Duom Temple

About this location

Duom Temple - A Ly Dynasty National Historical Relic in Thai Nguyen Duom Temple is located in Duom hamlet, Phu Luong commune, Thai Nguyen province, about 25km from downtown Thai Nguyen. Built around the 12th century (in 1180), the temple worships the heroic general Duong Tu Minh, a Tay ethnic leader under the Ly Dynasty who made great contributions to resisting the Song invaders, protecting the northern border of Dai Viet, and was granted princesses by two Ly emperors, making him the only figure in Vietnamese history to be twice bestowed the title of royal son-in-law. The temple was classified as a National Relic in 1993, and the Duom Temple Festival was recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2017. The temple architecture is nestled beneath the Duom mountain cliff, amidst ancient tree canopies and large boulders shaped like kneeling elephants and natural dragon heads. The complex features brick construction, tiled roofs, a Triple Gate (Tam quan) facing the national highway, a Bell Tower, Lower Temple (Den Ha), Middle Temple (Den Trung), and Upper Mother Temple (Den Mau Thuong) along an architectural axis ascending the mountain topography. The temple completed its restoration in 2025, and its current state is spacious and intact. The annual festival (held from the 6th to the 8th day of the first lunar month) recreates traditional ground-blessing and water-procession rituals. With its harmonized temple-mountain architecture and authentic Ly Dynasty historical background, this location is ideal for historical period dramas, feudal-era national defense films, and documentaries on cultural beliefs and folk festivals.

Location rules

• Maintain general hygiene and order: No littering or smoking within the temple premises; keep order, limit loud noises that may affect visiting pilgrims and the solemn atmosphere.
• Polite attire and demeanor: Crew members and actors must wear modest, polite attire suitable for the cultural and spiritual space of a National historical relic.
• Strictly prohibited contents: revealing state secrets, anti-state propaganda, distorting history, violating sovereignty, undermining national solidarity, and insulting celebrities or national heroes. (Article 9, Cinema Law)
• For foreign film crews, it is mandatory to use film production services provided by a Vietnamese cinematic establishment.
• Do not arbitrarily move objects or statues without permission from the temple management board.
• Do not use firecrackers for shooting scenes without permission from the temple management board.

Infrastructure

Special notes

• Crowded during major festivals, especially at the beginning of the year.