Culture - Sports

Visiting Quan Thanh - Northern guardian temple of Thang Long citadel

As one of 4 sacred temples of Thang Long ancient citadel, Quan Thanh is the sacred temple of “The Guardian of the North”. It was built over a thousand years ago during the reign of Emperor Ly Thai To.

Quan Thanh Temple formerly known as Tran Vu Temple (Chan Vu Quan - "Zhenwu Emperor" Temple) was constructed in the 11th century. The Temple is located on the corner of Quan Thanh Street and Thanh Nien Street in Hanoi.

As one of 4 sacred temples of Thang Long ancient citadel, Quan Thanh is the sacred temple of “The Guardian of the North”. It was built over a thousand years ago during the reign of Emperor Ly Thai To.

In 1474 when the Imperial Citadel was expanded, King Le Thanh Tong moved the temple to a place with feng shui terrain called "Quy Xa" (a tortoise entwined together with a snake) on the south bank of West Lake, Thuy Chuong Ward, Quang Duc District, Phung Thien County, Thang Long citadel.

Entering the main hall of the harem, Huyen Thien Tran Vu monolithic statue was cast in bronze in Dinh Ty year (1677). The statue has a height of 3.96m and a weight of 4,000kg and it typical of large-size bronze casting products in the history of Vietnam.

Quan Thanh Temple as seen today has a great dimension, bringing the architectural and artistic style of the 19th century./.

VNA
#Quan Thanh #temple #Tran Vu #Hanoi #Imperial citadel Vietnam
Follow VietnamPlus

Related News

Thang Long Tu Tran – Hanoi’s sacred temples

Thang Long Tu Tran – Hanoi’s sacred temples

With thousands of years of history, Hanoi treasures its collection of temples and pagodas and its accompanying traditional customs and festivals, including the worship of genii at four sacred temples surrounding Thang Long citadel.
Hanoi – cradle of cultural heritage

Hanoi – cradle of cultural heritage

Hanoi is praised as a city of rich cultural heritage with over 5,000 cultural and historical relics. Over 2,000 relics have been recognised as national heritage and municipal heritage treasures.
Four guardian god temples of Thang Long-Hanoi

Four guardian god temples of Thang Long-Hanoi

Thang Long’s four guardian god temples have vital locations in Hanoi. They were built as soon as King Ly Cong Uan established the country’s capital in Thang Long (now Hanoi).

See more

Artisans and students take part in cultural activities and exchanges in the Xoan singing performance space at Hung Lo ancient communal house in Phu Tho province (Photo: VNA)

Ancestral legends revived through contemporary performance

Beyond cultural value, well-organised festival programmes linked with tourism and media can contribute to the development of cultural industries and enhance Vietnam’s cultural soft power, positioning heritage-based events as distinctive national cultural brands in the international arena.

Khue Van Cac (Khue Van Pavilion) stands as a defining cultural symbol of Hanoi, closely associated with Vietnam’s long-standing tradition of valuing education and honouring knowledge. (Photo: VNA)

Greater efforts needed for heritage to shape Hanoi’s identity

As suggested by UNESCO experts, heritage should be approached as an integrated system encompassing space, people and everyday life. This perspective can inform urban planning, cultural tourism development and the creation of clear economic drivers.

Participants at the gathering (Photo: VNA)

Lao, Cambodian students welcome traditional New Year in Ho Chi Minh City

In his speech, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Cuong said the municipal Party organisation, authorities and people always value the close ties and solidarity among Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. He described the three nations’ longstanding ties, forged through shared hardships, as an invaluable spiritual asset and a bedrock for sustainable development.

Vietnamese kickboxers win 32 gold medals at the Kickboxing World Cup 2026. (Photo: Vietnam Kickboxing Federation)

Vietnam finish third at Kickboxing World Cup 2026

According to Vu Duc Thinh, President of the Vietnam Kickboxing Federation, the strong results reflected careful preparation by local training centres and the determination of Vietnamese fighters. The team’s participation, funded largely through socialised and local resources, also demonstrated growing support for the development of kickboxing in Vietnam.

Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Information, Education and Mass Mobilisation Trinh Van Quyet speaks at the event (Photo: VNA)

National Radio Festival opens in Quang Ninh

The opening night was combined with an artistic programme titled “sounds of the new era,” drawing around 50,000 spectators. The programme was structured in three chapters: Origins of Sound, Heritage Sound, and Sound of the New Era.

Vietnamese puppetry faces pressure to adapt to modern lifestyles, particularly amid growing competition from diverse entertainment forms (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese puppetry seeks renewal amid preservation challenges

People’s Artist Nguyen Hoang Tuan, Chairman of the Hanoi Theatre Association, noted that while northern Vietnam had 27 puppetry guilds in 1986, only 14 remain today. Many traditional plays and original scripts have been lost, hurting restoration and preservation efforts.

Visitors enjoy the "Stone History Preserves Memories" exhibition, featuring a traditional format combined with digital technology solutions (Photo: VNA)

Project on digital transformation in cultural sector approved

By 2030, the project targets the establishment of shared digital platforms across 100% of cultural sectors. All digitised cultural heritage will be standardised under the national data framework and shared in accordance with regulations, while 80% of public digital heritage assets are expected to receive digital identifiers to clarify ownership and management, encouraging organisations and individuals to do the same and support market development.