If you intend to enjoy a boat trip in Hanoi, a boat tour along Red River is a wise choice for you. Not only impressed by beautiful sights, you also will be amazed the traditional culture here.
Dai Lo Temple or commonly known as Lo temple belongs Thuong Tin District, Ha Noi. It has been a famous temple for a long time among the people. The temple was built in Tran dynasty, about more than 700 years ago. Located outside the dike, near the Red River, but gods who are worshiped in the temple are not derived from the northern delta of farmers cultivating wet rice, but from spirits of the Four Palaces originated from the distant North. They are Mẫu Thượng Thiên (goddess of the upper sky), Mẫu Thượng Ngàn (goddess of the highlands), Mẫu Thoải (Mother Water), and Mẫu Địa (Mother of Earth Palace). This is an ancient traditional belief of the people in Vietnam.
Currently, there are a lot of folk legends about the four saints, most of the legends were documented. For example, it's an unfortunate imperial concubine of King Hung Vuong 13th, after a conspiracy to harm the prince was failed, she was exiled to the island, died and turned out awe-inspiringly powerful. Other version is related to the queen of the dynasty who born two daughters and was banished to the sea by the king. Other story is associated with the drift of a magic tree into the area of Con temple. However, the more popular is still the legend associated with the Four Saints with the Queen and Princess of the Song dynasty. After being defeated by Yuan dynasty, they got into the boat and drifted to the shore of Vietnam and was rescued and reared by the abbot of Quy Son pagoda. Because of many contrary opinions between the abbot and beautiful queen, the monk committed suicide, the queen and the princesses of Song Dynasty dead, too. Thereafter, the queen and princesses turned out awe-inspiringly powerful. According to legend, they has helped the Ly, Tran fought Chiem Thanh, as a result, they were deified after the victory.
In coastal areas, and the large rivers, people usually worship Can Hai Dai Vuong, a god blesses the people of the sea. At Lo temple, Can Hai Dai Vuong is integrated with the four saints of Song Dynasty. They are supernatural forces creating this world.
An indigenous religion was formed and developed since the Vietnamese cultivated the wet rice. The ideas of the ancients are expressed vividly in architecture and decorative arts of the temple. In the two peaks of sizeable pillars in front of the temple are two dragons rolling. Dragons roll causing rain. Two columns in two sides are covered with two unicorns, indicating the strength and wisdom. Wood carving arrays in the family court also express the wishes of happiness.
Not only famous for the thrilling legends, the particular that makes people remember and cannot forger is culture, religion and festival held annually on each spring. Visitors can feel like living in the ancient time with the traditional religion of a country lasting for hundreds of years. Join this tour, you can get deep understanding into the culture and lifestyle created by a civilization which makes your excursion in Hanoi meaningful and unforgettable.
