The Historical and Architectural-Artistic Site of Phu Dong Temple, also known as the Phu Dong Temple Historical Site or Giong Temple Historical Site, is located in Phu Dong Commune, Hanoi. This is the land associated with the legend of Saint Giong, one of the most prominent figures in Vietnamese history and folk beliefs.
With its outstanding historical, cultural, architectural, artistic, and festival values, the site was recognized by the Prime Minister as a Special National Relic in 2013.
The Land Associated with the Legend of Saint Giong
Phu Dong was part of the ancient Kinh Bac region, a land with a long history and rich cultural traditions. The area preserves numerous sites associated with the legend of the hero of Phu Dong Village, including Thuong Temple, Ha Temple, Ban Shrine, Co Vien, Dong Dam, Gia Ngu, Ha Ma Communal House, and other locations connected with the legends and rituals of the Giong Festival.
According to Vietnamese folk beliefs, Giong is also honored as Phu Dong Thien Vuong and Xung Thien Than Vuong, and is regarded as one of the Four Immortals of Vietnamese folk belief.
There are several versions of the legend of Saint Giong, but they all center on the image of a heroic figure who emerged in the early period of the nation’s formation and rose to fight foreign invaders. According to the legend, Giong was a three-year-old boy who could not yet speak. He suddenly grew into a mighty warrior, rode an iron horse, wielded an iron whip, defeated the enemy, and then ascended to heaven. Through generations, this figure has become a symbol of collective strength, resistance against foreign invasion, and the determination to protect the country.
The Phu Dong Temple heritage site currently consists of eight component sites, distributed across three villages in Phu Dong Commune, covering a total area of approximately 60,343.7 square meters.
Main Heritage Sites
Thuong Temple
Thuong Temple, also known as Phu Dong Thien Vuong Temple, is the central structure of the heritage site. The temple faces south, with its front overlooking the Duong River dike. The architectural complex includes a water pavilion, Ngo Mon Gate, square pavilion, front worship hall, central hall, rear sanctuary, eastern and western side halls, guard house, guest house, and various auxiliary structures.
The water pavilion stands in the pond in front of the temple. It has a square plan, two levels, and eight roofs covered with traditional curved-edge tiles. Its wooden frame follows the traditional chong ruong gia chieng structural system, with the roof supported by four rows of columns. The structure represents a characteristic form of traditional temple and communal-house architecture in the Red River Delta.
Ngo Mon Gate consists of three main entrances and two side entrances, giving it the appearance of a fortified gateway. The entrances have arched openings and traditional wooden doors with upper lattice sections and lower solid panels. Above the gate is a two-story structure with eight roofs, creating a prominent architectural feature at the entrance to the temple complex.
The square pavilion also features a two-story, eight-roof structure with a square plan and traditional curved-edge tiled roofs. The roof ridges and decorative bands are decorated with hoa chanh motifs and geometric patterns, while the eight roof corners feature upturned leaf-shaped ornaments. The roof structure is supported by four rows of columns.
The front worship hall consists of five bays and two side compartments, with enclosed gable walls and a two-tiered roof. The roof is supported by six wooden structural frames using traditional construction techniques, including thuong dinh, ha ke and thuong gia chieng, ha con, together with extended eave brackets.
The central hall has a similar scale, with five bays and two side compartments and a roof covered with traditional curved-edge tiles. Its wooden framework consists of six structural frames supported by six rows of columns, creating a transitional space before the rear sanctuary.
The rear sanctuary has a Cong-shaped plan, consisting of an outer sanctuary, connecting corridor, and rear sanctuary. On either side are the eastern and western side halls, each containing nine bays, with enclosed gable walls, traditional tiled roofs, and wooden structural frameworks.
The guest house has a rectangular plan and uses traditional wooden panel doors. The guard house has a U-shaped plan, consisting of a main chamber and two lateral wings. Together, these structures form a large architectural complex that clearly reflects the characteristics of traditional temple and communal-house architecture in northern Vietnam.
Ha Temple
Ha Temple, also known as Mother Temple, is located outside the Duong River dike and faces west. It is dedicated to the Mother of Saint Giong and is associated with legends about his mother.
The complex includes a ceremonial gate, eastern and western side halls, and a main architectural group arranged in a Tam-shaped layout with three structures: the front worship hall, central hall, and rear sanctuary.
The ceremonial gate has three arched entrances, with an eight-roof structure above the main entrance. The two side halls each consist of five bays and two side compartments, with traditional curved-edge tiled roofs and wooden structural frameworks.
The front worship hall and central hall each consist of five bays and two side compartments, with four roofs and curved, leaf-shaped roof corners. Decorative details such as dragon heads, roof-ridge motifs, and traditional tiled roofs contribute to the historic appearance of the complex. The rear sanctuary consists of five bays and two side compartments, with enclosed gable walls and a traditional wooden framework.
Ban Shrine
Ban Shrine is located approximately 200 meters from Thuong Temple, inside the Duong River dike. The site is associated with the legend of the mother of Saint Giong.
The monument consists of a ceremonial gate, eastern and western side halls, a courtyard, and the main structure arranged in a Dinh-shaped plan.
The ceremonial gate has two levels and four roofs in a tiered configuration, covered with traditional curved-edge tiles. The roof is decorated with sun motifs, hoa chanh patterns, and stylized dragon heads.
