WHERE IS VUNG TAU LOCATED IN VIETNAM?
In feudal times
Vung Tau is known from the 13th century called Chan Bo town. There was time whenthe messenger -Chau DatQuanalong withChinese diplomatic corps visitedAngkorcapital of Chan Lap(now belonging toCambodia), and after coming back he recounted that: “Leaving On Chau terminal in ChietGiang ... passing Giao Chi Duongand coming to Chiem Thanh. In there, thanks to favorable condition, within 15 days we couldaccess Chan Bo town, which is the border ofChan Lap origin.”In 1658, the King - Nguyen Phuc Tanled 2,000 troops to conquer Chan Bo town andformed three first villages including Thang Nhat, Thang Nhi,Thang Tam, so itwas called Tam Thang, later renamed Phuoc Thang under PhuocTuy province. In Phubien tap luc(Chinese: 撫邊雜錄) in 1776 by LeQuyDonmentionedVung Tau Peninsula: “The first part of Gia Dinhboundary is Vung Tau, where is an island with the existence of resident.”[5] ] The work of Dai Nam nhat thong chi (Chinese: 大南ー統志) in Nguyen Dynasty recorded: “...there isa big water area called Vung Tau where is daily berth of the boats. There wasfreshwater spring on the mountain, and the fishermen gathered at the foot of mountain, it is impossible to not recognize that this place is the life-line.
Since 1775, the boats of Portugaland France have operatedin the sea regionof Vung Tau to trade and exchange Goods, and from that time Vung Tau was called with the name of Cap Saint-Jacques by the French. At the end of the reign of King - Gia Long (1820), Nguyen court sent three groups of trooptothis region to build fortresses, against piracy, defend the seaport, protect the peace of this sea region.
In French colonial period (1859–1945)
In feudal times
Vung Tau is known from the 13th century called Chan Bo town. There was time whenthe messenger -Chau DatQuanalong withChinese diplomatic corps visitedAngkorcapital of Chan Lap(now belonging toCambodia), and after coming back he recounted that: “Leaving On Chau terminal in ChietGiang ... passing Giao Chi Duongand coming to Chiem Thanh. In there, thanks to favorable condition, within 15 days we couldaccess Chan Bo town, which is the border ofChan Lap origin.”In 1658, the King - Nguyen Phuc Tanled 2,000 troops to conquer Chan Bo town andformed three first villages including Thang Nhat, Thang Nhi,Thang Tam, so itwas called Tam Thang, later renamed Phuoc Thang under PhuocTuy province. In Phubien tap luc(Chinese: 撫邊雜錄) in 1776 by LeQuyDonmentionedVung Tau Peninsula: “The first part of Gia Dinhboundary is Vung Tau, where is an island with the existence of resident.”[5] ] The work of Dai Nam nhat thong chi (Chinese: 大南ー統志) in Nguyen Dynasty recorded: “...there isa big water area called Vung Tau where is daily berth of the boats. There wasfreshwater spring on the mountain, and the fishermen gathered at the foot of mountain, it is impossible to not recognize that this place is the life-line.
Since 1775, the boats of Portugaland France have operatedin the sea regionof Vung Tau to trade and exchange Goods, and from that time Vung Tau was called with the name of Cap Saint-Jacques by the French. At the end of the reign of King - Gia Long (1820), Nguyen court sent three groups of trooptothis region to build fortresses, against piracy, defend the seaport, protect the peace of this sea region.
In French colonial period (1859–1945)
Vung Tau old market (1909)
On 10th February 1859 ie 8th January of the lunar calendar of the Year of Goat, it was the first time when the army of Nguyen Dynasty opened fire the cannons placed inPhuoc Thang fortress, 30 meterheight and about 100m of Truocbeach, fired on the ships of the French-Spanish coalition led by the commander - Rigault de Genouilly on the way to invade Cochinchina, starting the war against the French army in Cochinchina. In this battle Marshal – Tran Dong, general commander of the marine army of Nguyen Dynasty sacrificed.
· In 1876 Vung Tau was belonged to Ba Ria sub-region, under Sai Gon administrative area pursuant to the decree on administrative division of the French colonialists.
· On 1st May 1895, the Governor of Cochinchinaissued the decree to separate Cap Saint Jacques town from Ba Ria sub-region to form commune autonome - Cap Saint Jacques. By 20st January 1898, Cap Saint Jacques was integrated into Ba Ria sub-region, by 1899 it is divided into two independent administrative units. On 14th January 1899 Cap Saint Jacques self-governed city established generalVung Tau including 7 communes.
· In 1901, the population of Vung Tau is 5,690 people, including 2,000 migrants from the north, living mainly by catching seafood.
· On 1st April 1905pursuant to the decreeof the Governor General of Indochina, Cap Saint Jacques no longer was self-governed city and became administrative unit under Ba Ria province.
· In 1929 Cap Saint Jacques became a separated province, and by 1935 Cap Saint Jacques province was downgraded into city. In 1947 the province wasre-established with the name of Vung Tau including Can Gio district of Gia Dinh province, but by 1952 it was dissolved and downgraded into the town.
