Bình Thủy temple, also know as Long Tuyền Communal House, is the place to worship Thành Hoàng, a deity that is enshrined the village. Among all the remaining ancient communal houses in the southwestern region, it can be said that Bình Thủy in Cần Thơ is one of the most majestic and most splendid art style. Coming to visit the temple, you not only admire the ancient architecture, but also have the opportunity to learn the history of formation of this sacred temple.

Where is the Bình Thủy temple?

The Bình Thủy temple is located under Cần Thơ Bridge and next to the bank of Bình Thủy River. It is located opposite the river with Nam Nhã pagoda and nearby is the road leading to the old house of Bình Thủy. It is located about 7km from Cần Thơ city center, 46/11A Lê Hồng Phong Street, Bình Thủy Ward, Cần Thơ city.

Opening hours of Bình Thủy communal house: Morning 7:30 – 10:30 and afternoon 13:30 – 17:30.

Architecture of the Bình Thủy temple

The temple was first built in 1844, mainly by bamboo, wood and thatched, and on a plot of land more than 4000 m². It is built on a high and deep foundation, the front house and the back house are square, each side has 6 columns, the pillars are large, round make the buildings more stable.

The main sanctum, on the top of the roof is covered with ornamentation of people, qilin, and common carp transforming into dragons. The front of the house is cement columns decorated with delicate embossed flowers.

The place where the small square house is located is Nghi Thượng’s altar used as the main ceremony of festivals. In the middle of the temple is the main altar. Opposite the right wall is the altar of the dignified Tiên Giác and the altar of Tiền Hiền. Close to the innermost wall in the nave is the altar of the Hậu Đế, the two sides are two altars Hữu Bang and Tả Bang. Outside the communal house, there are two large shrines worshiping the Shennong and the Tiger god.

Bình Thủy Temple is a valuable work in artistic architecture. Although it was built in the early 20th century, the temple’s architecture still retains many traditional architectural elements of the nation. The temple still retains the decorative motifs close to national art. The wood carving art here is very delicate and lively. Hidden under this temple is not only the traditional history origin of an ancient village of the South, but also the place to preserve the quintessential values ​​of culture in the delta river. On September 5, 1989 the temple was certified as a national monument.

Festival at Bình Thủy communal house

Every year, the local people organize the festivities of Thượng Điền (breaking land), held from April 12 to April 14 (lunar calendar), and Hạ Điền (initiating farm work), held on December 14th and 15th (lunar calendar as well).

The festival has a lively and joyful atmosphere with folk games such as duck-dropping, tug-of-war, singing, and cooking local foods … This is a cultural festival that attracts thousands of people everywhere to participate and pray for the nation’s peace, good weather, peaceful family. Bình Thủy temple celebration is one of the three largest congregations in the Mekong Delta river.

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