A Brief Introduction of The Central Sector of the Nghia An Assembly Hall

Nghia An Assembly Hall (Nghĩa An Hội Quán) or Ong Pagoda (Chùa ông) or Quan De Shrine was founded by Cháozhōu Hoa people when immigrating to Vietnam to worship Quan Thanh De Quan.

In the Assembly Hall, visitors can find highly valuable calligraphies, stone carvings and wood carving works from the late 19th to early 20th centuries on wooden columns, wooden antiques, incense table and altars. These were exquisitely engraved with details to tell stories based on ordinary life activities such as water loading, wood cutting, and 4 holy animals such as shrimps, crabs, fish, squids. After 2 centuries, Nghia An Assembly Hall is where to preserve traditional cultural and religious values and precious antiques of Cháozhōu ethnic community in Ho Chi Minh city.

Every year, the pagoda hosts two major holidays including Nguyen Tieu holiday on the full moon day of lunar January and the feast of God (Via Ong) on 24th of lunar June. It attracts the participation of not only Hoa community but also a great many visitors everywhere to worship with dragon and lion dance as opening performance.

A Brief Introduction of The Central Sector of the On Lang Assembly Hall

On Lang Assembly Hall(Hội quán Ôn Lăng), usually known as Quan Am Pagoda, attracts a great many of Buddist followers to come to worship. The Assembly Hall was built at the end of 18th century (1816) as a head office of Quánzhōu based Hoa immigrants from Fujian province, China. This also serves as a place to worship Thien Hau Thanh Mau (Goddess of the sea) – the Goddess that protects sailors.

Built since late 18th century to the early 19th century, On Lang Assembly Hall is a relic of historical and cultural significance, but the most outstanding identity is its value of architectural art. The architecture of On Lang Assembly Hall was influenced by the style of ancient Chinese shrines, most notably the shapes and decorations of Fujian style roofed pipes. The front door is decorated with gold laces and embossed reliefs; on the walls are painted Chinese landscapes from the time of Quan Cong (Guan Gong). According to feng shui, in front of the monument there needs to be a lake or pond to keep the sacred spiritual chi. As a result, in 1809, the Board of Directors decided to build a lake to set caught fishes free at the opposite side of the temple.

Nowadays, not only Fujian people but a great number of Hoa ethnic people and Vietnamese and foreigners visit the Assembly Hall to pay respect to the Gods and pay homage to an architectural work that marks the cultural history of ancient Saigon.

A Brief Introduction of The Central Sector of the Nghia Nhuan Assembly Hall

Nghia Nhuan Assembly Hall (Hội Quán Nghĩa Nhuận) built in 1872, or named as Quan De Shrine (Miếu Quan Đế) is dedicated to worship Quan Cong. The Assembly Hall was built by Ghaozhou based Hoa community. The worshipping altar of Quan De is arranged in the middle room. Quan De or Quan De Emperor, who originated from Shanxi of China, was honored as a brave general and represened virtues of loyalty, righteousness and courage.

Apart from artistic work of wood carvings such as dragon pillars, lion statues, engraved calligraphy on stones, the Assembly Hall is also worth noting with Vietnamese wood carving style from the late 19th century to first half of 20th century. Wood carving works can be seen almost everywhere in the temple: on the trusses, door covers, altars, incense table and pairs of wood panels with unique design themes such as cashew fruits, mangosteens, birds perching on plum branches apart from classic themes.

Every lunar year, the temple hosts 3 major worshipping ceremonies, which are Quan De Hien Thanh (24th of lunar June), Ky Yen Festival (17th of lunar August) and Lady Thien Hau ceremony (23rd of lunar March).

A Brief Introduction of The Central Sector of the Quynh Phu Assembly Hall

Quynh Phu Assembly Hall (Quỳnh Phủ Hội Quán) was built from the late 18th century as a joint effort by the Hainan originated Hoa ethnic people who immigrated to Vietnam.

With nearly 200 years of age, the Assembly Hall carries a strong mark of colorful folk culture of Hainan. The artifacts in the temple are mostly preserved intact. The worshipping table, incense table, high-reliefs, horizontal wooden boards and pairs of wooden boards were engraved with Chinese calligraphy and embossed with many extraordinary scenes of underwater palaces, Dragon God of the East Sea, Prince of the North Sea and Fish and Shrimp troops.

According to traditional lunar year, the Assembly Hall celebrates the major worshipping ceremonies on Spring Latern Festival (namely Nguyen Tieu Festival) from 13th to 15th of lunar January, Lady Thien Hau ceremony on 23rd of lunar March, Thuy Vy Thanh Nuong ceremony on 15th of lunar October. On these days, the ceremonies pray for nation’s peace, favorable weather and prosperity. The main offering is goat meat.

