc Temple. Voi Phuc Temple Festival takes place on the 9th and 10th of the second lunar month every year with many exciting and cultural activities: palanquin procession, sacrifice ceremony, dragon dance, lion dance, incense offering, chess competition, pot smashing, cockfighting, art performances...

According to the concept of the ancient Vietnamese, the dragon is an animal associated with reality, bringing favorable wind and rain, bringing fertility and abundance to the land. The dragon carvings are symbols of nobility, eternal vitality and the power of the times. The temple has many dragon carvings and meticulous floral decorations in an extremely quiet and peaceful setting. The temple not only has a unique architectural beauty but also carries many sacred spiritual meanings in the unique cultural identity of the nation. In the temple grounds, there is a square well with the meaning of gathering water and gathering blessings, which is the dragon vein, and whoever uses that water will wash their hearts. When Tet comes, the water from the temple well is not only used to make tea and sticky rice but also to worship the gods.

In the afternoons when the sun has set, standing from the temple grounds looking out, you will see Thu Le bridge reflecting on the clear blue lake, and giant spoon trees that many people cannot hug. Breathing in the fresh air and admiring the beautiful, peaceful scenery, what could be better! In the afternoons, the elderly gather in the temple grounds to play chess. Playing chess is both a way to relax and to improve one's character. These beneficial and healthy games are still preserved to this day.

3. Kim Lien Temple - Tran Nam

Kim Lien Communal House (also known as Cao Son Temple) is the southern town of Thang Long Citadel. Kim Lien Communal House was originally a temple to worship Cao Son God - according to folk beliefs, this was a son of Lac Long Quan and Au Co, who later followed his mother to the mountain and had the merit of guarding and exorcising evil spirits for the people in the southern part of Thang Long Citadel. People come to this Southern Town in the Four Towns of Thang Long to pray for everything to go smoothly and for success.

When entering Kim Lien communal house in the South of Thang Long Tu Tran, you should pay attention to the order of incense offering in the communal house: From the main gate, Dai Bai (outer and middle pavilions) and finally the Hau Cung (the last room is the place to worship Cao Son Dai Vuong, you can also offer incense first). People come here to pray for everything to go smoothly and for success.

The temple was built on a high mound in the East, the temple gate faces the West, from the yard up, you have to go through nine brick steps, on both sides of the steps are two stone crocodiles dating from the Le Dynasty, the main gate is built like a complete house with four pillars at the four corners of the wall. The architecture of the main gate is very special, carved very delicately with many layers of beautiful images of the four sacred animals. Kim Lien Temple still preserves an ancient stone stele erected in 1772, engraved with the legend of the God and the inscription praising the God composed in 1510 along with 39 royal decrees of the dynasties.

4. Quan Thanh Temple - Tran Bac

Quan Thanh Temple, also known as Tran Vu Quan, was built during the reign of King Ly Thai To (1010 - 1028) to worship Saint Tran Vu - the god who guards the North, in charge of clouds, rain and wind. The temple is located at the intersection of Thanh Nien - Quan Thanh streets. This temple worships Huyen Thien Tran Vu. In the temple, there is also a bronze bell on the three-door tower whose sound when struck has entered the hearts of the Vietnamese people: "Tran Vu bell, Tho Xuong chicken watch".

As a temple with a unique architectural style, Quan Thanh attracts a large number of people to visit every year. Right at the temple gate, there are two elephants on both sides. In the temple, there is a tall bronze statue of Huyen Thien Tran Vu. The architecture in the temple has high artistic value with extremely unique wood carvings in a harmonious layout space.

You should also pay attention to the order of worship in the temple: First is the ceremony at the Tam Quan Gate → the worshiping hall where the Tran Vu statue is placed → the back palace. According to many people, at the beginning of the year, people often come to the temple to pray for peace, exorcism, and bad omens, and pray for favorable weather. People believe that Saint Huyen Thien Tran Vu is very sacred, so every time they go out for spring or on the 1st and 15th of the lunar month, people have to wait in line to rub the feet of the black bronze statue of the god erected at the temple for luck and peace.

The most prominent feature of the temple is the majestic Tran Vu statue cast in black bronze, nearly 4 meters high and weighing about 4 tons. The Tran Vu statue demonstrates the unique art of bronze casting and sculpture, as well as affirming the talent and skill of Hanoi artisans three centuries ago.

“The Four Towns of Hanoi” are not only historical relics marking a glorious period of the nation’s history, but they have also become indispensable symbols for the vitality of Hanoi, for the cultural and spiritual life of the Vietnamese people. After thousands of years of history, the value of the “Four Towns” remains intact. Although each temple worships a different god, with unique and distinct architectural features, the four temples have all become an indispensable part of the culture of Hanoi. The “Four Towns” still guard day and night to protect the ancient Thang Long citadel and the increasingly peaceful and prosperous Hanoi capital today.

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