Located at 76 Hang Buom street (Hoan Kiem ward), Bach Ma Temple is currently one of the oldest relics of Hanoi's Old Quarter. Over a millennium, this place is not only a place of worship but also a testament associated with the early formation of Thang Long capital.
The temple worships the god Long Do, also known as Bach Ma Dai Vuong - the god guarding the East in the Thang Long Tu Tran system. Legend has it that when King Ly Thai To moved the capital, the construction of the citadel encountered many obstacles.
After setting up a prayer altar, the god appeared in the image of a white horse, running around the land and leaving footprints guiding the land. Thanks to that, Thang Long citadel was built firmly. From that story, the white horse became a symbol of guiding and protecting the capital.
The temple space bears a strong imprint of traditional architecture with the main axis including nghi mon, phuong dinh, tien te, trung te and hau cung. Although it has been repaired many times, the overall style still retains the typical artistic style of the 19th century.
The most sacred area is the altar of the god Long Do, where the altar, ancestral tablets and exquisite lacquered and gold-plated offerings are arranged. Inside the forbidden palace, the altar is covered with brocade curtains, and on both sides are placed pedestals and palanquin palanquins. The elaborately carved bat cong palanquin with a dragon image is an important item in major rituals.
Every year, the temple organizes festivals on the 12th and 13th days of the second lunar month, along with a 5-year periodic grand festival with the solemn Xuan Nguu ritual. This is not only an occasion to practice beliefs but also contributes to preserving traditional cultural values.
In 1994, Bach Ma Temple was ranked as a National historical and cultural relic - architectural and artistic relic. In 2022, the temple continued to be awarded the Certificate of Special National Relic belonging to the Thang Long Tu Tran system. Affirming the sustainable value of a spiritual symbol in the heart of Hanoi.
