Two national relics in Ba Dinh District, Quan Thanh Temple in Quan Thanh Ward and Voi Phuc Temple in Ngoc Khanh Ward have been designated as places of tourist interest.

The spiritual ceremony at Quan Thanh Temple in October 2023. Photo: The Hanoi Times

In a decision designating the titles of the two national relics earlier this month, the Hanoi People's Committee instructed Ba Dinh District authorities to coordinate with relevant government agencies to manage and develop these tourist sites in accordance with the Law on Tourism and related legal documents so as to ensure sustainable and effective tourism development in Hanoi.

Voi Phuc Temple and Quan Thanh Temple are two of the "Four Guardian Temples of Thang Long". Built during the reign of King Ly Thai Tong (1028-1054), Voi Phuc Temple stands in the southwest corner of the ancient Thang Long Citadel, in what is now Thu Le Park or Hanoi Zoo.

The annual festival honors Linh Lang Dai Vuong for helping King Ly Thanh Tong defeat Chinese Song invaders in the 11th century. The main festival takes place on the 9th and 10th of the second lunar month and often lasts from 3 to 10 days, depending on the contributions of the community, with elaborate processions and other traditional activities. Voi Phuc Temple worships him as the guardian of the western side of Thang Long.

Quan Thanh Temple, built shortly after King Ly Thai To moved the capital from Hoa Lu (Ninh Binh Province) to Thang Long (Hanoi), is located on the northeast side of the West Lake.

The temple was recognized as a national historical and cultural site in 1962, and on January 18, 2022, it was declared a special national relic by the Prime Minister. Among its treasures is the bronze statue of Huyen Thien Tran Vu, a masterpiece by the artisans of Ngu Xa Village, measuring 3.96 meters high, eight meters in circumference and weighing four tons, cast in 1677.

Every year, on the third day of the third lunar month and the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, local people hold festivals to honor Huyen Thien Tran Vu, a mythical figure who warded off monsters and evil spirits and ensured kind weather for farming.

In addition, the Hanoi People's Committee has recognized Ngoc Island - Truc Bach in Truc Bach Ward, Ba Dinh District as a tourist destination and named it "Ngoc Island - Truc Bach Tourist Site".

In July, Hanoi welcomed 468,000 visitors, up 175% year-on-year. After seven months, the capital has received a total of nearly 3.5 million tourists, up one-third year-on-year.

Of these, the number of international tourists was more than 2.4 million, up 43% year-on-year.

According to Nguyen Manh Quyen, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee, tourism is a key economic sector for Hanoi. The capital's authorities hope to boost investment and protect and preserve tourist sites and historical relics to enrich and diversify tourist attractions.