A Brief Introduction of The Central Sector of the Ming Dynasty Assembly Hall

Ming Dynasty Assembly Hall (Hội Quán Minh Hương) was an ethnic group of southern Vietnam who were descendants of Ming dynasty refugees. As one of the oldest temples in Ho Chi Minh city, Ming Dynasty Assembly Hall was builty by Ming dynasty Hoa community since the end of 17th century, i.e. in 1789. The temple worshipped Than Thanh Hoang Bon Canh and Ngu Tho Ton Than, Ngu Coc Ton Than and Dong Tru Tu Menh.

In addition to its significance as a relic of the founding of Minh Huong commune, the temple is a valuable work of architecture, calligraphy and wood carvings that reflects Vietnamese 19th century art.

Ming Dynasty Assembly Hall is unique as its design was the combination of traditional Southern communal house with of Chinese fine art and architecture. This characteristic differentiates Dinh Minh Huong Gia Thanh from other Mind Huong Assembly Hall. The most important ceremony is Ky Yen, held on the 16th day of lunar January.

A Brief Introduction of The Central Sector of the Ha Chuong Assembly Hall

Assembly Hall (Hội Quán Hà Chương) was built by Hoa people from Zhangzhou, Fujian province, China before 1809 as a dedicated place to worship and celebrate Chinese traditions. The Assembly Hall is dedicated to Thien Hau Thanh Mau (Goddess of the sea). In addition, the temple also worship other Chinese Gods namely Chua Sinh Nuong Nuong, Phuc Duc Chinh Than, Quan Am Bo Tat (Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva) and Ngoc Hoang Dai De (King of Heaven).

The most prominent feature in architecture is the hammock roof and two pairs of monolithic columns carved with dragons that carry 4 out of 8 Gods on their backs.

Every year, the Assembly Hall celebrates 2 main ceremonies including Lady Thien Hau Worshiping Festival on 23rd of lunar March and Forsanke Spirit Ceremony on the 9th of lunar July and attracts great many visitors to attend.

A Brief Introduction of The Central Sector of the Le Chau Assembly Hall

Le Chau Assembly Hall (Hội Quán Lệ Châu) or To Bac Temple (Nhà Thờ Tổ Thợ Bạc) was built in 1892 as the most ancient house of worship dedicated to the ancestor of silversmith in Ho Chi Minh city and even South of Vietnam.

After many renovations, the Assembly Hall still retains exquisite wood carvings with precious artifacts such as larger-than-life drum and bell, carved bronzed partition, engraved incense burners with jade eyes, etc. Especially, in the Assembly Hall there is a glass cabinet that displays a lot of gold and silver jewelries crafted exquisitely under the hands of talented Vietnamese artisans.

In addition to its architectural and cultural values, the Assemble Hall is also a place for silver craftmen to express gratitude to those who have founded and taught the profession of silversmith. Every lunar year, the silversmith worshipping day is celebrated in 3 days from the 6th to 8th of lunar February and attract many silver artisans from all over the South of Vietnam.

A Brief Introduction of The Central Sector of the Nhi Phu Assembly Hall

Nhi Phu Assembly Hall (Hội Quán Nhị Phủ) , also known as Nhi Phu Temple (Nhị Phủ Miếu) or Ong Bon Pagoda (Chùa Ông Bổn), is one of the oldest temples in Ho Chi Minh city, built by a group of Hoa people orginating from Tuyen Chau and Chuong Chau town in Phuc Kien province since the end of 18th century to worship and gather countrymen. The main deity is Phuc Duc Chinh Than – the god that protects lands and people according to Chinese belief.

The highlight of the architecture of Nhi Phu Assembly Hall is a dragon boat shaped roof, decorated with dragon and carp statues, assembled from pieces of meticulous porcelains. As a unique architectural work with fine wood carvings, the Assembly Hall not only represents the Hoa - Viet cultural exchange but also marks the process of settlement and integration of the Fujian Hoa people.

Every year, according to the lunar calendar, Nhi Phu Assembly Hall organizes manyd ays to invite people to come to worship. The two main holidays are the birthday and feast day of Ong Bon on the full moon of lunar January and lunar August. On these days, the Assembly Hall holds many cultural activities such as lion dance, dragon dance, martial arts performances, and Fujian ancient music performance, etc.

A Brief Introduction of The Central Sector of the Ong Thuy Tuong Tomb

Ong Thuy Tuong Tomb (Lăng Ông Thủy Tướng)wa built from the middle of the 18th to 19th century when the Can gio Trade Port it has become one of the most developed trading ports in Cochinchina, which has dominated the role of the Trade Port. It can be said that the precursors of the Mausoleum are the sea gods, where ceremonies "Thai Lao" of the delegation of people buying by sea.

Especially, it also preserves the form of fish procession, which is characteristic of coastal provinces in the Southeast. At the Ong Sea General Ceremony worshiping Ong features ceremonial ritual in the South, the Ong Ceremonyhas mixed with the form of spiritual beliefs Confucianism, Confucianism and the form of worship Spirit in agriculture. Every year, on the full moon day of the eighth lunar month, Ong Thuy Tuong Tomb is the place where the largest ritual was held in Can Gio district.