1. Where is Our Lady of Lavang?

La Vang is located in the Dinh Cat Parish of Quang Tri Province, 6 km from Quang Tri Town and 58 km from Hue Ancient Capital. Today, Our Lady of Lavang is considered a major pilgrimage center for Catholics in Vietnam and is recognized by the Catholic Church.

2. The way to come the Holy Land

From Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City or some other places, if you want to visit the Pilgrimage Center of Vietnamese Catholic Church, it is very simple. There are many different ways and transportation. You can go by train, car or motorbike.

If you take a North – South car (Highway 1A) to Quang Tri Town – Quang Tri Province, you will stop at Cau Trang. And then, you can take a motorbike or taxi to Our Lady of Lavang (about 4 km).

If traveling by train, you can get off at Dong Ha Railway Station then take motorbike or taxi to La Vang (about 16 km). Or you can stop at Hue Railway Station that is about 57 km away from La Vang. In addtion, if stopping at Hue railway station, you can rent car to visit Hue ancient capital, then pilgrimage to Our Lady.

When you ride motorbike to the territory of Hai Phu Commune, on the left hand, there are two branching roads. One is “La Vang 4 km” sign, and another is “La Vang 2 km” sign. They are the wide old road that takes pilgrims into the Holy Land and you can choose one of them.

3. Origin of the name “Lavang”

The name La Vang comes from different hypotheories.

Once upon a time, in a remote area, there were many tigers harming people. So people who went to the forest have to stay at night, they often shared the soup to each other. If they had seen that there was a danger, they would have shouted loud in order that people can come to rescue. “La vang” in Vietnamese means shouting loud.

Another hypothesis is that when the parishioners went to this area, they got sick. At that time, the spiritual Mother instructed the parishioners to find a leaf called leaf bracing. This leaf could cure the disease when people drank it. After that, they write phrase “lá vằng” but it will become La Vang when dismissing sign.

4. The legend of Our Lady of Lavang

According to the Archives of the Archdiocese of Hue (1998), under the reign of King Canh Thinh (ascended in 1792), with the ban on August 17, 1798, some believers near Dinh Cat Hill Quang Tri) to seek shelter. They came to the refuge at La Vang Mountain. In the sacred forests of poisonous water, poor conditions, lack of food, illness, fear of the military, fear of beasts, believers only know a trust to entrust to God and Mary. They gather together under the old tree, praying together, comforting and helping each other.

One day while they were praying the Rosary, they saw a beautiful woman, wearing a large robe, holding the infant Jesus, with two angels holding the lights on the two sides. They immediately recognized Maria. Mother shows kindness, affection, and comfort to the laity. Mother taught to pick a leaf that is available around it, bring water to heal the disease. She promised her mother, “I have accepted your request. From now onwards, everyone who comes to invoke her in this place will receive the blessing of her will.”

The event took place on grass near the base of the tree where the parishioners were praying. Later, she appeared so many times to support and comfort her children in the affliction.

Since then, the events of Our Lady appear in the forest of La Vang, through generations spread everywhere, and many sincerely believe in, praying to Our Lady. Our Lady of La Vang is often symbolized by a woman dressed in a Vietnamese tunic wearing a Vietnamese traditional costume.

5. What does Our Lady of La Vang have?

Our Lady of Lavang has experienced many events of history and time. However, the architecture of this place still follows the traditional architecture of the Catholic church constructions.

In the centre of the Holy Land, today it remains a bell tower relic of the Basilica of Our Lady of Lavang. This work was built from 1924 to 1929, renovated in 1959. In the summer of 1972, the Basilica was destroyed by the war.

In front of the bell tower is a large square. On both side of the square is the stations of the cross (Via Crucis) – a series of 14 pictures or carvings portraying events in the Passion of Christ, from his condemnation to his crucifixion and final burial in catacombs.

Near the ancient banyan tree where the Virgin appeared have a monumental monument. It was built with the image of three banyan trees and statue of Our Lady in the middle. Besides, the Our Lady Statues are also set in many places of the Holy Land. Our Lady is often represented by the image of a Vietnamese woman wearing a Vietnamese traditional dress “ao dai” and holding a baby.

In addition, in the Holy Land, there is also a well where every believers come and sip water to pay homage to Our Lady.

6. La Vang pilgrimage festival

According to the length of history, the first pilgrimage festival was held in 1901. The organizational date is different but it is also in August.

The La Vang Pilgrimage Festival is held on August 13, 14, 15 with many important ceremonies. The festival takes place with the participation of many Bishops, priests, religious and thousands of parishioners from Vietnam and foreign countries.

During the three days of the fesstival, there will usually have many forms of activities of some associations, thematic discussions, and palanquin procession. It can be said that palanquin procession is a very special ritual to honor Our Lady of Lavang.

Next, there will be a night of prayer and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament with Mother. The most solemn Mass in the three days of the feestival is the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on the morning of August 15. This is also the closing Mass.

 

To discover more about the stories of Our Lady of Lavang, you can take our tours here.