Unique religious work, only in Hai Phong
According to the History of the Hai Phong City Party Committee, the Dan Thien relic, also known as Phuong Luu Temple, is a traditional folk belief work of Phuong Luu villagers, now Phuong Luu area, Dong Hai ward, Hai Phong, about 6.5 km southeast of the city center.
The relic was built by villagers before the year Bao Dai Nguyen Nien (1926). Dan Thien is a quite special type of relic in the system of historical and cultural relics in Hai Phong today.
According to researcher Ngo Dang Loi (former Chairman of the Hai Phong Historical Science Association), Thien Dan has long existed in our country through the ceremony of praying to Saints and spirits to pray for peace, relieve difficulties, and ask for medicine... This type only developed strongly after the French colonialists established the domination in Vietnam.
Dan Thien or Phuong Luu Temple is a temple for people to pray, do good deeds, avoid evil, save the poor, treat diseases and save people. In addition to worshiping Tran Hung Dao, Dan Thien Phuong Luu also coordinates to worship the Jade Emperor, the Three Saints Buddha, and the Three Mothers.
According to geography documents and through research and assessment, Dan Thien also has the word name "Khuyen Thien Du Dan" meaning "A place to make a Den to advise people to do good deeds". Dan Thien in the past also had a very unique folk belief activity, which is that the Holy Cross writes and issues prescriptions to treat diseases and save people. Legend has it that people in Phuong Luu area and neighboring areas often come to ask for prescriptions to treat diseases; many diseases have been cured. Currently, the relic still preserves a medicine book dating back over 300 years and a set of prescription cards.
Peaceful place in the heart of the city
Dan Thien was built from the Tran Dynasty, restored and embellished in the 20th century. This is a majestic folk art architectural work, harmoniously and reasonably combining traditional materials with modern technology. The building is facing South, airy in the bustling Phuong Luu street. Opening is the majestic Tam Quan gate, which was newly inaugurated at the end of November 2025. Passing through the Bat Trang-style brick courtyard is the steps of the pagoda building up to 9 m high; including 5 Nhat-shaped compartments. On both sides are two dance halls, each building consisting of 5 small compartments standing parallel.
The main palace of Dan Thien places an idol to worship the Jade Emperor Thuong De, the supreme ruler of heaven, judging justice in the mortal world. On both sides are statues of Nam Tao holding a birth certificate to record good deeds, and Bac Dau holding a death certificate to record evil deeds to remind and advise everyone to live uprightly, honestly, and do good deeds so as not to be punished.
Next is the altar of Thich Ca Mau Ni Buddha, a newborn standing on a lotus flower pedestal, a statue of Duc Thanh Hung Dao Vuong Tran Quoc Tuan - who 3 times defeated the Mongol Yuan invaders on the Bach Dang River in the 13th century; the altar of Saint Mau was conferred by the people and feudal dynasties as Mau nghi thien ha. In front of Dan Thien is a lake where the spiritual energy of heaven and earth converges, regulating yin and yang; in the middle of the lake is a statue of Buddha Quan The Am Bodhisattva committing compassion and grace, saving sentient beings.
Currently, Dan Thien still preserves some worship items of historical and artistic value such as: Kham, statues of the Jade Emperor, Nam Tao Bac Dau, statues of Duc Thanh Tran Hung Dao; a set of Mother Goddess statues and some precious worship items such as palanquins, bowls, altars, parallel sentences, dragon kham, incense burners, incense sticks...
With historical and cultural value, Dan Thien Phuong Luu was recognized as a city-level historical and cultural relic in 2009. Dan Thien, along with many relics in Dong Hai ward such as Phu Xa Temple, Phu Thuong Doan, Phuong Luu communal house, Phuong Luu temple, Ve Pagoda, forms a relic complex attracting a large number of people and tourists from all over the country every holiday and Tet.
