Top 10 Must-Visit Places in Hai Duong

1. Con Son - Kiep Bac Relic Area

The Con Son - Kiep Bac relic area is one of the 62 special national monuments of Vietnam. This relic complex is located in Chi Linh town, Hai Duong province. It is closely associated with the lives and careers of national heroes Nguyen Trai, Tran Hung Dao - two outstanding national heroes who have glorified the country's land and rivers, along with many cultural celebrities of the nation: Tran Nguyen Dan, Phap Loa, Huyen Quang,...

The Ancestor's House is located just behind the Con Son Pagoda, worshipping 3 Truc Lam Tam To (King Tran Nhan Tong, Phap Loa, and Huyen Quang), the statue of General Tran Nguyen Dan and his wife, the statue of Nguyen Trai and his second wife (Mrs. Nguyen Thi Lo).

The Nguyen Trai Temple is a key structure within the Con Son - Kiep Bac relic area complex, situated on a 10,000 square meter plot of land at the foot of Ngu Nhac Mountain, within the Thanh Hu Cave area and near the former shrine of Mrs. Tran Thi Thai (mother of Nguyen Trai). On the right side is the Con Son stream flowing from North to South, winding from right to left around the shrine. The temple has traditional and unique architecture, with a large source of funds and people with virtuous hearts, artisans along with skilled craftsmen, painstakingly laboring for over 2500 days to create the structure as it is today.

The Tran Nguyen Dan Temple was built in 2004, near the upper stream of the Con Son stream, at the location where over 600 years ago he built a house to rest and enjoy his old age.

The Ngoc Well is located on the slope of Ky Lan Mountain, at the foot of the Dang Minh Bao Tower. According to legend, on a full moon night in July, monk Huyen Quang dreamt of a bright pearl lying on the slope of Ky Lan Mountain. In the morning, the monk and the monks went up the mountainside to inspect, when they saw the light shining, they found a well of clear, cool water. When they drank, they felt refreshed. When they returned to the pagoda, the monk held a ceremony to thank the divine spirit for granting the pagoda with precious water and requested to dig deeper and shore up the well. Since then, the well has been called the Ngoc Well, and the monks in the pagoda often take water from the well for rituals. There was a time when the well was covered with grass. In 1995, the well was reinvested, fortified with stone, built up the embankment, paved the yard to create a common landscape for the tourist area and also for visitors when visiting Con Son to have a chance to drink from the sacred well.

The Fairy Chess Table: from the Ngoc Well, along the stone paved path about 600 steps, you will reach the summit of Ky Lan Mountain (200m high). The mountaintop is a flat land with a quite large rock slab, which the ancients called the Fairy Chess Table.

The Stone Tables are two connected limestone blocks, relatively flat, located close to each other, next to the Con Son stream.

Mao Dien Temple of Literature is located on National Highway 5, 15km from Hai Duong City. In Northern Vietnam, Mao Dien Temple of Literature ranks second in scale and history, only after the Temple of Literature in Hanoi. The Temple of Literature is a grand and majestic architectural work. The interior is dedicated to Confucius and his disciples. The outer hall is a gathering place for scholars. On either side are two rows of pavilions facing each other. Next are two magnificent bell towers. In front is a hundred-year-old rice tree reflecting in the clear water lake. Surrounding it are various ornamental and fruit trees.

The main hall of the temple consists of two layers facing west, with seven bays, curved roofs adorned with dragon and phoenix motifs, closely intertwined. The inner hall is dedicated to Confucius. The outer hall is where scholars gather to pay homage and set up communal altars and candlesticks. On the walls hang boards listing 637 native doctors from Hai Duong during the Vietnamese imperial examination era. The two oldest artifacts of Mao Dien Temple of Literature are placed in the outer hall: a stone incense burner on the communal altar and a stone incense holder from the Tay Son dynasty. The stone incense holder produces a clear sound, demonstrating the high level of skill of Vietnamese stone craftsmen in the early 19th century, with one ear broken.

