Top 9 Most Significant Mother Goddess Worship Sites in Vietnam

Dầm Temple is a sacred site dating back to the Trần Dynasty. It has been honored with royal decrees 28 times, from the Trần (7 decrees), Lê (13 decrees), to the Nguyễn (8 decrees) dynasties. This is a record tied with Tiên Hương Shrine – the temple dedicated to Mẫu Liễu Hạnh in Phủ Dày (Nam Định). Located in Sâm Dương village, Ninh Sở commune, Thường Tín district, Hanoi, Dầm Temple worships Mẫu Thoải (the goddess of water and rivers), one of the Three Holy Mothers in Vietnamese belief, alongside Mẫu Thượng Thiên (the goddess of the heavens) and Mẫu Thượng Ngàn (the goddess of forests and mountains).

According to legend, "Princess Hoàng Long reincarnated as the daughter of the King of the Sea after breaking a jade cup. She was later exonerated by Liễu Nghị. In gratitude, she appeared in a dream to help Trần Hưng Đạo defeat the foreign invaders and was deified by Emperor Trần Nhân Tông, with a royal decree for the people to worship her for generations."

Dầm Temple features ancient architecture and a spacious environment, retaining its traditional style. The temple grounds include a pond and numerous ancient trees. The temple is divided into several sections, including the main hall for worshiping Mẫu Đệ Tam, the Trần dynasty shrine for Hưng Đạo Vương, Sơn Trang cave, and the Lầu Cô and Lầu Cậu towers. A distinctive feature is Lầu Cô, a two-story tower near the pond, with a hexagonal roof and six imposing columns at the entrance.

Address: Sâm Dương, Ninh Sở, Thường Tín, Hanoi

Festival: Held annually from the 1st to 10th day of the second lunar month.

Dâu Temple is a sacred and renowned temple located in Ninh Bình, dedicated to Liễu Hạnh Công Chúa, one of the "Four Immortals" (Sơn Tinh, Thánh Gióng, Thánh Mẫu Liễu Hạnh, and Chử Đồng Tử) in Vietnamese folk belief. The temple is named "Dâu" due to its association with fascinating legends that draw visitors eager to explore and admire its beauty.

One of the legends connected to Dâu Temple is that Princess Liễu Hạnh transformed into a woman and taught the locals how to grow mulberry trees and raise silkworms, while also aiding the Tây Sơn rebels in their fight against foreign invaders. This is why the temple is called "Dâu Temple".

Dâu Temple is linked to three significant historical events in Vietnam:

• In 1592, Lord Trịnh Tùng, a deputy of the Lê king, led his army over the Ba Dội Pass to attack Đông Kinh (Hanoi) and stopped to rest at Dâu Temple.
• In 1788, Emperor Quang Trung gathered over 100,000 troops in Tam Điệp and set up a temporary palace at Dâu Temple.
• In September 1952, Dâu Temple hosted the third conference of the Yên Sơn commune's party branch, where local leaders organized resistance against the French colonial army.

The temple consists of three distinct sections: the outer Đệ Tam hall, the middle Đệ Nhị hall, and the innermost Đệ Nhất hall.

• The Đệ Tam hall houses the altar for Ngũ Vị Tiên Ông (Five Immortal Ancestors).
• The Đệ Nhị hall is dedicated to the Four Realms (Thiên phủ, Nhạc phủ, Địa phủ, and Thoải phủ).
• The Đệ Nhất hall (the sacred hall) holds statues of the Three Holy Mothers: the central figure is Mẫu Đệ Nhất Thượng Thiên (Princess Quỳnh Hoa – Liễu Hạnh), the left statue is Mẫu Đệ Nhị Thượng Ngàn (Fairy Quế Hoa), and the right statue is Mẫu Tam Thoải (Fairy Ngọc Hoa).

Address: Nam Sơn Ward, Tam Điệp City, about 15 km south of Ninh Bình.

Festival: Held annually from the 15th day of the first lunar month to the 3rd day of the third lunar month.

Bà Chúa Kho Temple, once known as Princess Thanh Bình, draws thousands of worshippers, especially businesspeople, during the New Year. However, it becomes especially crowded at the start and end of the year, as people believe in the tradition of borrowing money at the beginning of the year and repaying it at the end.

