Discover 4 relics and scenic spots that have just become Special National Monuments

Four relics have just been ranked as Special National Monuments, including the historical relic of the tomb of Vice-Chancellor Nguyen Sinh Sac (Dong Thap); the historical relic of the places marking the Nghe Tinh Soviet Movement (Nghe An); the scenic and archaeological site of Tam Chuc Complex and the historical and architectural relic of Co Le Pagoda (Ninh Binh).

Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh has just signed Decision No. 1959/QD-TTg dated September 11, 2025 on ranking special national relics (phase 18, 2025) for 4 relics.

The four relics ranked this time include: The historical relic of the tomb of Vice-Chancellor Nguyen Sinh Sac, Cao Lanh ward, Dong Thap province; The historical relic of the places marking the Nghe Tinh Soviet Movement (1930-1931) in Nghe An; The scenic and archaeological site of Tam Chuc Complex, Tam Chuc ward, Ninh Binh province; and The historical and architectural relic of Co Le Pagoda, Co Le commune, Ninh Binh province.

Tomb of Vice-Chancellor Nguyen Sinh Sac. (Source: Dong Thap Provincial Information Center)

Historical site of the Tomb of Vice-Chancellor Nguyen Sinh Sac , located at 137 Pham Huu Lau Street, Cao Lanh Ward, Dong Thap Province.

This is the resting place of Vice-Chancellor Nguyen Sinh Sac (1862–1929), a patriotic Confucian scholar and father of President Ho Chi Minh .

Nguyen Sinh Sac was born and raised in Nam Dan, Nghe An province. In the year of Tan Suu (1901), he passed the Pho Bang exam and in 1906 he was appointed as "Minister of Rites" and then as District Chief of Binh Khe (Binh Dinh). During his time as an official, he always sided with the poor, punished the tyrants and was only an official for a short time before being dismissed by the Nguyen Dynasty. After being dismissed, he went to the South and lived in Hoa An village in Dong Thap province to teach, prescribe medicine to help the poor and lived a simple life until his death.

To commemorate his merits, the government and people of Dong Thap built a mausoleum for Nguyen Sinh Sac for people inside and outside the province to visit and burn incense in his memory. The project was completed in 1977 and was ranked as a National Monument in 1992.

The relic site as a whole is a harmonious architectural complex, bearing the cultural and ecological imprint of Dong Thap, covering an area of ​​10 hectares, with many works that are both national and modern.

The relic site of Vice-Chancellor Nguyen Sinh Sac is structured into 4 areas: the mausoleum area, the temple and the exhibition house of the life and career of Vice-Chancellor Nguyen Sinh Sac; the area of ​​Uncle Ho's stilt house and the fish pond garden; the cultural space modeled after the ancient Hoa An village and the area for organizing folk games and entertainment.

The tomb's dome facing the East is a stylized lotus petal shaped like an open hand facing down, above are 9 dragons with bold folk style, extending into 9 gables, symbolizing the people of the Mekong Delta always protecting and embracing the tomb of the patriotic scholar. In front of the tomb is a lotus pond shaped like a 5-pointed star, in the middle of the pond is a stylized white lotus platform 6.5m high symbolizing the pure life of the Vice-Chancellor.

Graves of Soviet martyrs of Nghe Tinh who died on September 12, 1930 in Thai Lao, Hung Nguyen. (Source: Nghe An Provincial People's Committee .)

Historical relics The sites marking the Nghe Tinh Soviet Movement (1930-1931) in Nghe An are a complex of 9 relic sites associated with the heroic historical milestones of the Nghe Tinh Soviet Movement.

This complex includes:

- Ben Thuy Junction: The site of the workers' and peasants' struggle on May 1, 1930 (in 1930, this site belonged to Yen Dung Ha village, Yen Truong commune, Vinh-Ben Thuy city. Currently, the relic belongs to Truong Vinh ward, Nghe An province.

- Vo Liet Communal House, the headquarters of the Soviet government during the Nghe Tinh Soviet movement, 1930-1931 (in 1930, Vo Liet Communal House belonged to Vo Liet commune, Vo Liet canton, Thanh Chuong district, Anh Son prefecture. Currently, the relic belongs to Kim Bang commune, Nghe An province).

- The place where the French army massacred the struggle on September 12, 1930 (in 1930, this location belonged to Thai Lao commune, Hung Nguyen district, Hung Nguyen prefecture. Currently, the relic belongs to Hung Nguyen commune, Nghe An province).

- Tomb of Soviet martyrs of Nghe Tinh who died on November 7, 1930 (in 1930, this location belonged to Tien Ly commune, Dien Chau district, Dien Chau prefecture. Currently, the relic belongs to Dien Chau commune, Nghe An province).

- The place where 72 Soviet soldiers of Nghe Tinh were executed (in 1930, this location belonged to Van Doi commune, Van Tu canton, Dong Thanh district, Dien Chau prefecture. Currently, the relic belongs to Van Tu commune, Nghe An province).

