Some historical relics and scenic spots in Hung Yen

Hung Yen is home to many historical relics, especially temples and pagodas. At the same time, Hung Yen is also one of the places that preserves and conserves a number of relics and artifacts that are considered rare works, with the beauty of time and the value of architectural art, sculpture, etc. All of which give us a stunning view of the beauty of the combination of traditional and modern architecture.

1. Temple of Literature - Xich Dang

Hung Yen Temple of Literature is a provincial Temple of Literature, also known as Van Mieu - Xich Dang, built in the 20th year of Minh Mang (1839) on a high land, about 4,000 m2 wide, in Xich Dang village, Lam Son ward, Hung Yen town. Van Mieu - Xich Dang currently preserves 9 stone steles, of which 8 were established in the 3rd year of Dong Khanh (1888) and 01 was established in the 18th year of Bao Dai (1943) listing the names of Hung Yen scholars.

From the Tran Dynasty to 1919 - the last examination of the Confucian examination, 138 people passed the imperial examinations and their names were recorded. The highest degree was Trang Nguyen Tong Tran, from An Cau village, Phu Cu district (Tran Dynasty); Trang Nguyen Ky, from Binh Dan commune, Khoai Chau district (Mac Dynasty). The highest position was Le Nhu Ho, district duke of the Mac Dynasty. Previously, on January 10 and August 14, at Van Mieu - Xich Dang, Confucius worship ceremonies were held, and many officials of the dynasty attended. Through many changes and ups and downs of history, Van Mieu - Xich Dang still retains its original architecture quite intact, including: three gates, bell tower, gong tower, two rows of left and right wings. Van Mieu Hung Yen has become a symbol of culture and civilization of Hung Yen province.

2. Huong Lang Pagoda (Lang Pagoda)

Belonging to Huong Lang village, Minh Hai commune, Van Lam district, Hung Yen province, Vietnam. The pagoda is large in scale, consisting of many buildings, with an architectural layout in the style of "inner public, outer private". In 1955, the pagoda began to be restored. Currently, Huong Lang pagoda still preserves many relics of the Ly dynasty. Of which, the most valuable is the lion statue (Thunder statue) made of a large stone slab (2.8 m x 1.5 m x 0.9 m) with extremely sophisticated and beautiful carvings. In addition, the pagoda also has ten pairs of stone handrails, carved with phoenixes, weasels and chrysanthemums; 4 perpendicular stone pillars supporting the stone beams of the structure, many stone blocks at the base of the pillars are carved with lotus petals and chrysanthemums very meticulously and sophisticatedly. These are priceless works of the Ly dynasty that are still preserved.

3. Thai Lac Pagoda (Phap Van Pagoda)

The pagoda is located in Thai Lac village, Lac Hong commune, Van Lam district, Hung Yen province, Vietnam. The pagoda was built during the Tran dynasty (1225 - 1400) and was renovated in 1609, 1612, 1630 - 1636, 1691 - 1703. Currently, the pagoda has an architecture in the style of "inner public, outer private", including 5 front rooms, 3 upper rooms, 2 corridors with 9 rooms on each side, and a 7-room ancestral house. Thai Lac pagoda still retains the wooden rafters of the Tran dynasty architecture in the middle room of the upper room.

This type of art is very rare in our country, besides Thai Lac Pagoda, it can only be found in Dau Pagoda and Boi Khe Pagoda. On the pillars, columns, and brackets of the rafters, there are many large carvings. When intact, the pagoda preserved about 20 reliefs with different themes, but up to now, Thai Lac Pagoda still has 16. For example, the carving of a fairy with a human head and a bird body, a statue of a man raising his hand to support a lotus tower, a fairy riding a phoenix, playing a flute, playing a zither, playing a zither, etc. In 1964, Thai Lac Pagoda was ranked as a particularly important architectural and artistic relic by the Ministry of Culture and Information.