According to legend, Bà Chúa Kho was a beautiful woman from the village of Quả Cảm, gifted in storing grains and managing the national treasury during and after the victory at Như Nguyệt (1076) led by General Lý Thường Kiệt. She also helped develop the surrounding regions, including Quả Cảm, Cổ Mễ, and Thượng Đồng, by building small villages and cultivating land.

Later, she became the Empress of the Lý Dynasty, assisting the king in governing and safeguarding the kingdom's supplies. Tragically, she was murdered by enemies while delivering grain to villagers. Grateful for her selflessness, the king deified her as a deity, and the people of Cổ Mễ constructed Bà Chúa Kho Temple at the old grain warehouse on Kho Mountain in her honor.

In 1989, Bà Chúa Kho Temple was officially recognized as a National Cultural Heritage site. Since then, its role as a place of worship for wealth and prosperity has grown, particularly attracting businesspeople.

Historically, the temple was a small shrine on Kho Mountain during the Lý Dynasty. During the Lê Dynasty, it was renovated and expanded into the large Bà Chúa Kho Temple seen today. The temple's layout includes the Tam Quan Gate, the Main Hall, the courtyard, pathways, the central altar, and the second hall.

Address: Cổ Mễ Village, Vũ Ninh Ward, Bắc Ninh City, Bắc Ninh Province

Festival: The main festival is held from the 12th to 14th of the first lunar month.

Pô Nagar Tower is a historical and cultural relic, a prominent and unique example of Champa architecture and sculpture, located on Cù Lao Hill, overlooking the East Sea. In ancient times, this site was one of the religious centers of the Champa Kingdom, dedicated to the goddess Po Nagar – the Mother of the Champa people, as well as Thiên Y A Na, the Holy Mother of Central Vietnam. This goddess is one of the three female deities who govern the three regions of Vietnam: Liễu Hạnh Mother in the North, Thiên Y A Na in the Center, and Linh Sơn Thánh Mẫu (Lady Black) in the South.

According to legend, the Queen Po Nagar, also known as Yang Po Nagar, was created from clouds and sea foam. She is credited with creating the Earth, producing precious wood, plants, rice, and teaching the Champa people to cultivate rice, raise livestock, weave fabric, and build a prosperous and happy life.

The Po Nagar Tower complex consists of three main sections: the Gate Tower, the Front Hall, and the Temple Tower.

• Gate Tower Section: This impressive entrance gate blends with the overall design of the temple complex. Due to the passage of time, the gate has mostly worn away, leaving only stone steps leading to the middle tier.
• Front Hall Section: Featuring four large brick columns, including 10 large columns inside and 12 smaller octagonal columns outside. What attracts visitors is the size of the bricks used in the Cham Tower, which were built without any binding material.
• Temple Tower Section: There are two rows of towers: the front row contains three towers, with the tallest one being the Po Nagar Tower. The back row, which originally had three parallel towers, now only has one remaining.

Address: 61 Hai Tháng Tư Street, Vĩnh Phước Ward, Nha Trang City, Khánh Hòa Province

Festival: Held from the 20th to 23rd of the third lunar month annually.

Linh Sơn Thánh Mẫu Temple is located in Tây Ninh City and is one of the most famous spiritual sites in the Ba Den Mountain range. This temple is dedicated to Linh Sơn Thánh Mẫu, one of the three female deities who govern the three regions of Vietnam: Liễu Hạnh Mother in the North, Thiên Y A Na in the Central region, and Linh Sơn Thánh Mẫu (Lady Black) in the South.

Legend has it that the image of Linh Sơn Thánh Mẫu, or Lady Black, originates from the story of a girl named Lý Thị Thiên Hương, who was granted a royal title by Emperor Bao Dai in 1935, with the epithet "Dực Bảo Trung Hưng Linh Phù chi thần." However, some research suggests that the worship of this deity may have roots in Hindu culture, particularly in the forms of goddesses such as Mariamman (India), Kali (Indonesia), and Niềng Khmau (Cambodia).

