Lady of Five Elements Temple - Discovering a Notable Landmark in Long An

Lady of Five Elements Temple - Discovering a Notable Landmark in Long An

Anyone who arrives at the Ngu Hanh Lady Temple located in Long An will all “bow respectfully” before the sacred and solemn atmosphere that this place brings. This interesting destination is covered by unique religious cultural features, clearly expressed through the architecture of the structures inside, resonating with spiritual echoes through the scent of incense. To uncover all the mysteries surrounding the lady temple, why not follow NVK travel in the following article.

General information to know about the Ngu Hanh Lady Temple

The Ngu Hanh Lady Temple impresses visitors with its unique cultural and spiritual values inside. Below is all the information related to this famous landmark.

Geographical location

The Ngu Hanh Lady Temple is one of the interesting destinations located by the Rach Tram River, at Long Thuong Market, Kim Dinh Hamlet, Can Giuoc District, Long An Province (After merging, it was renamed Tay Ninh Province). This place is considered an ancient spiritual relic that carries profound local cultural values. The purpose of building the temple is to honor the Ngu Hanh Nuong Nuong, a goddess in the folklore of the Southern region, who has the ability to help with favorable weather conditions - ensuring peace for the nation and its people.

The temple will open from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, throughout all 7 days of the week. There is no fee charged to visitors; donations are voluntary, and people can contribute as much as they wish. With profound spiritual and cultural values, the lady temple was recognized by the Long An Provincial People's Committee as a provincial historical relic on February 22, 1997. At the same time, it was also recognized as an intangible cultural heritage by the Ministry of Culture in December 2014.

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The entrance to Ba Ngu Hanh temple at the present time

The entrance to the Ngu Hanh Lady Temple at the present time

The structure of the lady temple

Looking at the large scale of the Ngu Hanh Lady Temple today, few know that it used to be just a small, dilapidated temple. Over the days and months, the temple has been renovated due to continuous degradation, but it hasn’t improved much. However, later on, when local people and visitors contributed to its construction, the temple was upgraded with tile roofing and wooden walls to make the interior more spacious.

The current area of the lady temple is 520 square meters, with the facade facing Long Thuong Market. The roof is covered with glazed tiles, and the system has been upgraded to concrete columns after renovation. The design style of the temple follows the direction of Southern village houses, consisting of two square houses connected, with a high altar placed in the middle of the main hall.

Although there have been some changes due to multiple renovations, the four-column architecture and the exquisite carving art of the lady temple remain intact. Especially, this place still preserves many precious documents, directly serving scientific research.

The architecture of Ba temple impresses visitors

The architecture of the lady temple impresses visitors

The time of the Ngu Hanh Lady Temple festival

This festival is held annually in the first lunar month on the days of 18, 19, 20, and 21. The main activities surrounding the festival include folk performances, prayers for peace, ceremonial music, inviting the goddess, lion dances, flower offerings, and singing Dia nang. According to statistics, the Ngu Hanh Lady Temple festival attracts tens of thousands of visitors, including both local and distant guests.

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The Ba Ngu Hanh festival attracts tens of thousands of tourists

The Ngu Hanh Lady Temple festival attracts tens of thousands of tourists

Some other highlights when visiting the Ngu Hanh Lady Temple during the festival

One point that impresses visitors when visiting the Ngu Hanh Lady Temple in general and the festival of the same name in particular is the communal meal. Local people around refer to this ritual as “eating to receive the goddess's blessings,” which, while simple, carries a strong sense of community.

Another special activity besides the usual offerings and prayers is the shadow puppet dance. This is a unique form of folk art of the Southern people, reflecting the cultural beauty of the region, echoing the memories of a glorious past.

This activity consists of two parts, which are shadow puppetry and singing, simply understood as performance and singing. Through these, the performers express a beautiful tradition of the Vietnamese people, which is “drinking water to remember its source,” honoring the deceased, ancestors, and deities.

