King Le Thai Tong Temple (Que Lam Linh Tu)
Sơn La(Đền thờ vua Lê Thái Tông (Quế Lâm Linh Từ))
Overview & history
The King Le Thai Tong Temple, formally “Que Lam Linh Tu” (Sacred Temple of Que Lam), stands in Chieng Le ward, Son La city, within the relic complex of the Que Lam Ngu Che rock inscription.
History
King Le Thai Tong (born Nguyen Long), second son of King Le Thai To, twice personally led campaigns to the Northwest during his nine-year reign to quell revolts and secure the frontier. In the third month of 1440, after his victory, the king left the poem “Que Lam Ngu Che” carved on the cliff of Tham Bao Ke cave. The inscription was ranked a national relic by the Ministry of Culture and Information on 5 February 1994.
Architecture
The temple was built and inaugurated on 22 January 2003 on 800 m² in classical Vietnamese temple style, following the geomantic principle of “river in front, mountain behind” — backed by Cam mountain and facing the Nam La stream. It comprises a three-entrance gate, blue-stone courtyard, side halls, a lacquered-and-gilded great worship hall and a rear sanctum with a bronze statue of the king, serving as a spiritual anchor for Son La's ethnic communities.
Photos
📷 Contribute photosVisiting 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.
Read more & references
Useful links to learn more before your visit: