Hà Tiên Temple – Famous Spiritual Sanctuary in Vĩnh Phúc

Hà Tiên Temple (also known as Hà Temple) in Vinh Yen city is revered as an ancient grand landmark by the locals. Positioned along the route to the Tam Đảo tourist town, it offers great convenience for pilgrims on a spiritual journey seeking both blessings and relaxation.

Hà Tiên Temple – Famous Spiritual Sanctuary in Vĩnh Phúc

Hà Tiên Temple was established in the Year of the Rooster (1703), during the Chính Hòa era, 24th reign of Emperor Lê Hy Tông Duy Hiệp. Throughout history, visitors and Buddhists alike, upon arriving at Hà Tiên Temple, not only present incense to the Buddha but also earnestly perform rituals before the holy mother, praying for the prosperity of the nation and a tranquil life.

According to ancient texts, the temple is situated in a location described as 'where the mountain and water meet,' with large mounds on either side resembling the figures of a dragon and a white tiger. During times of foreign invasion, Lady Lăng Thị Tiêu, on her way to join the 7th Hùng Vương, found the unfamiliar land and decided to pause for strategic planning.

Later, she was honored as the National Mother Tây Thiên. In commemoration of her, the people established an altar in the temple, referred to as the Venerable Holy King. Hà Tiên Temple is a place of worship for the three jewels and simultaneously venerates the National Mother.

Undergoing various changes, by the mid-20th century, the temple was completely demolished. Subsequently, the local community endeavored to preserve the arrangement of Buddha statues, safeguard the remaining ritual objects for Buddhist worship, and protect the surviving landscapes to keep the temple alive in the collective consciousness.

The current temple space has been reconstructed on a grand scale, spanning three gates from the Southeast to the Left-Hand Gate, surrounding the corridors to the three treasures. The architectural space mimics a 3-tiered tower. From the temple courtyard, one must cross 9 steps called the 'nine thresholds' to enter inside. The temple roof curves at the four corners, with a 'twin dragons flanking the moon' on top.

Behind the temple is the ancestral hall, symmetrically flanked by guest reception houses and exhibition rooms. The front facade features a four-piece wooden door, intricately carved with exquisite craftsmanship, adorned with a convenient pair of shutters above and decorated with ornate relief carvings below.

Ha Tien Pagoda, also known as the 'rain-calling pagoda.' In the past, the region often faced droughts. The people, reliant on agriculture, experienced severe famine. The abbot of the temple at that time, Tinh Huan, initiated a rain-calling ceremony. Moreover, the venerable monk vowed to self-immolate to invoke rain for the people on the 30th of the 5th lunar month.

After making the vow before the three jewels and the earth, he sat in a dignified posture and self-immolated to offer his aged self to the heavens, praying for a reversal of fortune for the people. On the 1st of the 6th month, after a day of self-immolation, heavy rain fell and continued for 3 consecutive days. Since then, every year on the anniversary of the monk's death, it often rains. In deep gratitude for the monk's benevolence, the locals erected a three-tiered pagoda to house his ashes.

Presently, in the burial tower garden of the pagoda, there are 8 burial towers. Most of these towers remain intact with 3 main tiers. The towers, standing at about 3m tall, have 4 sides, constructed with red-fired bricks bonded with a mixture of resin from trees and clay.

Despite all 8 towers preserving the sacred remains of high monks, the tower of Tinh Huan stands out as it is specially covered by a bodhi tree. The ancient bodhi tree remains evergreen, with numerous roots extending and enveloping almost three sides of the burial tower.

Within the temple, there is an ancient well (the Ngoc well) with cool, pure water. In the past, during dry seasons, other wells would dry up, but the ancient well still held water. Thus, villagers had to go to the ancient well to fetch water. The Ha Tien Pagoda well is described as 'clear, with a flowing stream, and the water takes on a magical color.' Hence, the elders used to say, 'Even if someone is as ugly as a demon, drinking water from Ha Tien Pagoda makes them as beautiful as a fairy.'

Every year, on significant festival days, visitors coming to the temple for Buddha's worship seek water from the Ngoc well. They bring it home to burn incense and gradually consume it, especially during the early days of spring. It is believed that having water from the ancient well for use during the Tet holiday brings about many fortunate events.

 As per Mytour

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Reference: Travel guide from Mytour