Soc Temple Relic Site – Saint Giong Monument

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Introduction

Amid the green mountains and forests of Soc Son, the Soc Temple Relic Site preserves one of the most beautiful legends of the Vietnamese people. According to legend, after defeating the Yin invaders, Saint Giong rode his horse to Soc Mountain, took off his armor, and flew back to heaven with his iron horse. The locals built a temple to commemorate the hero, so that the story of the boy from Giong Village would be passed down through generations.

Soc Temple and Saint Giong Monument - Where Legend Becomes Immortal. Photo: collected

Today, a journey to Soc Temple is not just a visit to a sacred relic. From the ancient temple roofs at the foot of the mountain to the Saint Giong Monument rising on the peak of Da Chong, each stop is like a chapter continuing the story of the hero who stepped from legend into the spiritual life of the Vietnamese people.

Soc Temple Relic Site amid the cool green space of Soc Son mountains and forests. Photo: collected

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Story

01Don't miss

Following Saint Giong’s footsteps through ancient temples, ancient pagodas at the foot of Soc Mountain
Offering incense at Thuong Temple - where Phu Dong Thien Vuong is worshipped
Conquering the path to the Saint Giong Monument on the top of Da Chong Mountain
Admiring the Soc Son mountains and forests from the open space around the monument
Attending the Giong Festival at Soc Temple on the 6th–8th days of the first lunar month.

02Following Saint Giong’s footsteps amid the majestic Soc Mountains

The Soc Temple relic complex has a history of more than one thousand years and currently includes Trinh Temple, Mother Temple, Dai Bi Pagoda, Non Nuoc Pagoda, Thuong Temple, Da Chong Rock, the Saint Giong Monument, and stone steles. In 2014, the complex was ranked as a Special National Relic. Take time to walk slowly through each layer of space. From Trinh Temple and Mother Temple to Thuong Temple, ancient tiled roofs gradually appear beneath the green canopy. In particular, Thuong Temple is where Saint Giong is worshipped, associated with the legend that he stopped at Soc Mountain before returning to heaven.

Ancient Thuong Temple - the worship space of Saint Giong at the Soc Temple Relic Site. Photo: collected

03From the sacred temple to the Saint Giong statue standing tall against the blue sky

Leaving the temple roofs at the foot of the mountain, the journey continues up to the peak of Da Chong - where the Saint Giong Monument appears against the vast sky. The structure was inaugurated in 2010, on the occasion of the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long - Hanoi. The statue is cast in bronze, weighing about 85 tons, and recreates Saint Giong holding a bamboo staff and urging his horse toward the sky.

Standing beneath the rearing horse’s hooves and looking out at the green mountain ranges in the distance, the legend of Giong’s return to heaven seems to be retold by the landscape of Soc Son itself. This is also one of the most memorable moments of the journey.

Statue of Saint Gióng on the peak of Đá Chồng - the image of the hero riding a horse facing the blue sky. Collected photo

04Gióng Festival pilgrimage season

Every early spring, Sóc Mountain becomes lively again during the Gióng Festival at Sóc Temple, held from the 6th to the 8th day of the first lunar month. Processions carry highly symbolic offerings such as sacred horses, war elephants, and bamboo flower offerings... creating a festival space that is both solemn and vibrant.

Procession of bamboo flower offerings at the Gióng Festival at Sóc Temple in the early spring days. Collected photo

In 2010, the Gióng Festival at Phù Đổng Temple and Sóc Temple was inscribed by UNESCO as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity. Visiting here during the festival season, tourists not only see a traditional festival but also witness how today's community continues to preserve and pass on the story of Saint Gióng.

Leaving Sóc Mountain, the most lasting image is perhaps Saint Gióng's horse hooves rising into the blue sky – where a childhood legend remains alive through ancient temples, festivals, and the forests of Sóc Sơn.

05Notes for visitors

The journey from Sóc Temple up to the Saint Gióng Statue has many slopes and stone steps, so you should choose comfortable shoes and allow enough time to explore.

When entering temples and pagodas, please dress respectfully, keep quiet, and respect the worship space.

If you come during the January Gióng Festival, you should go early to avoid peak crowds and have more time to experience the relic site.

Soc Temple Relic Site – Saint Giong Monument

Introduction

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