Cam Temple was built in the 19th century in Cam Forest, Lao Cai Ward (Lao Cai City). The temple is a place of worship and tribute to the soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the war to protect the country of the Tran Dynasty army in the 13th century.
In particular, the temple also worships Lady Cam - who is honored by local people as a goddess who cures the poor.
The temple was built in an ancient T-shaped architecture, with a two-story roof curved like a boat. In 2001, the temple was recognized as a National Historical and Cultural Relic by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
The last time the temple was renovated was in 2005, nearly 20 years ago. Currently, the Cam temple has deteriorated, the wooden panels have rotted, the damaged roof must be covered with a tarpaulin to prevent water leakage.
In addition, the brick floor and steps are also cracked and peeling after many years. Long wooden poles are used to prevent falling, not a pre-designed structure.
This degradation not only affects the activities at the temple, but also affects the landscape and environment of the relic and especially the safety of people and visitors coming to worship.
On December 3, at the national relic of Cam Temple, according to the reporter of Lao Dong Newspaper, from the entrance gate, one could see broken pieces of concrete steps. Inside the house, the large wooden pillar was cracked, the brick floor was visibly swollen.
When looking outside the main temple, locals and visitors can see long wooden beams leaning against large pillars.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Lua (Lao Cai City) shared: “This historical relic has existed for a long time. After a long period of operation, exposed to the sun and rain, the relic's items have seriously degraded. Local people really hope that the temple will be restored soon, especially after the impact of storm No. 3."
According to information from Lao Cai City People's Committee, the investment in construction, renovation and embellishment of the national relic of Cam Temple aims to meet the religious needs of people and tourists from all over.
The restoration project is invested by the Lao Cai City Monument Management Board and will be implemented in the period 2023-2026. The total investment capital is more than 37.6 billion VND.
Talking to Lao Dong Newspaper, Head of Lao Cai City Monuments Management Board Ngo Ngoc Ha said: "We are preparing documents to ask for opinions from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Department of Cultural Heritage. Because this is a national historical relic, the restoration must be done in order. Along with that, the selection of consulting and construction units must have guaranteed capacity. It is expected to start implementation around mid-2025."
Photos recorded by PV at Cam Temple:
