VietNamNet Bridge – This is a 200-year-old skeleton with a length of 22m and a weight of 65 tons at Van Thuy Tu Temple in Phan Thiet City of Binh Thuan Province.

Built in 1762, Van Thuy Tu is considered the oldest temple in Phan Thiet, Binh Thuan province. Located on Ngu Ong Street, Phan Thiet city, overlooking the sea, the architecture of the temple is as same as other temples in the Central of the country. However, the difference between the temple and the others is that the temple is where locals worship for the God of Nam Hai (God of Sea) with hundreds of whale skeletons which have been kept carefully by the local fishermen for a long time. A very big skeleton of whale dating back nearly 200 years was given the most attention and most thoroughly preserved by the locals as well as tourists.

In the campus of the Van Thuy Tu temple is a large promontory where dead whales washed over the shore were buried by the locals. Respected by the local fishermen, Whale is called “Ngu Ong” (Mr Whale). Anyone who saw the dead Ngu Ong first will become his “son” and worships for him during 3 years. All show the customs and attitude of the local fishermen for the “Mr. Whale” based on the beliefs and relation between people with people.

Being the oldest fishery temple in Binh Thuan, the Van Thuy Tu temple is considered their marine creator. The temple stored numerous Vietnamese-Chinese cultural relics related to the fishing occupation reflected through the worshipping content in the temple. The temple has a great number of honors awarded by the Kings under the Nguyen Dynasty in order to worship for the Ngu Ong and the God of sea because earlier in feudal war against the Tay Son insurgent army, the Nguyen generals were repeatedly rescued by whales in the sea.

Kienthuc/VNN