4. Dau An Temple (An Xa Temple)

The temple is located in An Xa village, An Vien commune, Tien Lu district, Hung Yen province, Vietnam, worshiping the Five Elders and the Heavenly and Earthly Immortals who helped people reclaim land, exterminate fierce tigers, and protect crops. Dau An temple also preserves unique terracotta relics such as the Tran Dynasty terracotta incense burner and the terracotta tower dating back to the 17th century. These are terracotta relics with many sophisticated patterns and high cultural value. The traditional festival of Dau An temple takes place from the 6th to the 12th of the 4th lunar month with many attractive and interesting games.

5. Mother Temple 

The Temple of Mother Goddesses is located in Quang Trung ward, Hung Yen province, Vietnam, and is one of the most beautiful scenic spots in Pho Hien. The Temple of Mother Goddesses worships the Noble Consort of the Duong family (of the Song Dynasty), who was praised by the people as Duong Thien Hau, Mau Nghi Tien Ha. According to legend, in the 13th century, when the Yuan army invaded China, refusing to submit to the Yuan army's persecution, on the way down the boat to the south, the Song king and some of his close relatives committed suicide. The body of Yang Guifei drifted to the Pho Hien estuary and was buried carefully by the people. After many restorations, the temple's architecture is quite complete, including: Tam Quan, Thien Huong, Tien Te, Trung Tu, Hau Cung. The temple preserves many precious relics such as the palanquin, Long Dinh, Long Bed, Long Ky dating from the 18th - 19th centuries and 15 royal decrees from the Le Dynasty to the Nguyen Dynasty along with many horizontal lacquered boards, parallel sentences, and large characters praising the Noble Consort's example of loyalty and integrity. The traditional festival of Mau Temple is held from the 10th to the 13th of the third lunar month. During the ceremony, there is a procession and many folk games.

6. Ung Temple

The temple is located in Phu Ung village, Phu Ung commune, An Thi district, Hung Yen province, Vietnam. The temple worships General Pham Ngu Lao, a famous general of Hung Dao Dai Vuong Tran Quoc Tuan who made great contributions in the resistance war against the Yuan - Mongol army, the Southern invaders and Ai Lao. The temple was destroyed by French colonialists in 1948. In 1990, the temple was restored with 5 front halls and 3 back halls. In the relic complex of Ung temple, there is the tomb of Pham Tien Cong (Pham Ngu Lao's father), Nhu Mau temple (Pham Ngu Lao's adoptive mother), Tinh Hue princess temple (Pham Ngu Lao's daughter),... The main festival of Ung temple is held on the 11th - 15th of the first lunar month, commemorating the day Pham Ngu Lao left for war.

7. Ne Chau Pagoda

The pagoda is located in Ne Chau village, Hong Na commune, Tien Lu district, Hung Yen province, Vietnam. The pagoda was built at the end of the 10th century. After many renovations, the pagoda still retains the architectural form of the 17th century. The outstanding value of Ne Chau pagoda's sculptures is the Tam The set and Tuyet Son statue dating from the 18th century. The statues are symmetrical, with vivid lines, demonstrating a fairly skillful level of shaping.

8. Hien Pagoda (Thien Ung Pagoda)

Hien Pagoda is located on Pho Hien Street, Hong Chau Ward, Hung Yen Province, Vietnam. Legend has it that the pagoda was built during the reign of King Tran Thai Tong (1232 - 1250), by To Hien Thanh, a high-ranking mandarin of the Ly Dynasty. The pagoda was restored in 1625 and 1709. Hien Pagoda has a "inner public, outer private" layout including the front hall, the incense hall, the upper hall and three corridors. In the middle of the upper hall is the statue of Quan Am Nam Hai, in front are the statues of the four Bodhisattvas. These statues all date from the 19th century. In general, this is a relic that is not very special in terms of architecture compared to other relics of the same type at that time.

But the value of this pagoda is the two stone steles in front of the pagoda yard. A stele "Thien Ung Tu - Tan Tu Trung Tu Thach Bi Ky" dated Vinh To 7th year (1625) records the approval of the pagoda's renovation and a stele records "Pho Hien Nam is famous as the small capital of Trang An of the four directions". Through that, we can imagine that Pho Hien is a gathering place for residents from all over the world to exchange and trade. In front of Hien Pagoda, there is also an ancestral longan tree, called Tien longan tree. This is a rock sugar longan tree, silk code, big fruit, thick flesh, with the most delicious and unique flavor. The main tree trunk is old, only one branch is left, which has been raised and cared for to develop into a descendant tree, a symbol of the specialty longan variety of Pho Hien - Hung Yen.

