Hanoi unveils magical “Tran Vu Bell” night tour at sacred temple

THE HANOI TIMES — A brand-new night tour titled “Tieng chuong Tran Vu” (The Bell of Tran Vu) is set to debut in Hanoi this August, offering travelers an immersive blend of spiritual heritage, folklore, and theatrical storytelling at Quan Thanh, one of the capital’s most sacred temples.

Launched to mark the 64th anniversary of Ba Dinh District’s founding, the night tour is a joint initiative by the Ba Dinh People’s Committee, the Management Board of Quan Thanh Temple, researchers and travel companies. A soft launch is scheduled for late May, with weekly operations beginning August 2025. Each 90-minute program will host around 100 visitors.

Highlighting Hanoi’s spiritual core, the tour is the first of its kind to combine cultural and spiritual tourism with live re-enactments at the historic Quan Thanh Temple, also known as Tran Bac, one of the four ancient guardian temples of Thang Long.

Inspired by the temple’s annual festival honoring the deity Huyen Thien Tran Vu, the night tour leads guests through a captivating journey of ancient myths, traditional beliefs, and Vietnam’s rich cultural fabric.

Live performances, artfully staged amidst sacred relics, draw from both tangible and intangible heritage to bring the temple’s storied past to life. Highlights include tales linked to nearby traditional craft villages, such as Truc Bach, once known for silk woven by royal concubines, and Ngu Xa, famed for its bronze casting, including sacred objects still preserved in the temple today.

The tour blends emotional storytelling with historical depth, offering a fresh, humanized approach to heritage interpretation, one that bridges the ancient and the modern. Organizers hope the experience will not only enhance Hanoi’s night-time tourism but also lengthen visitor stays and boost the city’s cultural economy.

To support the initiative, a new fanpage for the temple, Quan Thanh Temple has been launched alongside a visual identity campaign under the slogan “Sacred Guardians of the Capital – Timeless Beauty.” These steps mark a more professional and modern approach to heritage communication and outreach.

Beyond the tour, Quan Thanh Temple will continue hosting cultural events and experiential programs, including exhibitions of 25 calligraphy works honoring the deity Tran Vu, Tet (Lunar New year)-themed installations, traditional costume try-ons, and early-year calligraphy writing experiences.

With “The Bell of Tran Vu”, Hanoi’s heritage comes alive under the stars, offering a soulful, story-rich escape into the spiritual heart of the capital.