Ha Nam Province
Ha Nam province is located in the southwest of the Red River delta - the key economic region of the North, and also the southern gateway of Ha Noi capital. Ha Nam province covers a mass area of about 852.2 km², a population of more than 900,000 people with Phu Ly City being the political, economic and cultural center of the province out of 6 districts, cities and town. History and nature have endowed Ha Nam with rich tourism resource, densely distributed with cultural historical relics, great architecture designed as well as perfectly charming landscapes.
Ha Nam is home to many traditional craft villages (Do Hai fine art horn, Doi Tam drum, Nha Xa silk weaving, Ngoc Dong rattan,…e.t.c), a variety of famous big festivals (Tich Dien festival, Saint Tran Food Distribution Ceremony,..e.t.c.). Ha Nam province is also the cradle of the traditional arts, especially cheo singing, Quyen Son dancing and singing, Folk loving songs in the Mong river confluence,…e.t.c. Notably, Ha Nam has well studious tradition, where Tam Nguyen Yen Do Nguyen Khuyen and realist writer Nam Cao was born.
Traditional Craft Villages
Traditional Cuisine - Specialities
Phu Ly City
Phu Ly- the convergence of three big rivers: Day River, Chau River, Nhue River, is regarded as the political, economic and cultural center of the province. Because Phu Ly city lied on the North-South road and railway running through, it is extremely convenient in terms of traffic and inter-trade. Accommodation, entertainment and dining services are all concentrated in Phu Ly city with Vincom shopping center, Melia Vinpearl Phu Ly hotel, Muong Thanh Luxury Ha Nam hotel, Tan Thuy Place restaurant, Ngoc Son Place, Nguyen Khuyen park, and Nam Cao flower garde,...e.t.c. With the project of Viet Duc Hospital and Bach Mai Campus 2 are ready to be completed and put into use, in the near future, Phu Ly city will become a high-class healthcare centre of the region.
Lanh Giang Temple
Lanh Giang Temple is located in Yen Lac hamlet, Moc Nam commune, Duy Tien town. This temple resides in a 3000m2 campus of greenery, overlooking the gorgeous Nhi Ha river (Red river). The sacred temple has a long history, worshiping the Three Water Gods of the 18th Hung King Dynasty (Hung Due Vuong) along with Princess Tien Dung - the daughter of King Hung and Chu Dong Tu - one of the four immortal gods of Viet Nam. Lanh Giang Temple is also known as one of the three main Mother Goddess worshiping centers of Ha Nam province, which preserves and promotes the Chau Van Ritual - a form of cultural expression and belief. Chau Van Ritual have been recognized by UNESCO as the Representative Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Lanh Giang Temple Festival is held in 2 periods: from the 18th to the 25th of the sixth lunar month and the 25th of the eighth lunar month. It has been included in the List of National Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2017. Lanh Giang Temple was recognized as a national historical and cultural relic in 1996 and acknowledged as a tourist attraction in 2017.
Other Notable Scenic Attractions In Ha Nam Province
Tam Chuc Tourism Area
Tam Chuc National tourist attraction is located in Ba Sao town and Kha Phong commune, Kim Bang district, about 60km away from Hanoi. With a contiguous, ideal position among three provinces of Hanoi, Hoa Binh and Ha Nam, Tam Chuc National tourism area make strong connection with other major tourist sites such as the complex of scenic Huong Pagoda (Ha Noi), Tien Pagoda (Ha Noi), the scenic complex of Trang An - Bai Dinh Pagoda (Ninh Binh)... creating one of the largest spiritual tourist routes in the North.
Being listed as the growing potential sites for Vietnam tourism development, Tam Chuc Tourism Area is included and approved by the Prime Minister for its comprehensive master plan covering a core area of 4,000 hectares. It consists of several main functional zones: the Reception Center Zone, the Spiritual and Cultural Zone, the Quyen Vong Nature Reserve and Tam Chuc Lake Zone, the Health Care and Community Tourism Resort Zone, the Kim Bang Golf Course and Ba Hang Lake Zone, and the Tourism Support Services Center Zone.
