La Gián Temple

La Gián Temple is located in La Thành Village, Đoài Phương Commune, Hà Nội City. This is a religious architectural work built long ago by local people to worship Hưng Đạo Đại Vương Trần Quốc Tuấn – Saint Trần, an outstanding national hero in Vietnamese history.

The temple has a “Đinh”-shaped architectural layout, including the Đại bái (main worship hall) and Hậu cung (rear sanctuary), with a temple courtyard in front, Tả mạc (left wing) and Hữu mạc (right wing) on both sides, and a Nghi môn (ceremonial gate). The Nghi môn is built in the trụ biểu style, with two large pillars at the main entrance, the pillar bodies decorated with vertical ridges, and the tops adorned with stylized four phoenixes facing flowers; on both sides are simply built side gates. A system of low walls connects the pillars and surrounds the relic site.

The Đại bái is built with closed gable walls, a roof covered with ri tiles, and a ridge decorated with the image of two dragons facing the moon, strongly bearing traditional architectural style. The Hậu cung is a single-room structure connected behind the Đại bái, inside which is placed an altar, and a horizontal plaque bearing four Chinese characters “Trần Triều Đại Vương” is hung along with a pair of wooden couplets.

The temple’s main festival is held on the 25th day of the first lunar month and the 20th day of the eighth lunar month every year, expressing the people’s reverence for Saint Trần and contributing to preserving the traditional cultural identity of the locality.

With its typical historical and cultural values, La Gián Temple was ranked as a Historical – Cultural Relic by the People’s Committee of Hà Tây Province on February 4, 2003.