In the period of Republic of Vietnam (1956–1975)
On 10th February 1859 ie 8th January of the lunar calendar of the Year of Goat, it was the first time when the army of Nguyen Dynasty opened fire the cannons placed inPhuoc Thang fortress, 30 meterheight and about 100m of Truocbeach, fired on the ships of the French-Spanish coalition led by the commander - Rigault de Genouilly on the way to invade Cochinchina, starting the war against the French army in Cochinchina. In this battle Marshal – Tran Dong, general commander of the marine army of Nguyen Dynasty sacrificed.
· In 1876 Vung Tau was belonged to Ba Ria sub-region, under Sai Gon administrative area pursuant to the decree on administrative division of the French colonialists.
· On 1st May 1895, the Governor of Cochinchinaissued the decree to separate Cap Saint Jacques town from Ba Ria sub-region to form commune autonome - Cap Saint Jacques. By 20st January 1898, Cap Saint Jacques was integrated into Ba Ria sub-region, by 1899 it is divided into two independent administrative units. On 14th January 1899 Cap Saint Jacques self-governed city established generalVung Tau including 7 communes.
· In 1901, the population of Vung Tau is 5,690 people, including 2,000 migrants from the north, living mainly by catching seafood.
· On 1st April 1905pursuant to the decreeof the Governor General of Indochina, Cap Saint Jacques no longer was self-governed city and became administrative unit under Ba Ria province.
· In 1929 Cap Saint Jacques became a separated province, and by 1935 Cap Saint Jacques province was downgraded into city. In 1947 the province wasre-established with the name of Vung Tau including Can Gio district of Gia Dinh province, but by 1952 it was dissolved and downgraded into the town.
In the period of Republic of Vietnam (1956–1975)
Australia army in Vung Tau (1968)
Vung Tau was strengthened and developed to meet the needs of a city of tourism and resorts. In addition to fishing, seafood processing and traditional upland farming, many infrastructureswere built, shops and stores, service establishments foreating and entertainment of American advisers and the Saigon government officials were urgently completed, making the face of city was more and more magnificent.
Vung Tau in that time was also the place where had many of the barracks of the Army of Republic of Vietnam, many military bases of the America and allied forces. In the period of 1964 - 1972, the Royal Australian Army mobilized the total of 61,000 troops of navy and army and air force to Vung Tau. Vung Tau Airport became an important military airport in southern part.
· On 22nd October 1956,the government of Republic of Vietnam dissolved Vung Tau town, and Vung Tau became a district of new PhuocTuyprovince.
· On 30st January 1957, Decree No. 6-BNV/HC/ND of the Ministry of Internal Affairsspecified the administrative units of PhuocTuy province. In which Vung Tau district has a complex (Phuoc Hung Trung) and was divided into 5 communes: Thang Tam, Thang Nhi, Thang Nhut, Son Long and Thanh An. The metropolis is located in Vung Tau commune.
· On 20st March 1958,the Ministry of Internal Affairs issued Decree No. 76-BNV/HC/NDmodifying the previous Decree. Vung Tau district included 5 communes: Vung Tau, Thang Nhat, Thang Nhi, Thang Tam, Son Long.The metropolis is located in Vung Tau commune.
· On 1st February 1960, Decree No. 114-BNV/NCD/ND of the Ministry of Internal Affairs renaming Son Long into Long Son commune.
· 8th September 1964, Vung Tau district was changed into Vung Tau town under the Central according to Decree No.243-BNV/NC of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The main name was Vung Tau specialized area.
· On 30st March 1965, the Prime Minister of Republic of Vietnam issued Decree No. 55/SL-NV dividing Vung Tau town into diversity of quarter. Then, on 13th April 1965, the names of quarters were set as follows: Vung Tau quarter (from Vung Tau commune), Thang Nhut quarter (from Thang Nhut commune), Thang Nhi quarter (from Thang Nhi commune), Thang Tam quarter (from Thang Tam commune). At the same time, establishing Phuoc Thang quarter under Vung Tau town on the basis of integrating KhacKy commune and a part of land of PhuocTinh under Long Dien district. Long Son commune was integrated into Long Ledistrict, PhuocTuy province.
· On 22nd August 1972, the Minister of Ministry of Internal Affairs of Republic of Vietnam issued Decree No. 553-BNV/HCDP/ND changing the name of “quarter” of the town into ward.
· On 22nd August 1974, the clusters of BinhLoi, Binh Hai and Sao Mai of Thang Nhi ward were separated to form Phuoc Hai ward.
Thus, by the end of April 1975, Vung Tau town had total 6 wards: Vung Tau, Thang Nhut, Thang Nhi, Thang Tam, Phuoc Hai and Phuoc Thang.
From 1975 to now
· After 30st April 1975, Vung Tau town was renamed into Vung Tau city under the new South of Republic of Vietnam.
· In February1976, Dong Nai province was formed on the basis of integrating the provinces of Bien Hoa, PhuocTuy and Vung Tau city. Vung Tau became the town under Dong Naiprovincre.