In the inner sanctum of the temple, there are nine altars in total. In the middle is the altar of Confucius, the founder of Confucianism. On either side are Nguyen Trai, Chu Van An, Mac Dinh Chi, Nguyen Binh Khiem, Pham Su Manh, Vu Huu, Tue Tinh, and Nguyen Thi Due. The arrangement of the altars also holds profound significance. Confucius, as the founder of Confucianism, is worshipped in the middle, while Chu Van An, an exemplary teacher in our country's Confucian tradition, is on the left. The others are all outstanding figures from Hai Duong. Especially noteworthy is Nguyen Thi Due, the only female provincial chief minister in Vietnam.

Every February in the lunar calendar, Hai Duong province holds the Mao Dien Temple of Literature Festival. People from Hai Duong gather everywhere to attend the festival, pay homage, and offer incense in memory of the nation's eminent scholars and sages.

Chi Lang Nam Heron Island is located in the heart of An Duong Lake, belonging to Chi Lang Nam commune, Thanh Mien district, Hai Duong province. This is an eco-tourism destination about 30km south of Hai Duong city center along National Highway 39B. Chi Lang Nam Heron Island was discovered in 1994 and has now developed into an eco-tourism area covering 31.67 hectares. According to statistics, there are currently 16,000 storks and 6,000 herons living here. There are also many rare and endangered bird species such as: gray heron, pond heron, kingfisher, lemon-bellied flycatcher, egret, and bittern.

Chi Lang Nam Heron Island is a wonderful eco-tourism destination, so you can visit at any time of the year. However, based on the fun and attractive experience of visiting Co Island, you should go from September to April of the following year. This is the time when storks and herons from all over gather here to feed, creating a lively natural space, especially in the early morning and evening when thousands of storks and herons are singing, which is extremely interesting.

When you come here, not only can you see thousands and thousands of storks and herons, with many different rare species, but you can also admire the picturesque natural scenery of rivers and lakes, especially in the early morning or late afternoon when storks and herons are singing together. Rest assured that when you come here, you will have an extremely interesting and memorable eco-tourism trip to Co Island.

An Phu Relic Complex now belongs to An Sinh commune, Kinh Mon district, Hai Duong province, more than 30km east of Hai Duong city. For many years, historical books have recorded 'An Phu, Thien Ky, Kinh Chu mountains, ... are beautiful landscapes worth exploring.' Today, the landscape has changed, but it is still a place with many relics to visit and study. Visitors to An Phu not only take a historical tour but also participate in beneficial sports activities.

The classified relics and caves include Cao An Phu Temple (Cao Temple, Tuong Van Pagoda, Tran Hung Dao Monument, ...); relics and caves of Pham Menh commune (Kinh Chu Cave, Duong Nham Pagoda, ...); relics and caves of Duy Tan commune (Nham Duong Pagoda, caves in Nham Duong Mountain, ...). The An Phu mountain range is 17 km long, with the highest peak reaching 246 meters, with many small peaks and valleys that have been woven into poems and legends by the people. On the lush green peaks stands out like a giant cone - the An Phu relic complex. The mountain peak is divided into 2 small peaks: the southern peak has the temple of An Sinh Vuong Tran Lieu (the father of Hung Dao Dai Vuong Tran Quoc Tuan, commonly known as Cao Temple, and the stone stele is called An Phu Son Tu.

Between the two mountain ranges is the ancient Tuong Van Pagoda, also known as Cao Pagoda. Next to the pagoda is the Kinh Thien stone pillar (Heaven-touching stone pillar), in front of the pagoda is a well of water, always full and cool all year round. 100 meters east of the pagoda, there is a flat land surrounded by stone walls called the fairy chessboard. Around the temple and pagoda, there are still some ancient green bonsai trees, especially some 700-year-old Dai trees, proving the existence of relics.

This is the second special national relic of Hai Duong province.

Star Chilinh Golf Club located in Saodo town, Chilinh district, Hai Duong province. Spanning across 325 hectares in a stunning valley with a natural lake nestled amidst majestic green hills. The golf course features 36 holes built to AAA international standards. The lush green fairways, meticulously manicured each day, winding paths around the lake's edge, clusters of trees, gentle slopes along the hillside, are resting points with quaint small shops nestled in the romantic tree canopy.

