First Encounter with Quang Ninh
Hey everyone! Today I'm introducing you to an absolute gem - Vietnam's Quang Ninh Province. As a travel blogger who has been everywhere, I truly believe this place is incredible! Not only does it have the famous Ha Long Bay that everyone knows about, but it's also home to countless ancient relics, each breathtakingly beautiful.
To be honest, when I first visited Quang Ninh Province, I was completely blown away by the atmosphere. The architectural style here is unique, blending Vietnamese traditional culture and historical elements. Every corner you turn lets you feel the rich cultural heritage. Especially those well-preserved ancient buildings - they're like living history textbooks.
Exploring La Pagoda
I'll never forget my first sight of La Pagoda. It had just rained that day, the air was especially fresh, and standing on the hillside in Cam La commune, I was immediately drawn to this ancient tower built in the 16th century. Honestly, it's one of the most stunning ancient buildings I've ever seen!
Every detail of La Pagoda is amazing. The brick carvings on the tower are exquisite, with each brick carefully sculpted. They say it took a full ten years to build this tower, with three years just to collect the building materials. The tower has seven levels, symbolizing the seven factors of enlightenment in Buddhism - such a sophisticated design concept.
What moved me most were the murals inside the tower. Although weathered by centuries of wind and rain, these murals remain vivid. Especially the "Buddha Preaching" mural on the second floor - the craftsmanship is so excellent that it makes one marvel at the extraordinary skills of ancient artisans. When sunlight streams in through the tower windows, the whole space is bathed in a mysterious glow, as if transported back hundreds of years.
Discovering An My Pagoda
A chance discovery last winter led me to the treasure that is An My Pagoda. That day, while wandering around Ha Long City, I accidentally walked into a small village in Le Loi commune and encountered this ancient temple known as "Phuc Khanh."
Built in the late 18th century, An My Pagoda is full of architectural features from the Nguyen Dynasty period. The temple's main gate has a typical three-bay structure, with exquisitely carved wooden details on the lintel. I met an elderly abbot there who told me these wood carvings were carved piece by piece by the best craftsmen of the time, with each pattern containing Buddhist meanings.
The Buddha hall is the crown jewel of the building. The main Buddha statue inside stands three meters tall, carved from a single piece of wood. Most special is the sutra library, which houses many precious Buddhist scriptures and historical documents. Some of these texts are over two hundred years old but are remarkably well preserved.
Impressions of Trieu Khe
Speaking of Trieu Khe Communal House, it truly opened my eyes. Built in 1887, this building perfectly showcases the characteristics of traditional Vietnamese residences. The entire building adopts a "three-compartment, two-wing" layout, with the main structure built of blue bricks and the roof covered with traditional tube tiles, giving it a dignified appearance.
The 2023 restoration project gave Trieu Khe Communal House a second life. The restoration team not only preserved the building's original appearance but also strengthened the structure using modern technology. Did you know? During the restoration, workers found large quantities of Qing Dynasty coins and ceramic fragments in the wall cavities, providing important clues for studying local history.
What interested me most was the ancestral hall inside. The beams and pillars are carved with beautiful patterns of flowers and birds, making each pillar a work of art. Especially the plaque in the main hall - the inscription was reportedly written by a scholar who passed the imperial examinations, with powerful and vigorous calligraphy that's truly impressive.
Architectural Beauty
In Quang Ninh Province, the essence of traditional architectural art is everywhere. Take La Pagoda for example - the entire building is like a three-dimensional art textbook. Each level of the tower has different decorative themes, showing various Buddhist stories from bottom to top.
What amazed me most were the stone carvings inside the tower. These carvings are not only technically superb but also full of symbolism. For instance, the lotus patterns at the tower's base symbolize Buddhist purity, while the flying apsara patterns on the tower body represent yearning for paradise. Every detail was carefully designed, reflecting the wisdom of ancient craftsmen.
An My Pagoda's architectural features are completely different. It adopts a typical Vietnamese traditional temple architectural style, mainly using wooden structures. The entire building complex faces south from the north, perfectly utilizing feng shui principles. The upturned eaves of the main hall are very beautiful, and wind chimes under the eaves make pleasant sounds when breezes blow.
Cultural Heritage
In Quang Ninh Province, these ancient relics are not just buildings but living cultural carriers. The La Pagoda Festival on the fifth and sixth days of the first lunar month is truly a visual feast. Thousands of devotees and tourists gather here to participate in various traditional ceremonies.
During the festival, monks wear traditional kasayas and chant sutras for blessings. Devotees bring various offerings for worship. The most exciting part is the lantern release - that evening, the entire temple area is illuminated by thousands of lanterns, creating a spectacular scene.
I was fortunate to attend a La Pagoda Festival and witness the charm of traditional culture firsthand. It's especially heartening to see young people not only actively participating in various ceremonies but also sharing these traditional cultures through social media. Seeing traditional culture being passed down to the younger generation makes me particularly happy.
Travel Tips
As a travel blogger who frequently visits Quang Ninh Province, I strongly recommend visiting between October and April of the following year. The weather during this period is particularly comfortable, neither too hot nor too cold - perfect for exploring ancient relics.
For transportation, there are multiple options from Hanoi to Quang Ninh Province. I personally recommend hiring a private car for more flexible scheduling. If you're on a budget, public buses are also an option - though it takes longer, the scenery along the way is quite nice.
For accommodation, Ha Long City has many good hotels to choose from. I suggest choosing hotels in the city center for convenient access to various attractions. However, remember to book in advance during peak season, as desirable rooms can be hard to get.
Pay attention to dress code when visiting ancient sites. Dress appropriately at religious sites, avoiding short skirts or tank tops. Also, remember to bring mosquito repellent, especially for evening visits.
Reflections
After visiting these ancient relics in Quang Ninh Province, I deeply appreciate the importance of protecting historical sites. Take Trieu Khe Communal House - without the 2023 restoration project, this building carrying generations of memories might have slowly disappeared under the erosion of time.
Every time I see ancient buildings being restored or converted into commercial facilities, I feel a twinge of pain. I understand the need for development, but couldn't we find a better balance? For instance, we could introduce some modern elements while preserving the original architectural style, giving new life to ancient buildings.
What particularly moves me is that more and more young people are starting to care about protecting historical and cultural heritage. They not only share stories about these ancient sites on social media but also organize various activities to encourage everyone to participate in cultural heritage protection.
Future Outlook
Every time I stand before these ancient buildings, I wonder: what will they look like in a hundred or two hundred years? Can our generation pass down these precious cultural heritages intact, just as our ancestors did?
I believe that with increasing awareness of cultural protection, these ancient relics will receive better protection. Especially now with more advanced protection technologies, we can completely preserve the authenticity of ancient relics while better serving modern society.
Finally, I want to say that these ancient relics are not just buildings, but bridges connecting the past and future. They stand there silently, witnessing the changes of times and telling historical stories. As the new generation of young people, we have both the responsibility and obligation to protect these precious cultural heritages well, allowing them to continue telling the stories of this land.
