Hien Hao Commune
Location here
Hien Hao is one of twelve commune-level administrative units of Cat Hai district, the East is adjacent to Gia Luan commune, National Park; The Northeast borders on Tran Chau commune; The Southeast borders Xuan Dam commune; Southwest is the Gulf of Tonkin; North and Northwest borders Phu Long commune; area is 874.40 ha, population is about 400 people, 122 households, divided into 2 villages.
Before 1813, in the administrative list of the Nguyen court, Hien Hao commune today called Duong Hao belongs to Ha Lien canton, Hoa Phong district, Yen Quang town. Since 1885, due to abstinence (Ung Duong is the name of the Dong Khanh king), all places named Duong had to be changed, so Duong Hao village changed to Son Hao and later Son Hao changed to Hien Hao.
Mother's Temple Hien Hao
The legend of Mother Goddess worship in Cat Ba originates from the story of young women who died at sea and drifted ashore at different locations, one woman drifted to the village wharf in Hien Hao commune, the other returned to Cat Ba town, a woman drifted to the wharf of Tran Chau commune, another woman drifted to Goi, Xuan Dam commune.
The people organized the burial of the women carefully, later in the grave there was a termite extrusion, along with the epiphany to the local residents, the residents saw that the dream predictions were inspired to build the temple and set the date of burial to perform the annual ritual, which later became a village festival.
On this day, residents around the area come to worship and pray to their mother to bless good weather, a bountiful fish and shrimp crop. The legends of Mother Goddess Hien Hao Temple, Goi Xuan Dam Temple, Mother Ang Van Temple and Mother Tran Chau Temple were derived from there.
With a convenient traffic location, the temple is located right next to route 356 connecting from Cai Vieng ferry to Cat Ba tourist center. Mother Goddess Hien Hao Temple was built in the "Pre-Le Hoang Trieu" period, and has been ordained since the Later Le Dynasty. Experiencing many ups and downs, changes of the times. Up to now, the temple has been restored and built spacious, airy and spacious. It is a place for Buddhists everywhere to come and ask for the protection of their Mother.
Inheriting and promoting the cultural quintessence left by the forefathers, thereby simultaneously developing the Vietnamese culture imbued with national identity, the government and people of Hien Hao commune have protected the relic, organized The festival is to commemorate the merits of those who openly founded the village. Every year at the beginning of the new year, Ba Temple festival is held. This is a cultural beauty that has been maintained and developed for generations.
Although the festival takes place for three days, from the 10th to the 12th of January, from the first day of the Lunar New Year onwards, many people of Cat Hai, Cat Ba, as well as tourists from all over the world have come here to pray for fortune.
To attract tourists as well as island residents to attend the festival, every year the locality organizes many interesting and unique activities such as spiritual rituals and folk games. Cultural features of the inhabitants of the sea and islands, wet rice civilization such as rice pounding contest, banh chung wrapping contest, tug-of-war contest, du, tug-of-war, di stilts, football. These activities create a very high cohesion of the village community, creating joy, excitement and solidarity in each resident as well as visitors.
The festival of Ba Temple in Hien Hao commune contributes to enriching the spiritual and cultural life not only for the people of Hien Hao commune but also for the people of Cat Hai island district, as well as tourists from all over the world.
To attract tourists as well as island residents to attend the festival, every year the locality organizes many interesting and unique activities such as spiritual rituals and folk games. Cultural features of the inhabitants of the sea and islands, wet rice civilization such as rice pounding contest, banh chung wrapping contest, tug-of-war contest, du, tug-of-war, di stilts, football. These activities create a very high cohesion of the village community, creating joy, excitement and solidarity in each resident as well as visitors.
The festival of Ba Temple in Hien Hao commune contributes to enriching the spiritual and cultural life not only for the people of Hien Hao commune but also for the people of Cat Hai island district, as well as tourists from all over the world.