Inside the main hall, a statue of Linh Sơn Thánh Mẫu is placed at the center, with smaller shrines arranged around it. In some temples, the goddess is worshipped as the protector of the Triple Gem. This means that in certain temples, the altar of Linh Sơn Thánh Mẫu is positioned behind the Buddha altar, following the rule of "Buddha in front, deity behind".

Address: Thạnh Tân Commune, Tây Ninh City, Tây Ninh Province

Festival: The Linh Sơn Thánh Mẫu Festival is held from the 4th to the 6th of the 5th lunar month every year.

Cô Đôi Thượng Ngàn is a revered deity in the Four Realms pantheon. She is said to be the daughter of King Đế Thích, who was granted the title of Princess of the Mountain God, known far and wide. Her temples are found in various locations, including Đông Cuông - Tuần Quán, Nho Quán in Ninh Bình, and Cao Phong in Hòa Bình.

Cô Đôi Thượng Ngàn is one of the most powerful and well-known of the Four Realms Deities. She is ranked second after the Mother of the Heavens and just before the Water Mother in the hierarchy of the Four Realms Deities.

The legend of Cô Đôi Thượng Ngàn goes as follows: "Cô Đôi Thượng Ngàn was originally the Princess of the Mountain God, the daughter of King Đế Thích in Heaven. After descending to Earth, she was born as the daughter of a local noble in Ninh Bình, a region known for its mountains and forests. She was extremely beautiful with pale skin, smooth black hair, and a slender figure. She was later taught divine arts by the Mountain Goddess and was given the task of helping the people. When she returned to Heaven, she received countless magical powers and was tasked with teaching the forest people to unify their language. In her leisure, she would visit the forests in Ninh Bình, where she and her fairy companions would sing and enjoy life. Sometimes, she would manifest as a beautiful young woman, engaging in poetic discussions with renowned scholars, and was known for her exceptional talent in literature, winning admiration from all. Cô Đôi also governs the treasures of the forest, rewarding the devoted and punishing those who fail to repay their debts."

(According to Bách Khao Toàn Thư)

Address: The main temple dedicated to Cô Đôi is located in Bồng Lai, Văn Phương, Nho Quan, Ninh Bình. It is said that Ninh Bình is her birthplace, and the locals built this temple in her honor. Other temples dedicated to Cô Đôi can be found in various locations such as Bồng Lai Thượng in Hòa Bình, Cô Đôi Temple in Thanh Hóa, and Đôi Cô Temple in Tuyên Quang.

Tay Ho Shrine is one of the most sacred and well-known spiritual sites in Hanoi, preserving the ancient belief in the worship of the Mother Goddess. Located in Tay Ho village, once part of the ancient Thang Long capital, today the shrine is situated in Quang An ward, Tay Ho district, Hanoi, on a peninsula between West Lake, about 4km west of downtown Hanoi.

Tay Ho Shrine is dedicated to Saint Mother Liễu Hạnh, who was honored by the Nguyen Dynasty with the title 'Mother of the Nation,' and is one of the four Immortal Beings (Sơn Tinh, Thánh Gióng, Liễu Hạnh, and Chử Đồng Tử) in Vietnamese mythology.

The shrine is also an important part of the Four Realms worship, a belief system that holds a deep connection to the Mother Goddess worship of the Vietnamese people.

• Tian Fu (Mother of the Heavens) rules the sky,
• Mountain Fu (Mother of the Mountain) rules the forests and mountains,
• Water Fu (Mother of Water) rules the rivers and seas,
• Earth Fu (Mother of the Earth) rules the land.

Tay Ho Shrine specifically worships Liễu Hạnh, the Earth Mother, which is why it is called a 'Fu' (a sacred place).

According to legend, Liễu Hạnh, the daughter of the Jade Emperor, was banished to earth for breaking a sacred cup. She wandered across the world and was drawn to the beauty of West Lake, where she decided to settle and protect the people from evil, greed, and ensure peace for the community.

Tay Ho Shrine consists of the Main Shrine, the Sơn Trang Temple, and the Cô and Cậu Pavilions.

