Our Lady of La Vang is the name given by Vietnamese Catholics to the apparition of the Virgin Mary during a time of persecution against Catholicism in Vietnam. La Vang is now a sacred site and an important pilgrimage destination for Vietnamese Catholics, located in Hai Lang district, Quang Tri province, within the Archdiocese of Hue. Believers hold that the Virgin Mary appeared in the area in 1798, and a church was built near three banyan trees, where it is believed the apparition occurred. In 1961, the Holy See elevated the church to the status of Minor Basilica of La Vang. 

 To this day, the Catholic Church has not made an official declaration regarding the events at La Vang. However, religious activities and pilgrimages to the site are still accepted by the Church. It is also recognized as one of three Catholic pilgrimage centers officially recognized by the Vietnamese government. 

 One theory suggests that during the reign of King Canh Thinh, the Tây Sơn dynasty had policies against Catholicism. To avoid persecution by the Tây Sơn dynasty, many Catholics in the Quang Tri area fled to this remote area. As the area was hilly and isolated, it was difficult for people to communicate, so they had to shout loudly to get their messages across, leading to the name "La Vang" ("shout" and "echo" in Vietnamese). 

 Another similar theory regarding the name "La Vang" suggests that the sound of "la vang" was created by the properties of sound and became a proper noun. It states that this forested area was once inhabited by many dangerous tigers that attacked people. Therefore, people who stayed in the forest at night would take turns keeping watch and shouting "la vang" if they spotted movement, to alert others and seek help. 

 Yet another explanation for the name "La Vang" is that when the Catholics fled to this area, they were afflicted with an epidemic. It was then that the Virgin Mary appeared and instructed them to find a type of leaf called "vằng" to use as a remedy. The word "vằng" without diacritics became "Vang" in Vietnamese, and the area where the leaf was found became known as La Vang. 

 According to the archives of the Archdiocese of Hue in 1998, under the reign of King Canh Thinh (who ascended to the throne in 1792), with a ban on Catholicism issued on August 17, 1798, some believers near Dinh Cat Hill (now Quang Tri town) had to seek refuge. They came to the sanctuary of La Vang, which was a remote, sacred forest with difficult living conditions and scarce food. 

 Today, Our Lady of La Vang is an important pilgrimage site for Vietnamese Catholics, not only in Vietnam but also abroad. Many people come to La Vang to pray for peace, happiness, and health for themselves and their families, and to show their gratitude to the Virgin Mary. The site is also a symbol of the resilience and faith of Vietnamese Catholics, who continue to practice their religion despite persecution and hardship.