Imagine the scent of incense mingling with history. It lingers here at \u0110\u00ecnh V\u0103n H\u01b0\u01a1ng. Welcome to a place where time seems to slow. The temple’s story is etched in every beam and brick.
\u0110\u00ecnh V\u0103n H\u01b0\u01a1ng stands in \u0111\u1ed1ng \u0110a district. You will find it at number 3 in the 107 lane of V\u0103n H\u01b0\u01a1ng street. This temple shares the name of V\u0103n H\u01b0\u01a1ng village. The village existed back in the 19th century. In the early 20th century, V\u0103n H\u01b0\u01a1ng joined with other villages. Thanh Mi\u1ebfn Trung T\u1ea3 and Huy V\u0103n formed V\u0103n Ch\u01b0\u01a1ng village. Thus, people also call \u0110\u00ecnh V\u0103n H\u01b0\u01a1ng the V\u0103n Ch\u01b0\u01a1ng temple.
\u0110\u00ecnh V\u0103n H\u01b0\u01a1ng enshrines Nam Ph\u01b0\u01a1ng X\u00edch \u0110\u1ebf the village’s tutelary god. Legend says Nam Ph\u01b0\u01a1ng X\u00edch \u0110\u1ebf is also known as Chu T\u01b0\u1edbc. He is also Vi\u00eam \u0110\u1ebf or the God of Agriculture. He represents fire and the South. This is the deity who taught people to plant grains. He also invented the wooden plow.
According to village records from 1572, the tutelary god \u0110\u1ea1o C\u00f4ng was born in 1574. As a child he was intelligent. He became a hero. The H\u00f9ng king trusted him. He was appointed commander. When Th\u1ee5c King invaded V\u0103n Lang H\u00f9ng V\u01b0\u01a1ng sent \u0110\u1ea1o C\u00f4ng to fight. In just ten days, \u0110\u1ea1o C\u00f4ng defeated the Th\u1ee5c army. The king rewarded him. He let him visit his homeland. On February 14, he turned into a cloud here in V\u0103n Ch\u01b0\u01a1ng village. The king honored him. He allowed the villagers to build a temple for worship.
Many parallel sentences in the temple tell of this deity. One example is “X\u00edch \u0110\u1ebf protects the South. Long \u0110\u1ed7 has been a sacred land for thousands of years.” Another one says “Ancient God descends on the temple. V\u0103n Ch\u01b0\u01a1ng’s merits last for thousands of years.”
\u0110\u00ecnh V\u0103n H\u01b0\u01a1ng was once grand. Today only two pillars remain of the old temple. They stand near V\u0103n H\u01b0\u01a1ng lane. These pillars are quite tall. Phoenixes adorn the top. Below are reliefs of sacred animals.
The temple complex includes a gate Ti\u1ec1n T\u1ebf and H\u1eadu Cung. Pass through a small lane to reach the gate. It has two layers. The outer gate has two stories and eight roofs. The roofs curve gracefully. The top has a sun image. The path leads to the second gate. A courtyard paved with B\u00e1t Tr\u00e0ng bricks lies beyond. A banyan tree grows on the left. Next to it is a shrine. It is dedicated to a goddess.
Ti\u1ec1n T\u1ebf features five rooms. The roof is made of tiles. Dragons flank the sun image on the roof. The three central rooms have doors. The floor uses B\u00e1t Tr\u00e0ng bricks. Six sets of wooden pillars support the structure. Carved images decorate the beams. Vũ \u0110inh and Thi\u00ean \u1ea4t statues stand guard. They protect the temple. Stone pillars stand in front.
H\u1eadu Cung has one room. It connects to Ti\u1ec1n T\u1ebf creating a “Dinh” shape. The roof is tiled. Wooden frames support the structure.
The carvings at \u0110\u00ecnh V\u0103n H\u01b0\u01a1ng showcase the Nguyễn Dynasty style. Dragons leaves and other motifs are visible. The temple preserves precious artifacts. These include a palanquin and various statues. The statue of Nam Ph\u01b0\u01a1ng X\u00edch \u0110\u1ebf is particularly special. It depicts a martial figure.
Through historical changes, \u0110\u00ecnh V\u0103n H\u01b0\u01a1ng has always been cared for. Locals and authorities maintain it. They preserve its cultural values. The city recognized it as a historical site in 2004.
As you leave \u0110\u00ecnh V\u0103n H\u01b0\u01a1ng remember its story. It connects us to the past. It enriches our understanding of Hanoi.