The Vietnam is a land replete with timeless legends, priceless artefacts and iconic heroes. The best way to experience this impressive cultural lineage is through a stay at a hotel in Haiphong. Of the many Haiphong Hotels one can sample, an ideal location to experience the best of local culture in an international setting is at the Harbour View Hotel Haiphong Vietnam. This well-appointed property combines the best of stylish comfort with elegant French colonial decor to provide an experience dripping with history.

Chem Temple was erected in homage to an iconic hero from the annals of Vietnam’s history: Ly Than. Regarded to be an exemplary military man, and a consummate ethical figure, Ly Than helped stave off the Mongolian invasion of the Vietnam, and his name alone had the power to send his enemies scrambling off in fear. The temple holds a sumptuous festival in the hero’s honour, where brightly dressed adherents participate in an elaborate ceremony to bath the various statues located at the temple, of which the most important are of Ly Than and his wife. The festival concludes with a solemn funeral procession dedicated to the hero, and a splendid verbal tribute is recited in his honour, which paints him at the quintessential hero of the land, whose physical prowess and ethical leadership knew no equal. The lavish ceremony also includes celebratory games such as duck catching, kite flying and releasing doves, and the festival is well worth a visit as it provides a glimpse into the Vietnam’s most beloved national heroes.