Da Tho Temple

Visitors cannot help but be inquisitive and amazed while passing by the temple placed on a steep cliff, on the twisting road directly at the boundary between Huong Lung commune, Cam Khe district, and Yen Lap town, Yen Lap district. For a long time, the temple has served as a spiritual and worshiping center for residents of the surrounding region as well as visitors from all over the world.

Nobody knows the actual “age” of the temple; all they know is that it has been around for a long time. There has been a temple on the cliff edge for many generations of people living at the foot of Da Tho mountain. Locals sometimes refer to it as Co Nang Temple. Later, when the temple was managed by the local government, Yen Lap town immediately created the Temple Management Board and called it Da Tho Temple, after the Da Tho hill, where the temple is located.

The Vietnam Union of UNESCO Associations awarded the temple a certificate in 2014 for meeting the requirements of the Temple of the Mother Goddess of Three Palaces according to traditional Vietnamese cultural practices. Since then, the shrine has been connected with the mountain worship of the Mother Goddess.

Da Tho Temple is concealed among lush green woods, with its back resting against the mountain, surrounded by big connecting boulders, and in front of which is a running stream gurgling to make a lute-like sound. Looking out from the temple, you can sense the fresh, airy, tranquil atmosphere as well as the clean nature of the mountains and woods.

Tourists from far and wide know and return to appreciate the wild, rustic beauty and contain much spiritual culture the spirit of the temple, in addition to being a site of worship and spiritual activities for people in the region.

"Da Tho Temple currently has five people in charge of keeping books, looking after and keeping the incense lamps warm, and is open every day from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. for tourists to worship and perform ceremonies," said Ms. Phan Thi Luu, who has been taking care of the temple for more than 30 years. Each year, four main festivals will be conducted, attended by a great number of people and visitors from all over the country: the Spring Opening Ceremony, the Summer Opening Ceremony, the Summer Outing Ceremony, and the conclusion of the year."

Ms. Luu discussed the images she took during key temple celebrations.

According to locals, the temple was formerly only a shrine where people could worship the gods. Later, residents in the region dedicated their time and resources to rebuild and redesign it into the large temple that it is today. The temple’s construction features a distinctive feature of the dragon picture winding around the pillars. The main temple is home to three palaces: Co Nang Palace, Ba Princess Palace, and Cau Palace. The Thuong temple, Son Trang cave, and the statue of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva are located above the main temple.

“When we come to offer incense and worship at Da Tho Temple, everyone looks at the pictures of snakes taken by the temple whenever there is an event of snakes coming to the temple,” said Ms. Le Xuan Phuong, Cam Khe district. It’s logical that snakes live in deep mountains and streams, but they came at the right moment and went at the appropriate time, piqued the interest of many people."

The temple’s primary ceremonial area.

Through historical ups and downs, the temple’s presence demonstrates the people’s desire to maintain spiritual and cultural values, becoming an important spiritual destination for residents and visitors from all around.

Vy An