• Main Shrine contains three prayer halls. The third hall is dedicated to the Three Mothers: Mother of the Mountain in blue, Liễu Hạnh in red, and Mother of Water in white.
• Sơn Trang Temple is dedicated to the Mother of the Mountain and her twelve attendants.
• Cô and Cậu Pavilions are located in the courtyard and are dedicated to the attendants of the shrine.

Tay Ho Shrine was recognized as a Historical-Cultural Heritage Site by the Ministry of Culture on February 13, 1996.

Address: 52 Dang Thai Mai Street, Quang An Ward, Tay Ho District, Hanoi.

Festival: On the 3rd day of the 3rd lunar month, a ceremony is held to honor Mother Liễu Hạnh, with a procession of her statues.

The Phu Day Historical Site Complex, also known as Phu Giay, is a collection of temples and shrines, with many smaller structures forming a unified sacred site. It is dedicated to Saint Mother Liễu Hạnh, one of the four Immortals revered by the people (along with Tản Viên Sơn Thánh, Phù Đổng Thiên Vương, and Chử Đồng Tử).

Phu Day is considered the 'birthplace' and a central hub for the practice of the Three Realms worship in Vietnam. The three realms are: Thiên Phủ (Heaven), Nhạc Phủ (Mountain), and Thoải Phủ (Water), each presided over by a different Mother Goddess. These include: Mẫu Thượng Thiên (Mother of the Heavens), Mẫu Thượng Ngàn (Mother of the Mountains), and Mẫu Thoải (Mother of Water).

Legend has it that Princess Liễu Hạnh, originally the daughter of the Jade Emperor, descended to earth three times, each time embodying different virtues. In the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries, Liễu Hạnh became a symbol of morality, piety, and compassion, and she was revered for her grace and character.

The Phu Day complex contains more than 20 significant architectural works, including three important structures closely linked to the life of Saint Mother Liễu Hạnh during her second earthly incarnation: the Tiên Hương Temple (the main shrine), the Vân Cát Temple, and the Tomb of Saint Liễu.

Address: Kim Thái Commune, Vụ Bản District, Nam Định Province, approximately 15km southwest of Nam Định City.

Festival: The main festival is held during the early days of the third lunar month (the 3rd day of the 3rd lunar month is the official festival date).

The Mother Au Co Temple is a historically significant cultural monument, symbolizing the love for the nation and the traditional unity of the Vietnamese people. The image of Mother Au Co giving birth to the Lac people, the descendants of the Hung Kings, from a hundred eggs has become an eternal symbol, living on in the hearts and minds of generations of Vietnamese.

Legend tells that Lady Ngọc Nương, while giving birth to Au Co, was surrounded by auspicious clouds and a sweet fragrance. Au Co grew up to be a woman of extraordinary beauty, as graceful as a fairy, and skilled in the arts of poetry, music, and painting. Later, she married Lạc Long Quân, the son of King Dương, and gave birth to a bag of one hundred eggs, which hatched into one hundred children. When they grew older, Lạc Long Quân, being a dragon and she a fairy, told her: 'I am of the dragon lineage, and you are of the fairy lineage; water and fire are not meant to meet…' So, Lạc Long Quân took fifty of their children and descended to the sea.

Mother Au Co, along with fifty of her children, traveled across the land, clearing forests, cultivating rice, planting mulberry trees, raising silkworms, and weaving fabrics. She later returned to the Hiền Lương region, where she spent the rest of her life.

To honor the contributions of the Mother Au Co and to preserve the national heritage, King Lê Thánh Tông of the Later Lê Dynasty established the Mother Au Co Temple in the 15th century at Hiền Lương commune, Hạ Hoà district. The temple was officially recognized as a national cultural heritage site in 1991.

The temple consists of five sections, and inside stands a statue of the National Mother Au Co, 0.93 meters tall, seated on a throne, with her hands resting on her knees, wearing a crown adorned with sparkling diamonds, her figure serene and graceful. The entire statue and throne are placed under a 1.82-meter-high arch, surrounded by intricate carvings of pine trees, chrysanthemums, apricots, and dragons facing the moon. The wooden structures of the temple are also finely crafted with exquisite carvings.

Address: Hiền Lương commune, Hạ Hoà, Phú Thọ

Festival: The main festival is held on the 7th day of the Lunar New Year, and it lasts for three days.