- Tam Mai Communal House (in 1930, the relic belonged to Quynh Thuan commune, Quynh Luu district, Dien Chau prefecture, Nghe An province. Currently, the relic belongs to Quynh Phu commune, Nghe An province).

- Dinh Trung (in 1930, the relic belonged to Yen Dung Thuong village, Hung Nguyen district, Hung Nguyen prefecture. Currently, the relic belongs to Truong Vinh ward, Nghe An province).

- Luong Son Communal House, where the Nghe Tinh Soviet government was established 1930-1931 (in 1930, Luong Son Communal House belonged to Luong Son village, Dang Son commune, Luong Son district, Anh Son prefecture. Currently, the relic belongs to Do Luong commune, Nghe An province.

- Revolutionary base of the Nghe Tinh Soviet period in 1931 - Vi Van Khang's house (in 1930, the relic belonged to Muong Qua, Mon Son commune, Con Cuong district, Tuong Duong prefecture, Nghe An province. Currently, the relic belongs to Mon Son commune, Nghe An province).

Tam Chuc scenic complex is ranked at national level as a scenic spot. (Source: Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.)

Scenic and Archaeological Sites Tam Chuc Complex in Ninh Binh covers an area of ​​5,000 hectares. The location of this scenic spot is adjacent to Hanoi, Phu Tho and Ninh Binh. Surrounding the complex are also scenic relic complexes that have been ranked nationally by the state such as Lat Son Base; Bat Canh Son Scenic Spot, Ba Danh Pagoda - Ngoc Mountain, Truc Ngu Dong Son Temple.

According to archaeological research, Tam Chuc is one of the residential areas of ancient Vietnamese people, influenced very early by Hoa Binh culture about 10,000-30,000 years ago.

This place also preserves relics, archaeological sites, traces, and legends about the history of the development of indigenous beliefs in Vietnam through the dynasties in the nation's history.

In the Tam Chuc scenic complex, there are many important relics such as Tam Chuc communal house, Tam Chuc ancient pagoda; Mau temple; Gieng temple. Tam Chuc - Ba Sao is an ancient land formed millions of years ago.

This relic complex is a limestone mountain wetland with dozens of caves, rock shelters, Catto wells, mussel islands... not only valuable in terms of landscape and tourism but also of great archaeological value.

This place also has a population of 100 rare white-rumped langurs, fish species, birds, storks, and herons; it was home to ancient Vietnamese people 10,000 to 30,000 years ago.

Along with the tangible values, Tam Chuc scenic complex also contains many unique intangible cultural values, including the Tam Chuc Pagoda Festival, which preserves many ancient folk tales, myths, legends, folk cultural performances, unique rituals and beliefs, contributing to the study of the spiritual and cultural life of our people throughout the process of conquering nature and transforming society.

The Great Bell weighing more than 9 tons lies in the middle of the lake of Co Le Pagoda. (Photo: Bich Hang/Vietnam+)

The historical and architectural relic of Co Le Pagoda in Ninh Binh has a long history, associated with the legend of Zen Master Nguyen Minh Khong, a famous National Master of the Ly Dynasty for his medical talent and profound morality.

The name "Co Le" evokes both ancient origins and a sacred mark of the spiritual culture of the Northern Delta region.

Located on a square plot of land, nearly 10 hectares wide in the North, Co Le Pagoda is a Buddhist cultural and architectural work built in the 12th century, during the reign of King Ly Than Ton, to worship Buddha and Saint Nguyen Minh Khong.

Not only a place of practice, a place of return for many Buddhist souls, Co Le Pagoda is also a living testament of national history, a place of harmony between religion and life, past and present and the unique architectural, cultural and spiritual beauty of the Vietnamese people.

What makes Co Le Pagoda different is its unique architecture that does not overlap with any other ancient pagoda in Vietnam.

Previously, the temple was made of wood. Weathered by rain, sun and time, the ancient temple has seriously degraded.

In 1902, the First Patriarch Pham Quang Tuyen returned to preside over the pagoda and had it restored and rebuilt in the new "Nhat Thoc Lau Dai" style - combining the Asian spirit with Western Gothic features. Therefore, Co Le Pagoda is a Buddhist temple but has the appearance of a Catholic cathedral with arched doors, high pillars, stained glass windows and splendid decorative details.

The highlight of the overall architecture of Co Le Pagoda is the Nine-Piece Lotus Tower, a multi-storey architecture rising gradually into the air, a characteristic of Buddhist architecture. The tower is 32m high, made up of 9 lotus floors, symbolizing the "nine layers" of heaven, a characteristic of Buddhist beliefs.

In addition to the unique and solid dome architecture, this place also preserves a 9-ton bell, located in the middle of the lake in front of the main hall.

Not only does it have historical and cultural value, Co Le Pagoda is also a place closely associated with the spiritual life of Ninh Binh people for many generations./.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/kham-pha-4-di-tich-danh-lam-thang-canh-vua-tro-thanh-di-tich-quoc-gia-dac-biet-post1061491.vnp