Bach Ma The holiest temple in Nghe An

Bach Ma (Bạch Mã) - The holiest temple in Nghe An

Bach Ma temple; which is located in Tan Ha (Tân Hà) hamlet, Vo Liet (Võ Liệt) commune, Thanh Chuong (Thanh Chương) district, Nghe An province; is believed to be of the holiest temples with Con (Cờn) temple, Qua (Quả) temple,

and Chieu Trung (Chiêu Trưng) temple (now belongs to Ha Tinh province).
This temple worships the General Phan Da (Phan Đà), a young talent who greatly contributed to the victory against Ming aggression in early years of the 15th century led by King Le Loi (Lê Lợi).

According to some records and orally-told stories, Phan Da is from Chi Linh hamlet, Vo Liet commune, used to be a talent since his early ages. In 1424, Lam Son (Lam Sơn) insurgent army led by Le Loi headed for Nghe An to set up their general headquarters, he asked for permission to join the army and was soon assigned to important function. In a battle, Phan Da had a spoil of a valuable white horse named "Thiên lý mã" (thousand-mile horse). Since then, to every battle, he used to rise this horse, in his white armour, to rule battles. His fame widely spread. People respectfully called him White-horse God. After his death, his spirit many times blessed and saved his people and country. As a result, a temple was set up to worship this general.

The temple consists of 5 palaces with three-door gates, fringe, and blocks for civil and military mandarins, lower (upper, middle) palaces, which are all in harmony to bring about solemnity and respect. Almost all wooden details are carved with metamorphosed fish into dragon; phoenixes holding in their mouth imperial edict, two dragons flanking a moon, etc. There store in this temple a lot of rare and valuable exhibits such as: golden house, silver house, copper tintinnabulum set (38 pieces), statue of phoenix trimmed with gold, etc. Annually, rituals and offerings are held on 9th and 10th in lunar February.

Tomb of Mrs. Hoang Thi Loan

Tomb of Mrs. Hoang Thi Loan

The tomb of Mrs Hoang Thi Loan, Uncle Ho’s mother, is about 14 kilometres from Vinh city, where Ho Chi Minh Square and Uncle Ho’s statue are located. The tomb is placed on Dong Tranh Mountain peak,

which belongs to the Dai Hue mountain range in Nam Dan district, Nghe An province.

The tomb was built in 1985, on the occasion of President Ho Chi Minh’s 95th birthday anniversary. Mrs Hoang Thi Loan was the second daughter of Mr Hoang Duong, Bachelor of Arts, a native to Hoang Tru village, Nam Lien commine, Nam Dan district. She married Nguyen Sinh Sac and gave birth to three children. In 1895 she and her family moved to the royal capital of Hue and made a living for the whole family while Mr Sac was busy preparing for an academic degree. She died of fatal disease in Hue in 1901. Also in that year, her husband achieved his scholar degree.

Mrs. Hoang Thi Loan (1868-1901) was the mother of many patriotic children, including Nguyen Sinh Cung, who later became President Ho Chi Minh. From the mount foot, visitors will have to climb nearly 300 stone steps leading to the tomb. Above it is a concrete roof stylised as the loom with which Mrs. Hoang Thi Loan used to weave cloth to earn a living and feed her children.

Cua Lo Beach