The shadow puppet dance is usually prepared meticulously and rehearsed many times, thus attracting the attention of a large number of people visiting the temple. This interesting form is said to have existed since the time of “land reclamation,” marking the footsteps of the ancestors when they moved south 300 years ago.

The temple attracts visitors with the activity of shadow puppetry

The lady temple attracts visitors with the shadow puppet singing activity

What interesting things to explore at the Ngu Hanh Lady Temple?

Don’t think that when you come to the Ngu Hanh Lady Temple, you can only offer prayers. Moreover, visitors can also engage in the following interesting experiences.

Learn about history and beliefs

Learning about the history and beliefs of the Ngu Hanh Lady Temple is something that anyone visiting here will be interested in. You can gain a clearer understanding through the stories of local people or tour guides if you hire a tour package from NVK travel.

The temple is a valuable spiritual and religious destination

The lady temple is a valuable spiritual and cultural destination

Participate in rituals

Exploring the Ngu Hanh Lady Temple, visitors can also immerse themselves in the bustling crowds during the major festivals here. The ritual offerings to honor the goddess Ngu Hanh take place regularly every day. Combined with other ceremonies such as singing van and lion/dragon dances rich in artistic value, visitors are guaranteed to have an unforgettable experience.

Rituals for worshiping luck are held regularly

Rituals for luck are held regularly

Stroll to admire the architecture of the lady temple

Admiring the architectural beauty of the Ngu Hanh Lady Temple while strolling is also a “spiritual dish” you should savor when coming here. From the intricate carvings around to the small structures built inside the temple, all carry profound spiritual and cultural values, touching the hearts of any visitor.

Admire the architecture outside the temple while strolling

Admire the exterior architecture of the temple while strolling

Visit surrounding landmarks

To make your trip to the Ngu Hanh Lady Temple more complete, visitors can combine visiting some surrounding landmarks. Just wandering through the cool gardens, admiring the tall ancient trees gently stretching here, you can already feel the difference.

Combine visiting nearby landmarks to optimize the experience

Combine visiting surrounding landmarks to optimize the experience

Some notes to keep in mind when visiting the Ngu Hanh Lady Temple

However, before coming to the Ngu Hanh Lady Temple, visitors need to pay special attention to some notes below. By following these recommendations, your experience will surely be ensured at the highest level.

Appropriate clothing to wear when visiting the temple

One of the things that visitors need to pay special attention to when visiting the temple is to ensure modest clothing. The surrounding space is enveloped in solemnity, so wearing revealing clothing, such as shorts, shows a lack of respect. This is also an “unwritten rule” that any domestic tourist understands. If you violate and wear inappropriate clothing, you may be denied entry to the temple or asked to leave.

Do not wear revealing clothing when visiting Ba temple

Do not wear revealing clothing when visiting the lady temple

Avoid making noise or speaking too loudly

The next note that visitors need to pay attention to is to avoid making noise or speaking too loudly when entering the Ngu Hanh Lady Temple. People come here with the sincere purpose of praying, always maintaining a state of calmness in their souls, and actions should reflect that. If you pollute the surrounding environment by being too noisy, the temple management will ask you to leave immediately.

It is important to maintain the tranquility inside the temple.

It is important to maintain the tranquility inside the temple

Ensure cleanliness and comply with general regulations

When visiting Ba Ngu Hanh temple, tourists must especially ensure to keep the area clean, not littering and affecting the beauty of the surrounding landscape. Finally, it is strictly prohibited to damage any structures or architecture inside, even with a small scratch. Moreover, visitors should also avoid taking photos when locals are holding ceremonies unless permitted.

Conclusion

The article above has fully summarized all the information related to Ba Ngu Hanh temple, a must-visit destination if tourists have the chance to come to Long An. This site is not only prominent for its ancient history, but the spiritual and cultural values within are what create its allure. At the same time, tourists will also be impressed by the unique architectural design. Therefore, if you want to stop by when visiting Long An tourism in the future, don't forget to use NVK travel's services for the best tour consultation at the most affordable cost.