Nghe Temple

Nghe Temple, known locally as Den Nghe, is a historic temple in An Bien Ward, Le Chan District, Hai Phong, Vietnam. Dedicated to General Le Chan, a female commander under the Trung Sisters and traditionally regarded as the founder of Hai Phong, the temple is a nationally recognized historical and cultural relic. The complex features traditional Vietnamese temple architecture, incense halls, statues and steles, and serves as an active place of worship and annual festival center.

Visitors can expect a compact, traditional Vietnamese temple complex in an urban setting in central Hai Phong. The site includes a main worship hall with statues of General Le Chan, incense altars, stone steles, parallel sentences and decorative woodwork, set within a walled courtyard with mature trees. The atmosphere is that of an active local place of worship with visitors offering incense and prayers, viewing historical artifacts and architecture, and exploring the courtyard and ancillary halls.

Nghe Temple is dedicated to General Le Chan, a female general who served under the Trung Sisters in the 1st century and is traditionally credited with founding the Hai Phong area. The temple was originally built to honor her contributions and has been restored through successive dynasties, including the Le and Nguyen periods. It was recognized as a National Historical and Cultural Relic for its association with early Vietnamese history and local founding traditions.

The temple is an important religious and cultural site for Hai Phong residents, serving as a center for worship of General Le Chan as a tutelary deity. It hosts the annual Den Nghe Festival in the second lunar month with incense offerings, processions and traditional rituals, reflecting local beliefs, community identity and reverence for historical figures.