Doi Son Pagoda
Doi Son Pagoda is located on the top of Doi mountain, Doi Tam village, Tien Son commune, Duy Tien town. In 1054 -1058, the pagoda was built by King Ly Thanh Tong and Nguyen Phi Y Lan. King Ly Nhan Tong then continued to complete the construction and Sung Thien Dien Linh stele. Being a renowned scenic spot and the Buddhist center in the old town of Son Nam, Doi Son Pagoda in the Ly dynasty was proudly considered “Đại danh lam đại hành cung”. Currently, the pagoda still preserves many precious cultural relics imbued with national identity such as: Thien Dien Linh Sung stele (recognized as The National PreAntiques in 2013), bronze Maitreya statue, Kinari bird head statue, 6 Diamond statue,…
Doi Son Pagoda was also ranked as special national cultural heritages in 2017 and acknowledged as a great tourist attraction in 2022.
Tran Thuong Temple
Tran Thuong temple is located in Tran Thuong village, Tran Hung Dao commune, Ly Nhan district. The temple was constructed in the Later Le Dynasty, right on the former commissary of Tran Dynasty that served the second war against the Nguyen - Mong army. The temple worships the national hero Tran Hung Dao, his family and his generals. It is repeatedly said “He lived in Kiep Bac, died in Tran Thuong and Bao Loc was his hometown”. Tran Thuong temple can be considered as one of the three main places of worshiping Hung Dao Dai Vuong Tran Quoc Tuan. Being built in the shape of the “Quoc” character so that the temple looks square on the land bearing a great resemblance to “hình nhân bái tướng”(a person bowing to the general).
Tran Thuong Temple was ranked as a special National Monument in 2015 and recognized as a tourist attraction in 2017.
Dia Tang Phi Lai Pagoda
Phi Lai Dia Tang Pagoda is located in Ninh Trung village, Liem Son commune, Thanh Liem district. People living in the region said that the ancient temple (Dung pagoda) was built around the 10th century with 120 compartments. The renovation was started in 2015 and the name of “Dia Tang Phi Lai” was newly made at that time. With a carefully-selected location based on the position of the Four Statues, the pagoda is surrounded by a range of bowshaped mountains, green pine forests and murmuring streams. All have created a charming painting that brings peace and tranquility to visitors.
Dia Tang Phi Lai Pagoda is recognized as a tourist attraction in 2022.
Ba Danh Pagoda - Ngoc Mountain
Ba Danh pagoda or Bao Son Tu, is located on the left bank of the Day river in Danh Xa village, Ngoc Son commune, Kim Bang district. The temple is closely attached to the Vietnamese idiom “As empty as Ba Danh pagoda”, indicating the peace and tranquil space on the border of Day River with a hundred years of history. Ba Danh Pagoda worships Buddha and the Wind God. With the exquisite, unique and delicate carvings carrying the typical features of traditional architecture, Ba Danh pagoda is considered one of the most beautiful old temples in Ha Nam.
In 2009, Ba Danh Pagoda - Ngoc Mountain was recognized as a tourist attraction.
Truc Temple - Ngu Dong Son Cave
Truc Temple - Ngu Dong Son is located in Quyen Son village, Thi Son commune, Kim Bang district. Truc Temple lies at the root of Cam mountain, worshiping the talented general Ly Thuong Kiet - who have made extremely noteworthy contribution to the success of Ly Dynasty. According to local data sources, when Ly Thuong Kiet brought his army to conquer Champa in 1069, he stopped at the root of Cam mountain. Retured from the such glorious victory, he invited all the villagers to the victory celebration. On this occasion, the general and his soldiers taught the residents the dance of Dam, helped them taking care of the fields, growing mulberries, raising silkworms and weaving cloth. To commemorate the person with meritorious contribution to the country, Quyen Son people decided to build a temple to worship Ly Thuong Kiet right where he used to celebrate the victory.
Ngu Dong Son scenic spot consist of 5 different caves, which then closely connected to form a continuous cave range with more than 100m long. In here, tourists can discover countless glowing stalactites and unique, nice picture on the rock wall created by the Mother Nature.
Truc Temple - Ngu Dong Son was recognized as a tourist attraction in 2009.
Lat Son Base
The historical relic of the Lat Son in Hong Son village, Thanh Son commune, Kim Bang district marked the imprint of General Le Chan under the reign of Hai Ba Trung. Giat Dau Mountain is the highest mountain in the Lat Son region, where on July 13, 43, being unable to defeat the Han invaders, the female general decided to put an end to her life by jumping from the top of the mountain to the valley. To commemorate her, people in the area built the pagoda and the temple. Temple of the general Le Chan today was rebuilt on the old temple.
