Private Vietnam Tour - With over 3,700 historical sites and thousands of festivals, Hung Yen is asserting its position as a leading cultural and spiritual destination, transforming its heritage into a driving force for sustainable growth.
Hung Yen, a region located in the heart of the Red River Delta, is becoming a focal point for cultural and spiritual tourism in Northern Vietnam. Benefiting from its proximity to Hanoi and a high density of historical sites, the province attracts visitors not only with its ancient structures but also with its rich cultural heritage preserved over centuries.
Chuong Pagoda: "The most famous scenic spot in Pho Hien"
The first unmissable stop on a spring trip to Hung Yen is Chuong Pagoda. Dubbed the most beautiful pagoda in the Pho Hien area, it boasts a unique "inner courtyard, outer enclosure" architecture and a harmonious "four waters converging" layout. The entire grounds, from the main gate to the Mother Goddess house, exude a serene and ancient atmosphere.
The history of Chuong Pagoda is intertwined with the legend of a golden bell that drifted ashore on a wooden raft in Nhan Duc village during a great flood. Local people worked together to retrieve the bell and build a pagoda to worship it. To this day, Chuong Pagoda is an important link in the Pho Hien Special National Monument complex.
A Sao Temple and the legend of loyalty and righteousness
Located about 50km from Chuong Pagoda, A Sao Temple (A Sao commune) is a place of worship for National Hero Tran Quoc Tuan (Hung Dao Dai Vuong) and his two famous generals Yet Kieu and Da Tuong. This area also preserves a touching story about the war elephants of Saint Tran in the Battle of Bach Dang River in 1288.
When the war elephants became bogged down on the banks of the Hoa River, despite the soldiers' efforts to rescue them, they were unsuccessful. Hung Dao Dai Vuong, with tears in his eyes, had to leave the sacred elephants behind to continue his march. Before departing, he pointed his sword to the river and swore to defeat the Mongol invaders. Today, the A Sao Temple is not only a place of spiritual worship but also a significant site for educating the younger generation about traditions through festivals, calligraphy demonstrations, and folk competitions.
The vitality of a vast heritage system
Hung Yen currently boasts an impressive 3,716 historical sites, including 6 special national historical site clusters, 284 national-level historical sites, and 10 national treasures. In addition, there are over 1,100 traditional festivals and 257 craft villages, creating a diverse tourism ecosystem ranging from spiritual and craft-related experiences to riverine adventures.
According to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Hung Yen province, the cultural and spiritual tourism remains the core product of the locality. However, the province is promoting the diversification of other products such as community tourism, eco-tourism, and river tourism to enhance the experience for tourists.
Recognizing culture as a driving force for economic development, Hung Yen province has invested heavily in the preservation of historical relics. During the period 2021-2025, the province allocated 1,158 billion VND to restore 210 relics. Notably, the budget of the former Thai Binh province also contributed over 88.5 billion VND to the restoration of many communal houses and temples in the relevant area.
According to the People's Committee of Hung Yen province, cultural industries linked with spiritual tourism will be a new growth driver for the province from 2026. With its location bordering Hanoi and modern urban areas, Hung Yen aims to connect cultural values into a chain of products, transforming tourist traffic into revenue, creating sustainable economic momentum for the locality.
