The
Vua Bà Shrine
(Shrine of the Lady King) is located in the Yên Giang Commune, in
the Yên Hưng District. It was built during the
Trần Dynasty on an ancient earthen mound, next to an ancient river
wharf. Festivities here take
place yearly on the eighth day of the third lunar month. Legend says, that while on
an inspection tour of the terrain where he prepared the future
battle of Bạch Ðằng, Trần Hưng Ðạo passed near the wharf and met an
old woman. He questioned her, and she answered by supplying him with
the times of the river’s tides, the topography of the region and
suggested to him to use fire against his enemy. After the victory,
Trần Hưng Ðạo returned to the wharf to look for the old woman, but
could not find her. He asked the Emperor to give her the title of
"Lady King" and had a temple built to dedicate her.
