Places of visit surrounded and made popular due to legendary folk tales are very common in many Asian countries. Ba Thien Hau Pagoda, the Pagoda of the Lady Thien Hau is also one such place of visit that bears importance due to a legendary belief of the Vietnamese people. It deserves a visit if you long to get a glimpse of Cultural Vietnam. On that note,Somerset Vista Ho Chi Minh City is a desirable accommodation option among Ho Chi Minh serviced apartments to experience the cultural features of this beautiful country.
Ba Thien Hau Pagoda is located in the Cho Lon district of the Ho Chi Minh City. It is a beautifully designed Chinese style Temple. This lovely Temple established in the 19th Century is dedicated to the goddess Thien Hau, who is also called ‘Mazu’. She is a goddess of the traditional Chinese religion, especially in the maritime provinces of China. This Lady of the Sea is revered and worshipped by all sea goers as their guardian mother.
According to the legend believed by the locals, Thien Hau lived in China and the males in her family were sea men. One day when her father and her two brothers were bringing salt in a boat, they were caught in a heavy storm. At that time, Thien Hau was sewing at home with her mother. However, her soul left her body to save her two brothers and father. Her soul held her brothers from her two hands and bit the sleeve of her father’s sleeve to bring them ashore. When her mother at home forced Thien Hau to speak, her father’s sleeve was slipped from her teeth and she couldn’t save him. Since then, the locals beseech her and pray to her when they go out to sea.
The importance of this setting does not only lie in the folk tale woven around its goddess. The Chinese architecture of the temple is also found to be very attractive and breathtaking. Moreover, the temple is always filled with fragrance of burning incense and festivities. Therefore, do not miss the opportunity to feel the Chinese culture in Vietnam.
Uditha Dharmawardhane is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Roland Lefevre. He specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe.