The Chilinh Star Golf & Country Club is scientifically arranged with discreet sand traps considered a challenging conquest for professional golfers. The grass used here is the best type for golf courses - imported from Australia, the flexible irrigation system controlled by computer from RainBird imported from the US, world-class golf course maintenance equipment from Toro in the US....

The highlight of the golf course is the Clubhouse with a unique design, the entire door and wall system is built with transparent glass allowing visitors and spectators to admire most of the course with 28/36 golf holes.

Star Chilinh Golf Course is dubbed as the 'most challenging golf course in Vietnam,' and professional golfers cannot overlook this exciting competition venue.

Tranh Temple, also known as Quan Lon Tuan Tranh Temple, is an ancient temple in Vietnam. It worships the river deity governing a section of the river at the Tranh ferry, belonging to Dong Tam commune, Ninh Giang district, Hai Duong province.

Tranh Temple has 3 festival seasons each year. The February festival (from February 10-20), with the main festival on the 14th - the birthday of the great official Tuan Tranh, is the main annual festival. The May festival (from May 20-26), with the main festival on the 25th - the day of the deity's transformation. The Tranh Temple festival has a large scale, attracting visitors from many northern provinces, one of the major festivals in Hai Duong, with extraordinary appeal, especially to ladies from cities, hence visitors from afar are numerous. Not only during the festival days but also on regular days, many visitors come to pay homage, and the singing of ceremonial songs is indispensable.

In folklore, it is still said, 'the temple is sacred, the spirits are abundant, and whatever is prayed for will be granted,' so every year during the festival season, domestic and international tourists flock here to attend the festival. In addition to the two main festivals, in the 5th lunar month, there is another day when tourists come to the temple, especially on the day of the 'May court feast.' This feast in legend is the day the Great Official hosts a banquet. Also mentioned with Quan Lon Tuan Tranh is the activity of singing court songs with 36 court songs and 36 tunes.

In 2009, Tranh Temple was honored to be classified as a National Historical and Cultural Relic. To attract a large number of visitors to visit and admire Tranh Temple, in recent years, Ninh Giang district has always focused on conservation work, promoting the cultural heritage values of Tranh Temple as well as festivals. Through that, the traditional beauty of Ninh Giang land and Hai Duong province has been promoted to domestic and international tourists.

The area of ancient Chu Dau ceramics village is located in Chu Dau hamlet, Thai Tan commune, Nam Sach district, Hai Duong. Classified as a national historical relic in 1992. Chu Dau ceramics are called the ceramics of morality because the sophisticated patterns of these products deeply embody the humanistic values of Buddhism and Confucianism.

Two of the dozens of types of Chu Dau ceramics that leave an impression and become the most favored products among antique enthusiasts are the Hoa Lam ceramic vase (also known as the garlic bulb vase) and the Ty Ba vase. According to Eastern philosophy, the garlic bulb vase represents the masculine, heaven, father, and pillar. The mouth of the vase is straight, expressing straightness, integrity, and stability. The body of the vase is a wonderful combination of chrysanthemum patterns – a symbol of nobility, interspersed with soft floral patterns. The Ty Ba vase resembles the shape of a ty ba musical instrument, symbolizing the feminine, earth, mother, the embodiment of young, graceful Vietnamese women. These two vases are also called the yin-yang vases, symbolizing the father's vase, the mother's vase, symbolizing the foundation of a happy family...

The monument covers an area of ​​40,000 square meters and includes pottery production tools such as grinders, kilns, turning tables, pattern-printing tables, as well as some waste and broken pieces. This was a large ceramic production center in our country in the 15th - 16th centuries.

Visitors, especially foreign tourists, cannot help but admire the skill of the artisans, the skillful hands shaping unique forms with Hoa Lam vases, Ty Ba vases, single vases, various jars, worship items, pots, flower vases... in a skillful manner as if encapsulating the vast natural world.

