Kiep Bac Temple

Kiep Bac Temple is a historic temple complex in Hung Dao Ward, Chi Linh City, Hai Phong, Vietnam, part of the Con Son - Kiep Bac Special National Relic. Dedicated to Tran Hung Dao (Tran Quoc Tuan), the 13th-century Tran Dynasty supreme commander, it stands near the confluence of the Cau, Thuong and Luc Nam rivers forming the Luc Dau River. Notable for its traditional Vietnamese architecture, worship halls and annual festival, it is a major pilgrimage and cultural site in northern Vietnam.

Visitors can expect a traditional Vietnamese temple complex set in a tranquil valley near the Luc Dau River, with gated entrances, courtyards, incense halls, statues and altars dedicated to Tran Hung Dao and his family and generals. The site includes the main worship hall, auxiliary shrines, stone steles, and landscaped grounds with old trees. Visitors can explore the architecture, observe worship activities, view historical artifacts and enjoy the riverside and forested surroundings. During festival periods the temple hosts processions, incense offerings and cultural performances.

Kiep Bac Temple is dedicated to Tran Hung Dao (Tran Quoc Tuan, 1228-1300), supreme commander of the Tran Dynasty who led victories against Mongol invasions in the 13th century. He was stationed at Van Kiep, his fiefdom, where he established military headquarters. After his death in 1300, a temple was built to worship him. The site, together with Con Son Pagoda, forms the Con Son - Kiep Bac Special National Relic, recognized for its association with Tran Dynasty history and national defense.

The temple is a major center for the worship of Tran Hung Dao, revered as a national hero and tutelary deity. It hosts the annual Kiep Bac Temple Festival in the 8th lunar month, featuring incense offering ceremonies, processions, dragon boat racing on the Luc Dau River and traditional rituals. The festival and daily worship reflect Vietnamese traditions of ancestor and hero veneration and attract pilgrims from across northern Vietnam.