9. Bell Pagoda (Kim Chung Tu)

The pagoda is located in Nhan Duc village, Hien Nam ward, Hung Yen province, Vietnam. The Chuong pagoda was built during the Le dynasty. According to legend, the beautiful scenery here is one of the famous ancient sites of Pho Hien. In 1707, the pagoda was restored to a complete scale and with typical architecture of Vietnamese pagodas during the Later Le dynasty. The beauty of the Chuong pagoda architectural complex lies in its balanced and rhythmic layout. From the outside in is the three-door gate, a 2-storey, 8-roofed overlapping architecture.

After crossing the stone bridge is the courtyard leading to the front hall, the incense burner, the upper hall, at the end is the bell tower, the gong tower, and the ancestor house. In the pagoda, there is a rich system of Buddha statues such as: the Three Worlds, Amitabha Three Tons, the Nine Dragons statue,... prominent are the 8 diamond statues, 18 arhats, and 4 bodhisattva statues. These are truly valuable works of art. In addition, the pagoda also has many relics such as: horizontal lacquered boards, parallel sentences, worship objects, stone steles,...

10. Pho Pagoda

Pho Pagoda has the self-name Bac Hoa Nhan Dan Pagoda. The pagoda was built by Chinese and local people in the 18th century. The pagoda was last restored in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The overall architecture of the pagoda is in the style of overlapping terraces and roofs. The architecture of the three-door gate is in the style of overlapping roofs with 8 roofs. The entire main pagoda consists of 6 rooms connected vertically, creating a fairly large space. Adjacent to the main pagoda are 4 ancestral houses, built in the style of a truss bridge, connecting to the front yard. In 1992, the pagoda was recognized as a national monument. Since Hung Yen province was re-established, Pho Pagoda has been chosen as the headquarters of the Executive Committee of the Buddhist Sangha of Hung Yen province.

11. Da Trach Temple

The temple is located in Yen Vinh village, Da Trach commune, Khoai Chau district, worshiping Chu Dong Tu - Tien Dung - Hong Van princess. According to legend, Da Trach temple was built on the high foundation of the ancient citadel, right after Chu Dong Tu and Tien Dung ascended to heaven. Da Trach temple still preserves many antiques such as royal decrees, parallel sentences, and large characters. Especially the hat and stick - the magic spell Chu Dong Tu used to save people and the world. In the relic complex, there is also Da Trach lagoon, a vestige of the former Da Trach lagoon, where Da Trach King Trieu Quang Phuc stationed troops to fight against the invading Liang army. Every year, Hoa Da Trach temple has 4 main festivals: January 4 (lunar calendar) is the birthday of Tien Dung princess, February 10 is the birthday of Hong Van princess, August 12 is the birthday of Chu Dong Tu, November 17 is the death anniversary of the saint. The main festival takes place from February 10 to 12 of the lunar calendar.

12. Da Hoa Temple

The temple is located in Da Hoa village, Binh Minh commune, Khoai Chau district, worshiping Chu Dong Tu, Tien Dung, and Hong Van princess. The temple overlooks the Red River and Tu Nhien beach, where the love story of Chu Dong Tu and Tien Dung was born. The temple complex includes 18 large and small structures: stele house, bell tower, gong tower, Ngo Mon gate, front house, incense tower, second palace, third palace, back palace and dormitories. The temple roofs are shaped like stylized dragon boats. Looking from above, the roofs of the temples combine to look like the boat of Tien Dung at the age of 18 traveling on the river. Da Hoa temple still preserves many valuable relics: bronze statues of Saint Chu Dong Tu and two ladies, as tall as real people. Three wooden thrones worshiping Chu Dong Tu and two ladies, with dragon-carved heads dating from the late 16th and early 17th centuries, are considered the oldest thrones still found in our country.

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