Kiến Sơ Pagoda

Ban Shrine is located to the west of the Upper Temple, in the middle of Ban Hamlet, with an area of 814 m2. Its Sino-Vietnamese name is “Dục Linh Từ”, and it worships the Holy Mother.

Legend says this is where the Mother gave birth to Gióng, in the Trại Nòn forest area, so its ancient name was “Trại Nòn Shrine”. The shrine was restored in the 19th century and roofed with old curved-tip tiles. Behind the shrine is the Bát Nhũ pond (eight-breast pond); in the middle of the pond rises a small, flat mound. According to legend, this is where Gióng was born, had his umbilical cord cut with a stone sickle, was bathed in a stone basin, and lay on a stone bed. Today only the stone basin remains, placed before an altar with an incense bowl dedicated to Saint Gióng.

Every year during the Gióng Festival, on the afternoon of the 7th day of the 4th lunar month, the festival procession passes by Ban Shrine. Here, the Hiệu officials perform a ritual of reverence to the Holy Mother for the “road inspection” - the first day of the festival. They pray that the Holy Mother will protect and bless the following festival days, the 8th and 9th days of the 4th lunar month, so that they may be successful and auspicious.

Ban Shrine is a relic within the Phù Đổng Temple Relic Site, which was ranked as a special national relic by the Prime Minister in 2013.