Visit ancient Viem Xa Village to explore Bac Ninh love duets

Travelers coming to Bac Ninh might hear local people tell them that if they do not visit Viem Xa Village, they miss half of Bac Ninh.

The village is not just a rural residential area located in Yen Phong, Bac Ninh, but most importantly, it is the original birthplace of Quan Ho folk singing (love duets), one of the most fascinating cultural activities that has allured numerous generations of Vietnamese people for a thousand years.

No one knows exactly when Quan Ho was invented, but it has become an indispensable part of daily lives of local residents.

Most researchers agree that Viem Xa village was established more than 2,000 years ago with various historical relics that have been conserved until today.

One of them is Cung Temple including Cung Shrine and Tien Well (Fairy Well) that is situated in the front of the village and right on the foot of Kim Son Mountain.

However, the most attractive and famous relics at Viem Xa Village is Vua Ba Temple where Duc Vua Ba, the creator of Quan Ho, is worshipped.

This is not a charming place with giant structure, but a cultural center of the village where numerous traditional activities of not only Viem Xa but also the whole Quan Ho’ area are organized.

On February 6th and 7th annually (Lunar Calendar), local residents at Viem Xa Village hold a special festival at Vua Ba Temple. The event is meant to worship and recall the merit of Duc Vua Ba as well as to create an interesting and joyful time for local people before a difficult year ahead.

An easily recognizable point is that all activities at this festival are related to Quan Ho such as singing Quan Ho competition, Quan Ho performance or rites to the creator of this singing genre. It can be said that Duc Vua Ba Temple festival is the biggest and most uproarious event dedicated to Quan Ho in Vietnam.


                     Going along the Cau River dike to visit Diem Village


                 The village's communal house where hosts community activities


                                                 The village temple


                                      The ancient well of the village




                            Playing chess on the yard of the communal house


                                A meeting of the elderly at the communal house


                                             The gate of Vua Ba temple


                                              Inside the Vua Ba Temple


                                     The traditional festival of Diem Village




                         Villagers perform quan ho duets at the village's festival

Compiled by Pha Le