Ong Bon is a typical temple of the Chinese community living in the Southwest region. The temple is famous for its bold oriental architecture, peaceful space and countless rare antiques. This is also an ideal destination for young people to visit and sightsee when traveling to Can Tho.

Overview about the Ong Bon Temple

Ong Bon Temple is located at 9 Nguyen Van Troi, Hamlet 1, Ward 1, Soc Trang City (currently Phu Loi Ward, Can Tho City). The temple has typical cultural features of the Chinese people from the early 20th century. Ong Bon temple is located right in the center of Phu Loi ward, so it is very convenient for visitors to come here to visit and worship.

Ong Bon Temple

Ong Bon Temple with a view from inside.

Hoa An Assembly Hall or Ong Bon Pagoda is a familiar name for local people, also known as A Con Temple. With a long history, the pagoda attracts a large number of tourists to Can Tho to visit because of its ancient and splendid beauty.

Bong Bon Temple

Covered in a rich history of over 100 years, this place is the most vivid mark of the development in culture and ancient architecture of the Chinese community.

The temple was built in 1875 and then underwent many restorations in 1911, 1953, 1969, 1987, 1990, 1994 and 1999, with additional construction and reinforcement but still maintaining the old style and architecture. Today, this is a spacious historical and cultural relic with unique architectural and sculptural art of the Chinese community in the Mekong Delta.

Architecture of Ong Bon temple in Can Tho

Ong Bon temple was built in the shape of the letter “富” symbolizing prosperity and wealth. Although the temple is not large in scale, it is extremely airy and has a strong Chinese architectural style. Anyone passing by here is attracted by the row of splendid red lanterns like in Chinatown hanging in front of the temple porch.

Ong Bon temple

Every detail of the temple is imbued with the color and sophistication of ancient architecture.

The construction materials of the temple are entirely made of stone and precious wood. In particular, the temple still retains the blue yin-yang tubular tiles (glazed tiles) and colored glazed ceramics, used to carve statues: “Eight Immortals Trying Martial Arts”, “Two Dragons Fighting for a Pearl”, “Peony and Phoenix” and the “Chrysanthemum” motif is used to decorate the left and right of the front roof, symbolizing the harmony of yin and yang, abundance, and prosperity, thus adding to the solemnity of the temple.

Ong Bon temple

The motifs at the entrance.

The temple has a main facade facing the South, on both sides of the washed stone slabs, about one meter wide, are two large characters of Tang Phuoc – implying the wish for prosperity for the people. nature to receive more blessings, creating a more majestic appearance for the temple. In addition, on the right side of grounds, there is a small shrine to worship the God of the Land, symbolizing the local god of the land.

Ong Bon temple

Observing from the large incense burner placed in the middle of the rather large courtyard of the temple, the overall architecture of this relic has the entire column base, the green stone bordering the three-step floor in the interior area to the main door frame of the pagoda… all carved by Chinese artisans of the previous generation from Chinese stone blocks.

Ong Bon temple

Stepping inside, visitors will be overwhelmed by the series of parallel sentences in Chinese characters hung and covered with columns from the front room to the main hall. On the left is the majestic altar of the White Tiger, on the right is the altar of the mighty Azure Dragon, this is both a feng shui element and a sacred object to ward off evil spirits, dispelling bad luck.

Ong Bon temple

Thanks to the “Heavenly Well”, the space of the temple is spacious, creating light for the back of the main hall and a place to release the smoke of incense when many people come to worship.

In addition to the sanctum worshiping Trinh An – a founding hero, a mandarin who was both a scholar and a martial artist, and lived during the Song Dynasty in China. He had many great achievements in teaching people to persevere in farming to reclaim land, establish villages, and advised everyone to keep the rites and customs. The two left and right rooms worship the main god Phuc Duc (God of Land) and Mazu along with many other consort gods; so the temple not only attracts Vietnamese men and women of Chinese origin, but Ong Bon Temple is also popular with many people Kinh, local Khmer people sincerely come to worship and thank the gods for good business and family peace.

Ong Bon temple

Inside the main hall.

The sculptures in the temple are extremely meticulous and sophisticated. Shown in wooden statues carved with mascots, parallel sentences made of precious wood, 3-layer carved horizontal lacquered boards… all are rare sculptures that represent ancient Chinese models, bearing noble images used in the royal court.

Ong Bon temple

the temple was recognized as a provincial-level cultural and architectural relic

The pagoda also has many other rare antiques such as wooden statues, painted in red and gilded; a set of ancient incense burners, three sets of square incense burners, a pair of cranes and turtles holding lotus flowers made of colored metal; altars made of precious wood… On May 12, 2004, the temple was recognized as a provincial-level cultural and architectural relic.

When should you visit Ong Bon Temple?

Not only is it a spiritual destination, but it is also a place to organize unique cultural and festival activities of the Chinese people through the lantern auction to gather and unite people to contribute to raising funds for social charity work…. Therefore, visitors can visit Ong Bon temple at any time of the year. However, on special occasions such as the full moon day, Ong Bon’s birthday, Lunar New Year, Lantern Festival… Ong Bon temple in Can Tho is more crowded than ever. Coming here during this time, you will have the opportunity to attend unique festivals and many interesting traditional activities.

Ong Bon temple

Source: collected by An

Follow us for the best deal with Vietnam package tours and visa services!