Currently, the historical site of Lat Son is always protected, preserved and promoted by local authorities and people, creating a spiritual tourist destination that attracts thousands of visitors. In 2023, the historical relic of the Lat Son Base was recognized as a national relic.
Bat Canh Son
Bat Canh Son scenic complex, Tuong Linh commune, Kim Bang district, located at Huong Son gateway is considered as “small landscape” of Son Nam town. In the past, Bat Canh Son consisted of 8 pagodas and a shrine to worship the local gods, arranged and built according to the theory of the eight-sign and five elements. Today, although some landscapes have been destroyed due to war, every year Bat Canh Son still attracts a large number of tourists to visit.
In 2023, the scenic Bat Canh Son is ranked as a national monument.
Lang Temple
Lang Temple, also known as Ninh Thai Temple (Ninh Thai Linh Tu), is located in Liem Can Commune, Thanh Liem District. The temple worships King Dinh, King Le and the Three Great Kings. The architecture at the Lang Temple are imbued with delicate folklore and so many others rare, precious cultural products of the Late Le period. People creating this site as a way to appreciate all of the important services that the two kings have made to the country. In addition to Lang Temple, on the old land of Bao Thai and Liem Can, there is now the tomb of Le Loc (the grandfather of King Le Hoan), built in a majestic way.
Lang Temple is recognized as a tourist attraction in 2022.
Historical Cultural Relic of Temple of Ha Nam's Heroic Martyrs and Temple of 10 Martyr Heroic Militias of Lam Ha
The relic site located in the Dinh Trang residential area, Lam Ha ward, Phu Ly city. This relic was built by the People’s Committee of Ha Nam province in 2019 to commemorate the heroic martyrs who sacrificed to defend the Fatherland during the two wars, especially 10 female martyrs of Lam Ha militia who died in the war against the US. The temple located on the 37mm anti-aircraft artillery battleground where 10 female Lam Ha air defense militia fought and heroically sacrificed.
This is a typical cultural work with deep historical and spiritual significance, attracting a large number of tourists from all over the world to visit. The relic area was recognized as a national historical and cultural relic in 2016 and recognized as a tourist attraction in 2022.
The Worship Hall of Nguyen Khuyen Poet
The worship hall of Nguyen Khuyen poet in Vi Ha village, Trung Luong commune (former Yen Do commune), Binh Luc district. The worship hall area looks like coming out from a stunning picture, filling with autumn pond, bamboo lanes and “Bùi garden”. This place is used to worshipping Nguyen Khuyen and keep all of the crucial remembrance and his works.
The worship hall of Nguyen Khuyen poet was recognized as a national historical relic in 1991, as a tourist attraction in 2022
Memorial Site of Nam Cao
Nam Cao is one of the most typical Vietnamese writers of the twentieth century. Notably, many characters in his works have become typical figures in Vietnamese literature. The Nam Cao monument site was built on his hometown from 2001 to 2004. This is a place that display and keep important documents, artifacts as well as works associated with the career of the great writer. Visiting here, visitors can also contemplate the prototype house of the character Ba Kien (in “Chi Pheo” by Nam Cao).
Nam Cao writer’s monument site is recognized as a tourist destination in 2022 and ranked as a national monument in 2023.
The Historical site where President Ho Chi Minh talking to encourage Ha Nam people to combat drought
The historical site is where President Ho Chi Minh talking to encourage Ha Nam people to combat drought in Cao Cat village, Binh My town, Binh Luc district. In order to remember his gratitude and mark the event he visited Ha Nam in 1958, the historical site was constructed right in the place Uncle Ho have sit through. The historical site was recognized as a National Cultural Heritage in 2017 and acknowledged as a tourist destination in 2022.
Vinh Tru Communal House
Vinh Tru communal house relic is located in Nguyen Khuyen residential area, Vinh Tru town, Ly Nhan district, worshiping the two great gods Duc Dong Bang Dai Vuong and Duc Minh Cat Dai Vuong. The two men had merits in teaching the king, supporting him to protect the country. The communal house was built in the style of the Later Le dynasty. Vinh Tru Dinh Festival is held on the full moon day of January (Nguyen Tieu New Year) to look back on the traditions and merits of Duc Dong Bang Dai Vuong and Duc Minh Cat Dai Vuong.
With architectural and historical values, Vinh Tru communal house was recognized as a national historical and cultural relic in 1993 and recognized as a tourist attraction in 2022.
