Top 5 spiritual tourist destinations in Hoa Binh

Spiritual tourism is a familiar activity of Vietnamese people in the early spring, with the wish to pray for a favorable, lucky and peaceful new year. Currently, Hoa Binh province has many spiritual tourist destinations for visitors to choose from to worship with friends, family or colleagues at the beginning of the year. Let's take a look at some of the outstanding spiritual tourist destinations in this northwestern mountainous province.

1. Bong Lai Temple (Cao Phong district)

Bong Lai Temple in the national scenic area of Dragon Head Mountain is located in Zone 3, Cao Phong Town, only about 200m from National Highway 6 and about 10km from the center of Hoa Binh City. During the beginning of the year, Bong Lai Temple is a spiritual tourist destination chosen by visitors from inside and outside Hoa Binh province to worship, sightsee and pray for wealth, health and peace in the new year. The temple is located at the foot of Dragon Head Mountain, part of the national scenic area of Dragon Head Mountain. This is a sacred temple worshiping the Second Upper Thousand Fairy Lady (ie Co Doi Thuong Ngan) and the Four Palace Saints. According to legend, this is where Co Doi met the Second Holy Mother (Mau Thuong Ngan). Bong Lai Temple has 4 main holidays: the spring opening ceremony (January 14 of the lunar calendar), the Co Doi Temple Party (February 2 of the lunar calendar), the summer ceremony (April 14 of the lunar calendar) and the year-end ceremony (December 14 of the lunar calendar). Behind the temple is the Dragon Head Mountain cave complex with a system of pristine caves shimmering with stalactites: Hoa Son Thach Dong, Khong Day Dong, Phong Son Dong, Nhan Long Son Dong, Hang Nuoc, Thanh Thuy Dong. In addition, Bong Lai Temple is less than 2km from the Vietnam Scientists Heritage Park, a complex of works serving tourism, resorts and heritage storage areas, with full range of services: sightseeing tours, restaurants, hotels, entertainment, etc. very convenient for tourists to visit and enjoy spring after going to the temple at the beginning of the year.

2. Ba Chua Thac Bo Temple (Cao Phong district)

Thac Bo Temple is located in the relic complex: Thac Bo Temple in Cao Phong - Da Bac district and Thac Bo Cave in Ngoi Hoa commune, Tan Lac district, located in the center of Hoa Binh Lake tourist route. Every year, the Bo Temple festival takes place from the 7th day of the first lunar month, lasting until the end of the third lunar month to commemorate the merits of Thac Bo Goddess, praying for favorable weather, good crops, good health, and peaceful villages. The festival has become a sacred religious activity of local people, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors every year to offer incense, make offerings, and visit and participate in the festival. When coming here for a spring trip, visitors cannot miss Thac Bo Cave with its majestic cave system dating back millions of years, along with magical stalactites, with strange and vivid shapes.

3. Tien Pagoda - Mau Dam Da (Lac Thuy district)

This is a pagoda with beautiful scenery, located on the other side of Huong Son mountain, classified as a national archaeological site with many traces of ancient Vietnamese people in Tien cave, Ho cave (Ancient people's cave). Around this area, there are temples such as Trinh temple (also known as Quan Trinh), Mau temple, Tien pagoda... worshiping sacred figures in Vietnamese beliefs: Mau Au Co, Mau Long, Quan Hoang Bay, Quan Hoang Muoi, Co Chin, Tam Toa Thanh Mau... Coming to Dam Da, visitors have the opportunity to learn about the worship of Mau - an indigenous belief from ancient times. In addition to cultural and historical values, this place is also a land with many natural caves of stunning beauty. Tam Toa cave, Thuy Tien cave, Cung Tien cave, Hoang Muoi cave, Co Chin cave... This will be an ideal spring destination for visitors who want to worship, make offerings at the beginning of the year and have a hobby of exploring nature.

4. Hang Pagoda (Yen Thuy district)

Hang Pagoda, also known as "Thanh Lam Tu", was built in Van Quang cave (Yen Thuy district), about 80km south of Hoa Binh city and about 13km north of Nho Quan town (Ninh Binh province). The pagoda was built a long time ago and restored during the reign of King Khai Dinh. In the pagoda are many precious ancient statues, bearing the unique features of ancient sculpture art. Hang Pagoda Festival is held on the full moon day of January, an opportunity for tourists and local people to visit and admire the pagoda. Tourists come to visit and make offerings to show their respect to Buddha and pray for Buddha's protection and blessing for health, family happiness, and business success. The Hang Pagoda Festival consists of 2 parts, the Ceremony with the custom of offering incense and flowers to pray for peace and health, and the Festival with cultural, artistic and sports activities of local people.

5. Phat Quang Pagoda (Hoa Binh City)

Phat Quang Pagoda covers an area of 5 hectares, located on Ba Vanh hill (Tan Thinh ward, Hoa Binh city), overlooking the winding Da river. This is the largest pagoda in Hoa Binh province with a complex of works including Thuong pagoda, Trung pagoda, Ha pagoda, tower, Mau temple. In the yard of Thuong pagoda, there is an open-air Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara platform and a bell tower. The great bell is nearly 3m high, nearly 2m in diameter, and weighs about 5 tons, making it the largest great bell in the Northwest region.

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