Historical Layers Amid the Majestic Mountains and Forests

06/09/2026
Amid the majestic mountains and forests, the Ban Bu Cave Historical, Cultural and Scenic Relic Site in Ngoc Lac preserves the heroic legacy of the Lam Son Uprising while offering a distinctive natural setting. Preserving these layers of history and unlocking the potential of cultural, historical and spiritual tourism has become a key direction being pursued by the local authorities.

The procession carrying sacred water at the Ban Bu Cave Historical, Cultural and Scenic Relic Site.

The Heroic Legacy of the Lam Son Uprising

Ngoc Lac is a land that preserves numerous historical traces associated with the Lam Son Uprising against the invading Ming forces in the 15th century and the establishment of the Le Dynasty. Within this historical narrative, the Ban Bu Cave Historical, Cultural and Scenic Relic Site stands out as a remarkable destination, bringing together mountains and forests, caves and streams, as well as a system of associated relics, including Nan Pagoda, the Temple of Mau Thoai, and temples dedicated to King Le and the generals and soldiers of the Lam Son insurgent army.

At the heart of the relic site is Ban Bu Cave, one of the caves in western Thanh Hoa that has retained its majestic and pristine beauty. The cave stretches for more than 6 kilometers, with one entrance and two exits. Deep inside the mountain, visitors encounter scenic formations with evocative names such as the King’s Field, the King’s Pond, Buddha Cave, Silver Waterfall, Golden Waterfall, Fairy Cave and the Forbidden Palace. A crystal-clear stream quietly reflects the countless shapes of the stalactites, creating a landscape that is both expansive and mystical amid the vast mountains and forests.

According to documents preserved by the Culture and Social Affairs Division of the Ngoc Lac Commune People’s Committee, Ban Bu Cave and Stream once served as a gathering place for the insurgent forces and a site for manufacturing weapons. They also formed an important defensive line from which the Lam Son insurgents defeated the Ming forces on numerous occasions, helping build the strength and momentum that ultimately led to victory. Thus, every cliff and stream here bears not only the imprint of nature but also seems to preserve echoes of a historic era of nation-building and national defence.

After the final victory, King Le Loi ascended the throne as emperor but never forgot the years of hardship and struggle he endured at Ban Bu. Believing in the protection of the divine, the king bestowed a title upon Tinh Quang Ngoc Giam Thuy Loi Luu Thanh Thuy Than, understood as the water deity, Mau Thoai or Mother of Water, and permitted local villagers to worship the deity. He also allowed the community to organize annual victory celebrations on the 18th and 19th days of the first lunar month.

To commemorate the contributions of King Le Loi and the Lam Son insurgents, local people established temples at the foot of Ban Bu Mountain dedicated to King Le Loi, national founding hero Le Lai, Nguyen Trai, and the generals who contributed to the fight against the enemy.

Alongside the system of temples, Nan Pagoda, also known as Truc Lam Ban Bu Zen Monastery, is another highlight of the relic site. After enduring historical upheavals, the pagoda was once destroyed by fire and reduced to its foundations. It was restored in 2016, with a solemn architectural design at the foot of the mountain.

In 2005, the site was recognized by the Thanh Hoa Provincial People’s Committee as a provincial-level historical, cultural and scenic relic and incorporated into the overall planning for conservation, restoration and promotion of its values. In 2019, it was further recognized as a provincial tourism site. These milestones affirm the multifaceted value of Ban Bu while highlighting the need for systematic heritage conservation in harmony with tourism development.

Preserving Heritage, Opening New Paths for Development

Every spring, on the 18th and 19th days of the first lunar month, Ngoc Lac Commune organizes the Ban Bu Cultural and Tourism Festival. The ceremonial section is held solemnly, featuring traditional rituals such as palanquin processions, the procession of sacred water, incense offerings and ceremonial rites. Among them, the sacred-water procession symbolizes the bond connecting the community’s past, present and future.

The festival activities are vibrant, featuring cultural and artistic performances, sports activities reflecting the distinctive identities of local ethnic communities, as well as traditional folk games and performances.

In recent years, with funding mobilized through social resources, the locality has invested in the construction and restoration of various facilities within the relic site, attracting increasing numbers of Buddhists, local residents and visitors from across the region to offer incense, explore the site and enjoy its scenery.

Dang Sy Thu, Head of the Culture and Social Affairs Division of the Ngoc Lac Commune People’s Committee, said that Ban Bu is a place of rich historical and cultural value, as well as beautiful landscapes associated with important traces of the Lam Son Uprising and the Le Dynasty. It is also a cultural and spiritual space of particular significance to the local community and an important venue for educating younger generations about the nation’s patriotic traditions.

With this understanding, Ngoc Lac Commune has consistently prioritized the preservation, protection and promotion of the relic’s values while strengthening communication and encouraging local residents to work together to protect the landscape and preserve traditional cultural values.

With the goal of developing Ban Bu into a distinctive cultural, historical and spiritual tourism destination, the locality is actively mobilizing resources to restore the relic, invest in infrastructure, improve the landscape, expand the tourism space and enhance the quality of services for visitors.

The locality is also proactively attracting organizations, individuals and businesses to develop suitable accommodation facilities, restaurants, tourism products and services. In this way, the relic can not only contribute to heritage preservation and enhancement but also offer visitors richer experiences, create opportunities to establish interconnected tourism destinations in the region, and generate livelihoods for local people.

When the past is preserved with a sense of responsibility and the present is nurtured with a vision of sustainable development, the historical layers embedded within Ban Bu Mountain will continue to shine, turning the site into a distinctive and attractive destination in western Thanh Hoa and creating new momentum for the socio-economic development of Ngoc Lac Commune.

Source: Baothanhhoa.vn

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