(HBO) – The Temple of Mieng Cave is a famous attraction of spiritual tourism in the area around Hoa Binh Lake. It is located in Quang Minh commune of Van Ho district, Son La province. Tourists can reach the temple by both waterway and road. Those who come to the temple by boat can depart from Bich Ha Port or Thung Nai Port which are 70km and 50km away respectively. The temple is a solemn place of worship and believed to be very sacred by local people.
The
Temple of
Mieng Cavein Quang Minh commune of Van Ho district, Son La province
Mieng
Cave is an old karst cave which was previously a stopover of
traders from lowland regions and fishermen. Residents built a temple there in
commemoration of Dinh Thi Van, a heroine from the Muong ethnic minority group,
who encouraged local people to donate food. She, together with other people,
navigated boats along the Da River to carry food to the army of King Le Loi.
After a number of successful food delivery trips, one time, her boat full of
food encountered a storm and sank in a river section near
Mieng
Cave.
Her body was drifted to the area of Thac Bo (Bo Waterfall). To show respect for
and commemorate her merit, local people built a temple dedicated to her at
Mieng
Cave.
It is also called the temple of the Lord of Mieng Cave.
In the early 20th century, the French
colonialists expanded the temple. A temple of the Lord of Bo Waterfall in Vay
Nua commune of Hoa Binh province was also set up to wish for her protection of
trips along the Da River. When the Hoa Binh hydropower plant was constructed,
this temple was flooded and then moved to
Dau
Rong
Mountain.
The Temple of Mieng Cave is believed to be very
sacred. Once coming to the temple, visitors can enjoy the picturesque beauty of
Hoa
Binh
Lakeand tranquil moments while learning more about legends of Dinh Thi Van. Prayers
for peace, wealth and children said at the Temple of Mieng Cave are also
believed to come true. In the past, visitors to the temple were mainly people
residing along the Da River in Hoa Binh and Son La provinces. At present, the
temple is a must-visit destination for all who tour the Da River.
The area of
Mieng
Cavealso has a flea market opened on the 1st, 2nd, 11th, 12th, 21st and 22nd of
every month. A number of ethnic people from communes bordering
Hoa
Binh
Lake come to the market
on these days. The market features all types of products, from vegetables, fish
to essential goods serving the daily life and production activities, creating
worth-to-explore identities for visitors to the Temple of Mieng Cave./.
Hoa Binh province’s rich natural and cultural resources position it as a prime location for developing community-based tourism (CBT). In recent years, support from central and provincial policies, as well as assistance from non-governmental organisations, have encouraged local ethnic minority and mountainous communities to actively engage in the sector.
Van Son Commune, Tan Lạc district, Hoa Binh province also known as "Cloud Valley," boasts a cool climate, stunning natural landscapes, and majestic scenery. Visitors who have been to this place should make a stop at Chien Hamlet to experience a lot of fascinating things and feel the friendly, warmth of the Muong ethnic people.
Thanks to the effective exploitation of natural landscape and the cultural diversity of ethnic minorities, Hoa Binh province has become an attractive destination for tourists seeking experiences and exploration.
The Department of Cultural Heritage has just coordinated with the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Hoa Binh province to organize a training on implementing the model of the cultural heritage connected in the cultural tourism journey in Cao Phong and Lac Son districts.
The Sung village in Cao Son commune, Da Bac district, is endowed with pristine natural landscape, and Dao Tien ethnic minority community in the village preserves rich cultural heritage, including traditional housing, clothing, language, scripts, customs, and daily life practices. Since the community-based tourism model was introduced in the locality, these traditional cultural values have been further preserved and promoted.
