The Legend of Vo Vua in Muong Thang Commune

Nestled within the deep green forests of Muong Thang commune, the Vo Vua relic (the King’s Well) has long become a sacred landmark, closely tied to the legend of Me Da Hoang Pa—the second wife of the Tan Vien Son Thanh Deity (The Saint of Tan Vien Mountain)—and her young child during their journey down to the earthly realm. Passed down through many generations, the story is not only colored by mythology but also reflects the distinctive cultural and spiritual life of the local Muong ethnic people.

The vestiges of Vo Vua on Vo Vua Hill, Khanh hamlet, Muong Thang commune, are preserved by the local people as a part of their precious spiritual heritage.

According to legend, Saint Tan ordered the mother and child to disguise themselves as poor civilians to travel everywhere to survey the people’s conditions, test human hearts, and help those in wretched circumstances. After leaving the land of Thien Quan Lac Kho, the Lady led her child away, walking on and on until they reached Muong Dai (now Muong Thang commune). The mother and child sought out the house of Au Loc (nowadays called a shaman). He was conducting the Ten ritual of July, and because of poverty, the Ten offerings only consisted of steamed non-glutinous rice, uoi cake (traditional Muong cake), papaya leaves, te teng vegetables, sweet potatoes, and eggplants... Once Au Loc finished the rituals, seeing that the mother and child were hungry and thirsty, he immediately brought out all the rice and food in his house to invite them to eat.

Moved by the rustic honesty of the Muong Dai people, to show her gratitude, Me Da Hoang Pa revealed her identity and advised: From now on, she would watch over them from above, blessing the villagers with favorable weather and bountiful harvests. She also passed down many special customs to the people, such as the method of fencing with bamboo in the “one facing down, one facing up” style (one section with its inner side facing inward, followed by the next section with its inner side facing outward, and so on sequentially until fencing is completed). She further instructed that the Teng Trung Ten (anti-coincidence/anti-misfortune) ritual of the Muong Dai people was different from that of the Thien Quan Lac Kho land; the worship offerings only needed rustic items deeply imbued with the Muong identity such as: steamed non-glutinous rice, the hoof and tail of a buffalo, pig, chicken, dog, or duck, bánh uôi, papaya leaves, te teng vegetables, sweet potatoes, and eggplants... then the remedy would work.

After instructing Au Loc, the mother and child said goodbye to the host and continued walking to the foot of Thai Bai Hill (Vo Vua today). Arriving there, the child was thirsty for water. The Lady thought to herself, in the middle of this sacred yet toxic jungle, where could she find water for her child to drink? She searched for a long time but could not find a single water source. She drew her sword, plunged it into the ground, and said, "If you are still worthy of being the Son of Heaven, give my child a path to live." As soon as she finished speaking, when the sword was pulled up, a crystal-clear water vein suddenly spouted from the earth. The child drank the water and then rested on the hilltop. Legend has it that the footprint of the Crown Prince when stepping across a nearby boulder remains imprinted to this day, and on that patch of land, grass and trees can hardly grow green.

From then on, the Muong Dai people called that sacred water vein “Vo Vua” or the King’s Well, while the surrounding hill area bore the name Vo Vua Hill. Vo Vua Hill is a pristine ecological and spiritual complex, outstanding for its steppe terrain spreading across 200 hectares, situated at an altitude of 1,000 meters above sea level. The air is cool all year round, and the temperate climate is likened to a miniature steppe. Surrounding it is a natural forest ecosystem, grassy hills, and terraced fields rich in the cultural identity of the Muong ethnic group. To commemorate the mother and child, every year on the 28th day of the 12th lunar month, local residents still perform a ritual offering of chicken sticky rice and drain the well as an act of gratitude, praying for the peace of the village, favorable weather, and a prosperous life.

Not only containing the vestiges of Vo Vua, this area also passes down many stories about Me Da’s journey. Locals narrate that she once led her child through many streams and mountainsides to find a place to live and reclaim land. The image of the diligent mother, rich in sacrifice, has become a beautiful symbol in the spiritual life of the Muong community. Despite undergoing many changes over time, the legend of Me Da Hoang Pa is still preserved by the people as a part of the precious cultural heritage of their homeland.

Terraced fields at the foot of Vo Vua Hill are a unique cultural highlight of the Muong Thang people.

Mr. Bui Van Lien, Vice Chairman of the Muong Thang Commune People’s Committee, stated: “Muong Thang is one of the four most famous ancient Muong regions. Since the time of our grandparents and parents, we have been told about Me Da Hoang Pa and the vestige of Vo Vua. This is not just a legend but also the pride of the Muong Thang people. Every landmark, every mountain around here is associated with sacred stories preserved for generations.”

For the Muong Thang people, Vo Vua is not merely a vestige on stone but also a symbol of husband-and-wife devotion, father-and-child love, and the aspiration for a peaceful, happy life. That legend has contributed to enriching the folklore treasure of the Muong region on the journey of developing cultural and spiritual tourism.

Dinh Thang