The front worship hall consists of seven bays, with enclosed gable walls shaped like an armchair and a roof covered with traditional curved-edge tiles. The roof ridge is decorated with hoa chanh motifs, with a decorative scroll panel featuring a ho phu mask at the center. The wooden framework consists of eight structural frames using traditional construction techniques.
Behind the front worship hall is a small shrine with one main bay and two side compartments, forming the Dinh-shaped plan. Although modest in scale, the structure contributes to the overall worship space and completes the network of monuments associated with the legend of Saint Giong.
Ha Ma Communal House
Ha Ma Communal House is located to the left of Thuong Temple and covers an area of approximately 200 square meters. Within the heritage system, this site is associated with the rituals and traditional performances of the Giong Festival.
Today, only the foundations remain, as the original structure was destroyed and has not yet been fully preserved.
Co Vien
Co Vien, also known as the vegetable or eggplant garden, is located on a riverside alluvial terrace approximately 500 meters from Ha Temple.
According to legend, this was where the mother of Giong went into the garden to pick vegetables and placed her foot into the footprint of a giant. She subsequently became pregnant and gave birth to Giong.
Today, Co Vien contains a small shrine with two levels and eight roofs, open on all four sides. Nearby is a distinctive stone with numerous raised and recessed areas, traditionally regarded as the footprint of a giant. A stele nearby bears the inscription “Dong Thien Vuong Thanh Mau Co Trach”.
Gia Ngu
Gia Ngu is located across the dike, approximately midway between Thuong Temple and Ha Temple. The structure was reconstructed in the early 20th century.
The entrance is marked by two pillar structures approximately 6 meters high, each topped with a nghe figure. The lantern panels are decorated with the Four Sacred Animals and the Four Seasons, while the pillars feature framed decorative elements and parallel couplets. Gia Ngu is one of the important locations within the ritual sequence of the Giong Festival.
Dong Dam Battlefield
Dong Dam Battlefield is a broad area in Phu Dong Village, approximately 3 kilometers from Thuong Temple. According to the traditional sequence of the Giong Festival, this is where the first battle between Giong and the Ân invaders is reenacted.
The site contributes to the recreation of traditional folk performances depicting Saint Giong’s battles, highlighting the close relationship between legend, religious belief, and festival traditions.
Soi Bia Battlefield
Soi Bia Battlefield is located in Phu Dong Village and represents the location of the second battle against the Ân invaders in the traditional sequence of the Giong Festival.
Together with Dong Dam and other sites, it forms a large cultural space where the local community continues to recreate the story of Saint Giong’s battle against the invaders through rituals and traditional performances.
Historical Objects and Antiquities
In addition to its architectural values, Phu Dong Temple preserves a rich collection of historical objects and antiquities in various forms and materials.
Among the most notable are 37 royal decrees, dating from the Later Le period through the Tay Son and Nguyen dynasties. The heritage site also contains stone steles, stone dragons, stone nghe figures, horizontal lacquered boards, parallel couplets, decorative wooden screens, royal thrones, palanquins, altars, worship statues, bat buu ritual objects, and numerous other religious artifacts.
These objects are valuable not only for their artistic qualities but also for what they reveal about the development of religious beliefs, cultural life, and the worldview of local communities throughout different historical periods.
The Phu Dong Giong Festival
While the monuments form the physical heritage of Phu Dong, the Giong Festival is the living heritage that gives the site much of its distinctive character.
The festival takes place over three days, from the 7th to the 9th day of the fourth lunar month, featuring a series of rituals and traditional performances reenacting the battle between Saint Giong and the Ân invaders.
The festival incorporates several layers of traditional beliefs, including elements associated with solar worship, fertility beliefs, and traditions connected with ironworking. Rituals, characters, ceremonial objects, and performance spaces are arranged according to a traditional sequence, creating a distinctive form of Vietnamese folk theatre.
One of the most remarkable features of the Giong Festival is its reenactment of the story of Saint Giong’s battles through ritual performance. The battles, military formations, horses, flags, and ceremonial acts do more than retell a legendary story. They also express how the community preserves collective memories of the early struggle to establish and defend the nation.
Recognizing its outstanding cultural values, the Giong Festival at Phu Dong Temple was inscribed by UNESCO on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, affirming the festival’s significance within Vietnamese cultural life.
The Value of Phu Dong Temple
Phu Dong Temple is a heritage complex that brings together historical values, architectural and artistic heritage, folk beliefs, historical objects, and traditional festivals. Thuong Temple, Ha Temple, Ban Shrine, Co Vien, Gia Ngu, Dong Dam, and Soi Bia together form a cultural landscape closely associated with the legend of Saint Giong.
Through generations, the figure of Phu Dong Thien Vuong has become a symbol of resistance against foreign invasion and the strength of the community. Meanwhile, the architectural structures and historical objects preserved at the site retain tangible traces of traditional religious life and artistic expression in the Red River Delta.
Today, Phu Dong Temple is an important destination for exploring the history, culture, and folk beliefs of Hanoi. During the Giong Festival in particular, the site becomes a vibrant community cultural space where the legend of the hero of Phu Dong Village continues to be transmitted through rituals and traditional performances.
With these outstanding values, the Historical and Architectural-Artistic Site of Phu Dong Temple was recognized by the Prime Minister as a Special National Relic in 2013, making it one of the important heritage sites of Hanoi and the former Kinh Bac cultural region.
