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Discover Nang Han Temple in Northwest Vietnam, an architectural marvel intertwined with captivating local folklore.
Explore the Legends of Nang Han Temple
Nang Han Temple is situated in Tay An village, Mường So commune, and Phai Cát village, Khổng Lào commune, Phong Thổ district, Lai Châu province. It is a sacred worship site for characters in the legend, garnering attention from Northwest tourists for its epic yet poignant tales of Nang Han.
Legend has it that: Nang Han is the only daughter of the Khơ-mú earth lord in Chiềng Phung, now part of Quỳnh Nhai district. Despite being a daughter, Han possessed extraordinary swordsmanship and archery skills, so she asked her father to train alongside the soldiers. Her father agreed and named her son Khum Chương. When invaders from the North invaded, the earth lord held a contest to choose a commander to lead the army. Khum Chương emerged victorious, being appointed as the commander and his deputy was Khum Lụm.
Khum Chương and his deputy led the troops upstream of the Đà River, Nậm Na River, chasing away the Northern invaders through Chiềng Sa to Si Xoong Pa Na and then back. Returning home, Khum Chương performed the Mố Chiêng ritual, also known as the bathing ceremony on the 30th of Tet. After bathing, news came that the Northern invaders were raiding Mường Lò. Nang Han put on armor and became Khum Chương along with his deputy Khum Lụm leading the troops downstream of the Đà River to Bắc Yên, crossing the mountains to Phù Yên and then advancing into Mường Lò to chase away the fleeing enemy troops.
Khum Chương and his soldiers marched triumphantly back. One afternoon, Khum Chương and his deputy Khum Lụm rode horses for a stroll. Passing by a stream with clear water, Khum Chương leaned down to scoop some water to drink, inadvertently revealing to Khum Lụm that she was a disguised woman. Angered by having to serve under a woman, Khum Lụm commanded the soldiers to chase and kill Khum Chương.
Khum Chương turned back, drew his sword and killed Khum Lụm, then spurred his horse into the deep forest. Seeing the soldiers in chaos, Khum Chương stopped his horse, looked up to the sky and cried out. Moved by compassion, the heavens sent down a cloud cradle to receive her soul and unleashed a downpour. Suddenly, both Khum Chương and the soldiers turned into stone. After Khum Chương's death, the villagers restored her original name as Nang Han and built a shrine to worship her every year on the 3rd lunar month's full moon.
Nang Han is not only revered by the people in Mường So commune or in Lai Châu province, but she is also worshipped by all White Thai ethnic people across the Northwest region. In the spiritual realm of the 16 Thai territories, the Mường region in the Northwest is like what Bà Trưng, Bà Triệu are to the Kinh people. On December 25, 2007, the People's Committee of Lai Châu province issued Decision No. 2057/QĐ-UBND recognizing Nang Han Temple as a provincial-level architectural and artistic relic. This is a destination not to be missed if you have the opportunity to travel to Northwest Vietnam.
According to Mytour
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Reference: Mytour Travel Handbook
MytourFebruary 2, 2023
