(HBO) – Bo Temple, or the Temple of Gods of Bo Waterfall, is a spiritual tourism destination that people cannot overlook when visiting Hoa Binh lake in the northern province of Hoa Binh. You can reach the temple by waterway after 30 minutes from Thung Nai wharf (Cao Phong district) or by passenger ships from Bich Ha wharf (Hoa Binh city), which takes one hour and a half.
Boarding a passenger ship, before reaching the Bo Temple, you
could enjoy the fresh air, contemplate the beauty of heaving mountains covered
with the lush green colour and feel the clear and cool water, as if you are in
the wonderland in Hoa Binh lake.

The
Bo Temple is a spiritual tourism site that attracts many visitors.
Previously, Bo Waterfall Temple was located in Hao Trang commune.
After many changes in administrative geography, the temple now lies in Thung
Nai commune, Cao Phong district and Vay Nua commune, Da Bac district.
Legend has it that the temple worships the Gods of Bo waterfall,
including Dinh Thi Van, a woman of the Muong ethnic group and another woman of
the Dao ethnic group in Vay Nua. Those women encouraged local people to donate
food and rowed along the waterfall together with people to support the army of
King Le Loi, helping them overcome the challenges of Da River. After many successful
trips, in their last voyage, the raging storm capsized the boat that was loaded
with a lot of food. Even after their passing, the soul of the two women still
helped people safely go through the waterfall and created favourable weather.
Thus, local residents honoured the women as the Gods and established a temple to
worship them.
Local people honour the two women as the "Gods of Bo waterfall”.
Each year, the Bo Temple’s festival begins on the second day of the Lunar New
Year and lasts until the fourth lunar month. The temple receives thousands of
visitors each day to pray for blessings. From the Bo Temple, people can see the
whole view of the immense lake and picturesque landscapes, bringing tranquil,
gentle and peaceful feelings, like all problems in life are put away.
During the trip to the Temple of Gods of Bo waterfall, visitors
can explore the Bo waterfall cavern, a gift of nature with mesmerising natural
structure created by thousand-year-old stalactites of various shapes./.
Hoa Binh province has carried out multiple programmes and initiatives to revive its cultural heritage which has gradually fallen into oblivion through the ebbs and flows of history.
The most prominent and defining feature in the prehistoric era of Hoa Binh is the Hoa Binh Culture. The Culture was first discovered in Hoa Binh. The significant prehistoric culture represents not only Vietnam but also Southeast Asia and southern China. Through excavations of cave sites in the limestone regions of Hoa Binh, French archaeologist M. Colani introduced the world to a "Stone Age in Hoa Binh province – Northern Vietnam" in 1927. On January 30, 1932, the First Congress of Far Eastern Prehistorians, held in Hanoi, officially recognised the Hoa Binh Culture.
Known as the "Land of Epic History”, Hoa Binh province, the gateway to Vietnam’s northwest, boasts a strategic location and a unique cultural tapestry woven by its ethnic minority communities.
The People's Committee of Luong Son District recently held a ceremony to receive the certificate recognizing Sau Communal House in Thanh Cao Commune as a provincial-level historical and cultural site.
Recognising the importance of cultural heritage preservation in protecting and promoting the value system of Vietnamese culture, and serving socio-economic development in the new period, Party committees and local administrations in Hoa Binh province have identified it as a key task in the cultural development strategy. The province has been making efforts in mobilising resources, creating consensus among people and engaging ethnic communities in preserving and promoting cultural identity.
Hoa Binh province has captured growing attention both domestically and internationally for its distinctive cultural heritage and rich history. Most notably, it has been renowned for its famous Hoa Binh culture, considered the cradle of ancient Vietnamese civilisation. Looking ahead to significant milestones in 2025 and the 140th anniversary of province establishment in 2026, Hoa Binh Newspaper presents a comprehensive overview of the province's development across economic, social, cultural, tourism, and security domains.