The 700-year-old temple worships the general of the Tran Dynasty
The national historical site of Lac Temple is located about 30 km west of Hai Phong city center, on the gentle Luoc River, in the area of village 7, Vinh Thuan commune. The temple worships General Luong Toan - who had great contributions to the resistance war against the Chinese - Mongolian army in the 13th century.
According to the festival, Luong Toan was born in the year of Binh Ngo in Dau Xuyen village, Tu Ky district, Ha Hong prefecture (ie the old Giang Bien commune, now Vinh Thuan commune). He is famous for his intelligence, martial arts prowess, and once worked with King Tran to fight against the Nguyen army.
With great respect and contributions, he was appointed Commander of the slight Commander of the Imperial Guard and Foreign Minister of the Military Service. When the victory returned to his hometown, he and the generals were sunk by big waves right at the river wharf of his hometown. The villagers felt sorry and built a temple to worship him, while King Tran issued a decree "Tran Trieu Thong Tu Dai Nguyen Trai".
After more than 700 years and many restorations, Lac Temple still retains its ancient and majestic appearance. The project has a Dinh-shaped layout, brick and tile roof walls, and plain green stone porchwork. The moss-covered tiles and stone pebbles have worn away human feet, evoking the feeling of time flowing quietly over centuries.
In the back of the palace, many elaborate carvings from the 17th century are still quite intact: the regionally curved dragon, the rolling clouds and fire, the soft leaves and flowers... All create a sacred space, reflecting the talent of ancient artisans. Many ancient artifacts preserved here such as worship statues, dragon thrones, stone steles, royal decrees, rolls, and stone shrines carved with "double dragon and moon charms" ... further affirm the long-standing value of the relic.
In particular, in the years 1995-54, people discovered 20 Tum Tumors behind the palace, which were said to be the resting place of generals under Luong Toan. This discovery further increases the sacredness and historical value of Lac Temple. In 1993, Lac Temple was ranked as a National Historical and Cultural Relic.
"Witness" history for the development of the homeland
With its historical, architectural and cultural values, Lac Temple is the venue for two major local festivals. In addition to the Lac Temple Festival held on the 12th day of the 8th lunar month every year, this year, Vinh Thuan Commune organizes the Vinh Thuan Ruoi Festival for the first time with the theme of the Quintessence between the two rivers.
The festival is not only an opportunity to honor the traditional profession of the locality but also to build and promote the brand "Rog Vinh Thuan", aiming to become a typical specialty of Hai Phong city.
The highlight of the Vinh Thuan Ruoi Festival 2025 is the space for community cultural and tourism experiences, where visitors can explore the countryside along the river, participate in fighting ruoi, enjoy local cuisine, listen to folk songs, watch traditional art performances. In particular, within the framework of the festival, there is also a culinary competition and an expanded Flag General contest, creating a vibrant atmosphere, connecting the community and attracting tourists from all over the world.
A representative of Vinh Thuan Commune People's Committee said that the locality hopes to make the War Incense Festival an annual cultural product to attract tourists and promote the image of Vinh Thuan - the land of two rivers.
The commune's orientation is to develop a model of experiencing the ruoi season tourism, associated with visiting Mieu Lac, enjoying cuisine, and learning about the brackish water ecosystem. Thereby, arousing pride in the historical and cultural heritage of the homeland, encouraging people to preserve traditional crafts associated with clean production and developing community tourism.
