Phu Tay Ho

, Phu Tay Ho

Overview

About 4 km west of Hanoi center, Phu Tay Ho is located on a quiet and peaceful peninsula of the ancient Nghi Tam village, West Lake, Quang An ward, Tay Ho district. It is considered by many to be the most famous and sacred destination in Hanoi, attracting a lot of visitors thanks to its brilliant scenery and tranquil atmosphere. Phu Tay Ho is not only a place of religious activities of local people but also preserves the historical values ​​of the thousand-year-old capital.

, Phu Tay HoPhoto by @ Khanh Ly

(In Vietnamese, “Phu” means quite similar to “temple” but more specifically, is used to refer to Vietnamese Mother temples.)

The Tale of Phu Tay Ho

Phu Tay Ho was built around the 17th century, worshiping Princess Lieu Hanh, one of the four legendary figures in Vietnamese history. She is honored as a leading figure in the cult of Mother Goddess (Motherhood – one of the main local beliefs in Vietnam), in which she rules the celestial realm.

, Phu Tay HoPhoto: dantri.com.vn

According to folklore, she is Princess Quynh Hoa – the beloved daughter of the heavenly Jade Emperor. Due to a mistake (breaking her father’s cup), she was sent down to earth, taking the name Lieu Hanh.

, Phu Tay HoPhoto by @Truong Hong Duc

After a wonderful world discovery journey, she was attracted by the charming, lyrical and romantic beauty of Tay Ho and decided to set up a career right in the middle of this peninsula. During her time living here, she bravely protected the local people from dangers and threats. One day, while sailing on the lake, Phung Khac Khoan (named Trang Bung) was destined to meet her at his restaurant, the two quickly became close. Since then, they have spent time writing poetry and enjoying the lake’s natural beauty. Yet Princess Lieu Hanh was not there for a long time. According to folklore, when Phung Khac Khoan (after entering the Hue citadel) came back, she left. To ease the nostalgia, he and the local people built a temple to worship her. That was the beginning of Phu Tay Ho. Today, the temple is under the management of Tay Ho government.

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The beauty of structure and architecture

One of the first impressions of Phu Tay Ho is the massive three-door gate, elaborately carved with three entrances and two floors. Its charming structure is very familiar to other Mother shrines. This design form is popular in the North of Vietnam, bearing the characteristics of 19th century architectural style.

, Phu Tay HoPhoto by @Toan Dung Media

The main architecture of Phu Tay Ho is covered by 3 smaller temples, of which the main one (the front house) is the largest. Statue of Saint Mother Lieu Hanh in the inner palace behind this front house. In addition, there are also Phuong (Phuong Dinh), Son Trang, Co Lau, Cau Pagoda, etc. From the Vinh gate to the big door or the walls, everything is designed and carved exquisitely to every detail. . In addition, this temple also has a full range of ancient relics including frescoes at the door, votive table, royal palace, etc., all designed in the 19th century style.

Best time to visit

Phu Tay Ho Festival is held annually from the 3rd to 7th day of the 3rd lunar month, to honor Princess Lieu Hanh. The main part of the festival is the procession of the god’s palanquin from Phu Tay Ho, passing through Yen Phu street, Co Ngu street, Quan Thanh street, Hang Dau street, then ending at Nghia Lap temple. On holidays, the temple is always crowded with pilgrims to pray for health, peace and fortune. This religious festival is also a great opportunity to enjoy local and traditional music, dance or poetry competitions, all fueled by a festive atmosphere.

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Business hours

Pilgrims and tourists from all over the world can come to Phu Tay every day from 5:00 to 18:00 (5:00-9:00 on the 1st and 15th of every month). This temple is also one of the most popular destinations for Hanoians during the Lunar New Year. On these occasions, Phu Tay Ho is crowded with people to visit with offerings of incense and votive paper to pray for health, peace and fortune. For anyone who doesn’t have to pray, you can come here to relax and enjoy the beautiful lakeside scenery.

Useful information

  • Location: Phu Tay Ho, Hanoi

  • Best for: All Visitors

  • Entrance: N / A

  • Hours: 9:00am – 5:00pm

  • Distance to city center: 3.4km (2.1 mi)

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