Binh Thuy Temple - Official Can Tho Visitor Guide
Binh Thuy Temple (Binh Thuy communal house or Long Tuyen Ancient Shrine) is situated in a large area around 4000m2 with its special style and was built in1844. At that time, it was only a simple cottage. It was restored many times. The last time was 1909 and has remained until now.
By Thomas Vietnam at vemekong.com | Official Can Tho Visitor Guide
1. Better to Know as a Tourist
Ticket: Free
Spend-time: Half an hour (approx.)
Hours: Daily 7:30 am - 10:30 am & 1:30 pm – 5:30 pm.
Food:
Shop:
Parking lot: Yes
Blog: /binh-thuy-temple-can-tho/
Address: Binh Thuy ward, Binh Thuy district, Can Tho City.
Recognition(s): In 1853, the 5th of Tu Duc King, he granted the title of Land Founding Deity to Binh Thuy Temple.
Added values: Its architecture is different from other temples in the North. The rare and perfect house is preserved with the specific character of the Mekong Delta in the past century.
Nearby attractions and hidden gems: Looking for places to stop on your way to and from Binh Thuy temple? Or maybe you found it too crowded here? We've got some ideas! Check out our list: Can Tho ancient house (15 minutes away), Son islet (10 minutes by boat), Bang Lang stork garden (45 minutes away).
2. Travel guide to Binh Thuy temple
The house connects with a garden, quite wide but not very long. In the front yard, lain with Chinese bricks and has several rock-gardens, potted plants and a three-door temple gate. At the outside, there are two joss-houses which worship Farm Deity (than nong) and another one worships Tiger Deity. And two joss-houses (small houses) near the three-door temple gate which adore Forest Deity and “Than khai kenh dan nuoc” (the person helps farmers get heavy crops.) The roof top is covered with ornamentation of people, lions, and fish transforming into dragons. The house was not built by cement but of duoc glue, including all joints in the system of rafters, without a single nail. All this had been made by craftsmen who used valuable woods which were red-lacquered and gilded or encrusted with nacre, fine carvings depicting the water activities, trees and fruits of the Southwest. The temple worships Thanh Hoang (the god having duty controlling a village) and many other gods. In 1853, the 5th of Tu Duc King, he granted the title of Land Founding Deity to Binh Thuy Temple. After that the residents upgraded the Temple like this, and worshiped famous historical personalities such as: Bui Huu Nghia, Dinh Cong Trang, Nguyen Trung Truc...who were great talents in many fields: politics, military affairs, culture, economics… hoping that this would bring them better crops and better lives. The multiform god worshiping way shows fusion about the culture of Vietnamese People.
The festival at Binh Thuy Temple is one of the most famous traditional festivals in Can Tho City. If you come here in April and December, do not forget to join this festival.
Ha Dien Festival at Binh Thuy Temple (Crop Beginning Festival): Ha Dien Festival is held on 12th, 13th, 14th of April of the lunar calendar yearly. The ceremony part includes the inviting ceremony, the mean ceremony, the opera performing ceremony, the mountain god offering ceremony, the ceremony taking Thanh Hoang to go sightseeing. Those ceremonies aim to pray to Thanh Hoang and other gods for helping the crop develop. In opera ceremonies, actors both sing and show gesture.
Thuong Dien Festival at Binh Thuy Temple (Crop Finishing Festival): The festival at Binh Thuy Temple occurs on 14th, 15th of December of the lunar calendar yearly. After harvesting crops, people hold this festival to show their gratitude to Thanh Hoang god who makes crops developed. This is also an opportunity for everybody to relax. Folk games such as tug of war, duck racing and hat bo (a kind of opera in South Vietnamese very popular before 1975) have remained. This is a cultural festival attracting thousands of people from everywhere.
3. Pro Tips
If you plan to extend your travel to Can Tho homestay, do not forget to bring mosquito repellent cream.
Visit Can Tho or do any customized tours, please choose reputable providers with boat trips equipped with lifebuoys, jackets, motorcycle and cycling tours with the helmets and. Safety is a priority! Choose Can Tho responsible tours which help you give back while traveling. It’s a cliché, but it’s true.
Can Tho food & drink guide ranges from street food, authentic, fancy to fusion foods. As a tropical land of many fresh vegetables and homegrown gardens, which always make Can Tho cuisines fresh, close to nature and very traditional. If you are a food lover, don’t hesitate to put other bites onto your food lists such as Cong cake in Can Tho, Ut Dzach Fine Rice Vermicelli…
Bring your hat, sunglasses, and sunblock, scarf to wear when visiting temples, pagodas, and the cathedral.
Bring the raincoat if you’re planning a trip to Can Tho in the rainy season, as Can Tho always looks fantastic in the full rain and full sun.
Can Tho tourist attractions are magnificent itself, but if you have enough time, don’t forget to put other places onto your bucket lists such as Can Tho Wildlife & Forest, Binh Thuy Ancient House, Organic Cacao farm, Can Tho Floating Markets, Can Tho Small Canals & Sampan Ride, Can Tho Fruit Garden, Can Tho Paddy Rice Fields, Can Tho Giant Ficus Tree – Secret VC base, Can Tho Rice Noodle Factory, Cai Rang floating market, Can Tho Old Market, Phong Dien floating market, Truc Lam Phuong Nam Zen Monastery, Can Tho to Con Dao – Express boat, Son Islet – Community-based Tourism…
Hopefully, the above tips will help you to come up with a great plan for your adventure in Can Tho, Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Have a safe trip!
“Sleep less, travel more, respect more” – Thomas Vietnam – Local travel expert.
Thank you
