Bach Ma Temple

Located in the heart of Hanoi's Old Quarter, Bach Ma Temple is the "line of defense" guarding the east of the ancient citadel. Founded in the 9th century, Bach Ma Temple is considered the oldest temple of the Four Towns including Bach Ma Temple, Quan Thanh Temple, Kim Lien Temple, Voi Phuc Temple. The god worshipped here is the god Long Do (meaning "dragon navel"), also known as the god Bach Ma. The temple has four main sections. The first is the Phuong Dinh (front yard) with ironwood columns painted with golden lipstick. Next is Dai Bai (outer communal house) which is reserved for worshipping Bach Ma, then Thien Huong (middle communal house). The innermost forbidden palace is a place to worship the god Long Do. Currently, there are also many ancient relics and precious artifacts of great historical value, including ordination, double drums, bronze bells, floats, poison bottles, 15 steles with legends and myths about the construction of the temple, rituals to worship the gods along with embellishments in the past 1000 years.