Cam Palace in Dinh Cong area

The Cam Phu relic site is located in Cam Truong 2 village, Dinh Cong commune (Yen Dinh district). The site is nestled against the Elephant Mountain range, facing the Cau Chay River, about 1km from the Bong intersection. Here, visitors can find not only tranquility but also immerse themselves in the peaceful scenery, admire the gentle flow of the Cau Chay River during the dry season and its powerful flow during the flood season, and listen to the elders of the village recount stories about the Cam Phu relic site.

Cam Palace in Dinh Cong area The Cam Palace historical site has been renovated and is in excellent condition.

Legend has it that during the reign of King Tran Thanh Tong (1258-1278), in Cam Truong 2 village, Dinh Cong commune, natural disasters and epidemics caused great hardship for the villagers. In the village lived a couple, Mr. Hoang Trung and Mrs. Nguyen Thi Phuong, who were relatively well - off and frequently helped families in the commune facing difficulties and misfortunes. Despite being married for a long time, they had no children. Mr. Trung discussed with his wife the idea of setting up an altar to pray to heaven and earth for a child. After setting up the altar, they bought offerings to worship heaven and earth. On the third night after the altar was set up, Mrs. Phuong dreamt of a huge golden dragon transforming into a pheasant, flying into the house and gliding over her bed. Upon waking, she felt a strange sensation in her body and from then on, she became pregnant and gave birth to a baby girl with lips as red as lipstick, skin as white as snow, and bright, sparkling eyes. They named her Bach Hoa. As she grew up, she was extraordinarily beautiful, intelligent, gentle, and dedicated to helping the poor in the village. Since Bach Hoa was born, no natural disasters occurred, the harvests were always bountiful, and the people here lived in prosperity and happiness. At the age of 21, Bach Hoa went out on a boat to admire the scenery on the river. Suddenly, a heavy rain and strong wind sank the boat, sweeping Bach Hoa away with her. A few days later, her body drifted ashore. The villagers recovered it, held a burial ceremony, and erected a shrine to her on the banks of the Cau Chay River in Cam Truong 2 village (later, the shrine to Bach Hoa was called Phu Cam).

When the Mongol invaders attacked our country, the king personally led the army, traveling by sea to fight the enemy. Upon reaching Phu Cam, the temple dedicated to Lady Bach Hoa, a sudden storm arose, preventing the king's boat from moving. Seeing this, the king entered the temple to offer incense. After offering incense, the land and sky became peaceful, the river calmed, and the king's fleet set sail towards the enemy. The king achieved a great victory in this battle. On his way back to the capital, the king visited Phu Cam to offer sacrifices, light incense, give money to the people to repair Phu Cam, and bestow divine status upon the temple.

In 1935, the Cam Palace relic was restored and renovated by the villagers through their contributions of labor and resources. The Cam Palace relic was built in the architectural style of three palaces, a front hall, and two side buildings. Next to them are two second palaces, and in front of the second palaces is a landscape of mountains, water, sky, clouds, birds, animals, and flowers. This relic was considered to have the most beautiful scenery in the Bong Crossroads area at that time.

Mr. Nguyen Van Nhan, a resident of Cam Truong 2 village who has made many contributions to preserving and promoting the value of Cam Phu relic, said: "In the 1960s, Cam Phu was damaged, and the villagers no longer had a place for spiritual activities. At that time, seeing Cam Phu relic become a ruin, everyone in the commune felt sad and regretful."

In 2015, with the support of philanthropists, local people, and those working away from home, the Phu Cam historical site was restored and renovated on its original foundation, covering an area of 7,000 square meters, with a total investment of over 100 billion VND. Currently, the Phu Cam historical site has a spacious grounds, a pleasant natural landscape, and a well-equipped guesthouse and parking area, making it very convenient for people to visit and sightsee. Every year on the 10th day of the first lunar month (the birthday of Lady Bach Hoa) and the 13th day of the sixth lunar month (the death anniversary of Lady Bach Hoa), incense offerings are made at the Phu Cam historical site to commemorate her contributions. In 2019, the Phu Cam historical site was recognized as a provincial-level tourist destination by the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee.

According to Nguyen The Hung, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Dinh Cong commune: Phu Cam relic site is a spiritual center for many people in and outside Yen Dinh district. To preserve and promote the value of the relic site, Dinh Cong commune has strengthened management, prevented damage to the relic site; ensured security and order, and safety for tourists; and renovated and beautified the landscape, making the grounds green, clean, and beautiful...

In the coming time, the commune will continue to focus on introducing and promoting the value of the relic through mass media; connecting the relic with tourist destinations inside and outside the district; mobilizing all resources to invest in infrastructure development... Thereby, contributing to building Phu Cam relic into a spiritual tourism destination.

Text and photos: Xuan Cuong

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