· On 30st May 1979,Vung Tau - Con Dao specialized area was formed on the basis of integrating Vung Tau town, Long Son commune underChau Thanh district, Dong Nai province and Con Dao district underHauGiang province. The specialized area was divided into 1 district (Con Dao) and 5 wards: Chau Thanh, Thang Nhat, Thang Nhi, Thang Tam, Phuoc Thang and Long Son commune.
· On 14th May 1986,the Council of Ministersissued Decision No. 58-HDBT adjusting the administrative boundary of the wards under Vung Tau - Con Dao specialized area. Accordingly, 5 existing wards were dissolved and replaced by 11 wards with the sequence number from 1 to 11.
· In August 1991, Vung Tau became the city under new Ba Ria - Vung Tau and the county of this province.
· On 16th September 1999Vung Tau was recognized as urban of type 2.
· On 22nd October 2002, ward 12 was established.0n 9th December 2003,Thang Nhatwas established.
· On 24th December 2004, three wards: Thang Tam, Nguyen AnNinh and Rach Dua under Vung Tau city were established.
· On 23rd April 2013, The Prime Minister signed Decision on recognizing Vung Tau city as urban of type 1 under Ba Ria - Vung Tauprovince.
· On 16th December 2014, ward 6 was renamed into Thang Nhi ward.
WHEN COMING TO BA RIA-VUNG TAU WHERE SHOULD YOU VISIT?
Thang Tam Temple is an architectural complex which consists of 3 monuments: Thang Tam Temple, Ba Ngu Hanh Temple, Ong Lang Hai Tomb. According to the legend,Thang Tam Temple worships three people including Pham Van Dinh, Le Van Loc and Ngo Van Huyen who contributed to building three Thang villages in Vung Tau. Every year Thang Tam Temple Festival is held within 4 days from 17th to 20thFebruary of lunar calendar. This is a festival for peace, and is the end and beginning of a harvest of shrimp and fish.
Vung Tau was strengthened and developed to meet the needs of a city of tourism and resorts. In addition to fishing, seafood processing and traditional upland farming, many infrastructureswere built, shops and stores, service establishments foreating and entertainment of American advisers and the Saigon government officials were urgently completed, making the face of city was more and more magnificent.
Vung Tau in that time was also the place where had many of the barracks of the Army of Republic of Vietnam, many military bases of the America and allied forces. In the period of 1964 - 1972, the Royal Australian Army mobilized the total of 61,000 troops of navy and army and air force to Vung Tau. Vung Tau Airport became an important military airport in southern part.
· On 22nd October 1956,the government of Republic of Vietnam dissolved Vung Tau town, and Vung Tau became a district of new PhuocTuyprovince.
· On 30st January 1957, Decree No. 6-BNV/HC/ND of the Ministry of Internal Affairsspecified the administrative units of PhuocTuy province. In which Vung Tau district has a complex (Phuoc Hung Trung) and was divided into 5 communes: Thang Tam, Thang Nhi, Thang Nhut, Son Long and Thanh An. The metropolis is located in Vung Tau commune.
· On 20st March 1958,the Ministry of Internal Affairs issued Decree No. 76-BNV/HC/NDmodifying the previous Decree. Vung Tau district included 5 communes: Vung Tau, Thang Nhat, Thang Nhi, Thang Tam, Son Long.The metropolis is located in Vung Tau commune.
· On 1st February 1960, Decree No. 114-BNV/NCD/ND of the Ministry of Internal Affairs renaming Son Long into Long Son commune.
· 8th September 1964, Vung Tau district was changed into Vung Tau town under the Central according to Decree No.243-BNV/NC of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The main name was Vung Tau specialized area.
· On 30st March 1965, the Prime Minister of Republic of Vietnam issued Decree No. 55/SL-NV dividing Vung Tau town into diversity of quarter. Then, on 13th April 1965, the names of quarters were set as follows: Vung Tau quarter (from Vung Tau commune), Thang Nhut quarter (from Thang Nhut commune), Thang Nhi quarter (from Thang Nhi commune), Thang Tam quarter (from Thang Tam commune). At the same time, establishing Phuoc Thang quarter under Vung Tau town on the basis of integrating KhacKy commune and a part of land of PhuocTinh under Long Dien district. Long Son commune was integrated into Long Ledistrict, PhuocTuy province.
· On 22nd August 1972, the Minister of Ministry of Internal Affairs of Republic of Vietnam issued Decree No. 553-BNV/HCDP/ND changing the name of “quarter” of the town into ward.
· On 22nd August 1974, the clusters of BinhLoi, Binh Hai and Sao Mai of Thang Nhi ward were separated to form Phuoc Hai ward.
Thus, by the end of April 1975, Vung Tau town had total 6 wards: Vung Tau, Thang Nhut, Thang Nhi, Thang Tam, Phuoc Hai and Phuoc Thang.
From 1975 to now
· After 30st April 1975, Vung Tau town was renamed into Vung Tau city under the new South of Republic of Vietnam.
· In February1976, Dong Nai province was formed on the basis of integrating the provinces of Bien Hoa, PhuocTuy and Vung Tau city. Vung Tau became the town under Dong Naiprovincre.
· On 30st May 1979,Vung Tau - