The unfinished projects and desolate landscape evoke feelings of sadness among the local population and raise many concerns about the preservation of national historical and cultural heritage.
Hopefully the project will be completed soon.
Located on the left bank of the Lam River, the King Le Thai To Temple in Lam Thanh commune ( Nghe An province ) was once a majestic structure, a place where the people of Nghe An expressed their reverence for King Le Loi. The temple commemorates and honors the immense contributions of Le Loi, a national hero and founder of the Later Le Dynasty, who, after ascending the throne, adopted the reign name Thuan Thien.
He was the leader of the glorious Lam Son Uprising in the 15th century, leading the people to drive out the Ming invaders, regain independence, and usher in a period of prosperity for the country. However, the temple restoration project, which has been underway since 2019, still has many unfinished and neglected sections, covered in dust. Some sections have only completed the framework, the entrance is overgrown with trees, and the surrounding landscape is messy and lacks uniformity.
According to the elders of the village, this temple once stood majestically on the left bank of the Lam River, in a sacred area associated with the Lam Son Uprising. Legend says the temple was built during the lifetime of King Le Loi. Over half a millennium, the vicissitudes of history and the erosion of time have left only the main hall and a few scattered ruins within the grounds. Nevertheless, in the hearts of the people, this place remains an integral part of their homeland, a sacred place for descendants to return to their roots.
In 1997, the temple was classified as a national historical and cultural relic. In 2019, Nghe An province launched a project to restore the King Le Temple with a total investment of over 21 billion VND. At that time, joy spread throughout Lam Thanh commune because everyone believed the ancient temple would be restored to a magnificent state, worthy of its historical and cultural value. But six years have passed, and hope has gradually been replaced by disappointment. The construction remains unfinished, many items incomplete, and only a few parts have been completed.
From a distance, the upper, middle, and lower halls have been erected; however, important parts such as the commemorative stele, the Le Loi well, the temple courtyard, the surrounding embankment, and the internal road system remain unfinished. The spacious temple courtyard is empty and overgrown with weeds. Locals say that every rainy season, water from the Lam River floods in, covering the structure with mud and soil, making it look even more dilapidated.
Mr. Phan Bui Tat, who has been the caretaker of the temple for over 20 years, slowly recounted with a sigh: “In the past, even though the temple was old, visitors from all over still came in large numbers. People came to worship, people went on pilgrimages, and the sound of drums and gongs filled the air every New Year. Now, there are very few people, only a few come to light incense, and even the anniversary of the king's death is almost deserted. We hope that the project will be completed soon so that the temple can once again be lit with incense and smoke, and so that the villagers have a proper place to remember him.”
Mr. Tat added that for many years, the festival commemorating King Le Loi has been held, but only on a small, simple scale. Previously, during the anniversary ceremony, the villagers would organize boat races on the Lam River, attracting hundreds of spectators. Now, due to unfinished construction, the festival is just a ritual under a makeshift roof. “We want a proper festival, both solemn and joyful, so that the younger generation can learn more about history and the contributions of King Le Loi. But to achieve that, we need a proper temple first,” Mr. Tat said.
What is the cause?
Regarding this issue, Ms. Phan Thi Anh, Head of the Heritage Management Department (Nghe An Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism), said: “The main reason for the project's delay is the unstable allocation of funds. The funding is not included in the public investment plan but mainly relies on increased provincial revenue and social contributions, which are very limited. Construction has had to stop many times due to insufficient capital, significantly affecting the progress.”
Ms. Vo Tu Uyen, Deputy Head of the Culture and Social Affairs Department of Lam Thanh commune, shared: The King Le Thai To Temple in Lam Thanh is considered the earliest original temple in the country, possessing special historical, cultural, and spiritual value. According to Ms. Uyen, restoring the temple is not only a task for the locality, but also requires appropriate investment from the provincial and ministerial levels to restore the appearance of a national heritage site.
“With a structure of symbolic value like the King Le Temple, restoration is not simply about repairing the architecture, but also a journey to evoke memories, recreate the cultural and religious space deeply connected to the spiritual life of the people of Nghe An. This place is not only a sacred place of worship, but also a significant site for educating about traditions and fostering national pride in the younger generation,” Ms. Uyen emphasized.
Currently, the project to restore the King Le Thai To Temple is still underway, but progress is slow due to a lack of investment resources. The prolonged construction time is affecting conservation efforts. Local authorities hope the project will be completed soon to promote the value of this historically significant land and contribute to the preservation of the valuable historical relics of Lam Thanh commune. Only when the project is completed will the King Le Thai To Temple truly become a spiritual destination, serving the needs of people and tourists who wish to worship and learn about history.
As evening falls on the riverside land along the Lam River, the setting sun paints the tiled roofs of the old temple red, and the smoke from the incense in the main hall rises faintly into the evening sky. The temple caretaker quietly sweeps and tidies the incense burners, welcoming the sparse stream of visitors. Although the construction is still unfinished, the place retains its sacredness and the reverence that the people hold for the national hero. The people believe that when the project is completed, the King Le Temple will be reborn in splendor beside the gentle Lam River, so that the sound of ceremonial drums will once again echo, and the story of the founding king of the Later Le Dynasty will forever resonate.
Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/van-hoa/vi-sao-du-an-phuc-dung-den-vua-le-van-dang-do-181336.html
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