Tay Ho Temple

Bùi Thụy Đào Nguyên · CC BY-SA 3.0

A temple to the mother goddess Lieu Hanh on a spit of land in West Lake, busiest on the first and fifteenth of the lunar month.

The temple sits at the end of a narrow spit reaching into West Lake, so water lies on both sides of the approach. It honours Lieu Hanh, one of the Four Immortals of Vietnamese belief and the most widely venerated figure in the mother-goddess religion — the indigenous tradition UNESCO has since recognised. Unlike a pagoda, this is not a quiet place: on the first and fifteenth of the lunar month the lane in is packed with worshippers, votive paper and flowers stacked along both sides, and inside you may find a spirit-possession ritual under way with its chau van musicians. That is the time to come if you want to see a living practice, and the time to avoid if you want calm.

Visitor information

When is the best time to visit Tay Ho Temple?

Late afternoon on a weekday, as the light drops onto the lake

How much does it cost to visit Tay Ho Temple?

Free

How long do you need at Tay Ho Temple?

45 minutes

What are the opening hours of Tay Ho Temple?

05:00 - 19:00

Did you know

The temple honours Lieu Hanh, one of the Four Immortals of Vietnamese folk belief.
It stands on a small peninsula reaching into West Lake, with a single lane in.
The mother-goddess religion was inscribed by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage in 2016.
The first and fifteenth of each lunar month are the two busiest worship days.

Travel tips

Avoid the first and fifteenth if crowds put you off — the approach is barely passable by vehicle then.
Eat West Lake shrimp cakes at the stalls by the top of the lane; that is the dish tied to this corner.

Source: https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/941901613

Updated: 2026-08-16