Known as the traditional water puppet village operating for hundreds of years, this is also a delightful and interesting sightseeing spot in Hai Duong. The water puppet programs here have been present in many major festivals nationwide, winning high awards. If you haven't seen water puppetry before or want to learn more about this profession, then Thanh Hai water puppet village is a must-visit stop.

The art of Thanh Hai water puppetry originates from An Liet village in the Late Ly dynasty, when villagers from An Liet went to work far away, learned, and brought back the craft to the village. Before the August Revolution of 1945, the puppet troupe gathered villagers for entertainment during festivals or leisure time. After peace was restored, water puppetry in Thanh Hai was strengthened both spiritually and materially. Today, with 32 core members passionate about folk art, they have created many unique new scripts. In 2001, Thanh Hai water puppet troupe won the First Prize at the Hai Duong province water puppet festival and was invited to perform in many places nationwide. At the water puppet art festival within the Hue Festival in 2004, the Hong Phong water puppet troupe was awarded the Gold Prize.

Water puppetry is a comprehensive performing art, born and existing within the community of agricultural laborers. It is a spiritual dish, a healthy entertainment of the residents of the Red River delta region. Visitors to Hai Duong should visit and enjoy this unique traditional folk art at least once.

Referred to as the colossal bonsai rock, King's Mirror Cave is an ideal destination for adventurous and exploratory tourists. Surrounding King's Mirror Cave are vast rice fields and winding rivers around the foot of the mountain, all of which create a picturesque natural landscape, leaving a memorable impression on anyone visiting King's Mirror Cave. Therefore, this is also an attractive sightseeing spot in Hai Duong you should visit.

King's Mirror Cave is located on the limestone mountain range named Duong Nham, Bo Da, or Xuyen Chau. It is a mountain range located on the banks of the Kinh Thay River, gracefully reflecting its shadow into the water. The cave entrance faces south, welcoming the cool summer breeze. Standing here, tourists can see the Trời Market mountain and the Pen Tower - the two tallest peaks of this majestic mountain range; see the peak of An Phu where the Tran Lieu temple and Cao pagoda are located; see the fields, villages, and in the distance, the bustling town of Kinh Mon.

But when entering the cave, tourists will be amazed by the skillful craftsmanship of nature to create two bell-shaped cave vaults, towering high above. Going deeper, there is a clear and cool stream. No one knows how far the stream flows. The cave vaults were once the habitat of thousands of bat colonies, flapping their wings loudly, flying out of the cave to forage at dusk. This was also the dispersal site of the Hai Phong shipyard during the war against America to save the country. Inside the cave, there is a Buddhist temple and a shrine to King Ly Than Tong. A branch of the cave entrance faces west, lower down, leading tourists to the shrine of Mother Tam Phu.

The most unique feature of King's Mirror Cave is the National Treasure - the system of gnawed steles. All the steles here are carved directly into the rock wall with 54 steles, the highest number of steles in caves in Vietnam. There are steles at the bottom. There are steles high up. There are also jagged steles on the cave vault. These steles still retain intact inscriptions to this day because they have not been eroded by the weather. More than 50 inscribed steles mentioned have accurate dates from the 14th century to the 20th century. The authors of these inscribed steles are also diverse: from Kings to Great Mandarins; from provincial officials, district officials to scholars, educators, and local translators.

Root Forest is located next to the pine forest at the southern foot of Con Son Mountain, Chí Linh town, Hai Duong province. This is a new and unique tourist destination in Hai Duong that young people love. Root Forest has a romantic beauty like a gentle, innocent young girl, but with a dreamy charm that captivates people's hearts. Root Forest has existed for a long time and has become a familiar symbol of the Chí Linh - Hai Duong region.

Strolling around Root Forest, you will see the beauty of the forest blending with the beauty of the mountain forests, creating a harmonious and attractive painting that captures the viewer's eyes. This is an ideal romantic space for young couples to walk hand in hand in the dreamy Root Forest. You will rediscover the feeling of peace, tranquility, and relaxation when sitting under the shade of pine trees and immersing yourself in the scent of the wind blowing through the forest.