Returning to the Coastal Land for the Thay Thim Temple Festival.

A repository of coastal affection

The Thay Thim Temple relic complex, located in Tan Hai commune, Lam Dong province, comprises the temple area nestled within the Bau Cai dipterocarp forest and the tomb area in the Bau Thong forest, about 3 km to the west of the temple. These sites are associated with pilgrimage traditions honoring Thay Thim among locals and visitors alike.

Each year, from the 14th to the 16th day of the ninth lunar month, the main Thay Thim Temple Festival attracts a large number of residents and visitors from various places to offer incense and pray for peace and health. For many, returning to the temple is not only a pilgrimage but also an opportunity to rediscover a sense of relaxation and tranquility amid the lush green dipterocarp forest.

Nguyen Thi Phuong An, a tourist from Ho Chi Minh City, said that almost every year in the ninth lunar month, her family returns to the temple. "I feel very relaxed and peaceful when I come here. I want to return every year, both to offer incense and pray for my family's peace and health and to find inner peace," An added.

According to folk legend, Thay was a Taoist master from Quang Nam who, along with his wife, came to settle and make a living in what was formerly known as Tam Tan, now Tan Hai commune. The couple helped villagers treat illnesses and earn a living, taught them how to build boats, and supported fishermen in facing the perils of wind and waves. In the memories and stories passed down through generations, Thay Thim symbolize benevolence, virtue, and compassion. This sense of gratitude and reverence has been preserved by the people for generations, forming the foundation for folk religious practices and traditional festivals closely intertwined with the lives of coastal residents.

The Thay Thim Temple Festival is one of the locality's prominent traditional festivals. Rituals such as welcoming the deities (Nghinh Than), enshrining the deities in the main hall (nhap dien an vi), ritual offerings (thỉnh sanh), and honoring the predecessors (te tien hien) are performed in accordance with tradition, demonstrating deep reverence and gratitude toward ancestors, as well as the coastal residents' aspirations for a peaceful life and favorable weather.

In 1997, Thay Thim Temple was recognized as a national historical and cultural relic. In 2022, the Thay Thim Temple Festival was inscribed on the national intangible cultural heritage list, affirming the value and vitality of a traditional festival closely linked to the spiritual life of coastal communities.

Keeping heritage alive with the community

In 2026, the Thay Thim Temple Culture and Tourism Festival is being held from October 23 to 25, featuring a series of traditional rituals and numerous cultural and sporting activities, as well as folk games reflecting the distinct identity of the coastal region. According to the organizing committee, this year's festival features several new attractions, notably an exhibition area showcasing distinctive local OCOP products and a space dedicated to local cuisine, helping to enhance the experience for residents and visitors.

In addition to offering incense and learning about the meaningful stories and the architecture of Thay Thim Temple, visitors can also explore Cam Binh Beach, Tam Tan Headland, and Doc Ong Bang, while enjoying local cuisine. The connection between spiritual tourism, coastal landscapes, and local culture is creating new opportunities to develop tourism products unique to Tan Hai.

Luu Xuan Truong, Chairman of the Tan Hai Commune People's Committee, said: "The Commune Party Committee's resolution on tourism development to 2030, with a vision for 2035, identifies spiritual tourism—centered around Dinh Thay Thim and combined with coastal tourism—as one of the priorities for local socio-economic development. We will implement a range of coordinated measures to gradually make tourism an important economic sector, linking development with the preservation of traditional cultural values."

Amid the rhythm of modern life, Thay Thim Temple remains a place where people return to express their faith, remember their predecessors, and remind one another of kindness and the good things in life. With its rich history and distinctive coastal folk traditions, the Thay Thim Temple Festival not only contributes to preserving traditional values but also stands out as one of the region's major cultural attractions, supporting tourism development in eastern Lam Dong province.