Bao Ha Temple

Lào Cai(Đền Bảo Hà)

Overview & history

Bao Ha Temple, also known as the Temple of Lord Hoang Bay, stands at the foot of Cam hill on the bank of the Red River in Bao Ha commune, Bao Yen district, Lao Cai province. It is one of the most venerated temples of the Northwest, central to the Vietnamese Four Palaces (Tu phu) Mother Goddess tradition.

History

According to tradition, in the late Le dynasty the general Nguyen Hoang Bay was dispatched to defend the Bao Ha – Khau Ban frontier, repelling northern invaders and rallying local chieftains and settlers to open the land and found villages. He fell in an unequal battle; his body drifted down the Red River and came ashore at Bao Ha, where the people buried him and raised a temple. Later Nguyen kings conferred on him the title of nation-guarding deity. In the Four Palaces pantheon he is Ong Hoang Bay, one of the most widely worshipped princely spirits.

Relic and festival

Bao Ha Temple was recognized as a national historical-cultural relic in 1997. Its main festival falls on the 17th day of the seventh lunar month — the death anniversary of Ong Hoang Bay — drawing tens of thousands of pilgrims, with especially large crowds in early spring.

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Visiting tips

Dress modestly; remove hats and keep quiet inside the main hall.
Incense, flowers and offerings are usually sold right outside the gate; light an odd number of sticks (1 or 3).
Most pagodas open from early morning to evening and are free to enter (some major sites charge a small scenic fee).
Full-moon days, the 1st of the lunar month and Tet are very crowded; visit on weekday mornings for a quiet experience.
Ask permission before photographing inside shrines; do not touch statues or altar objects.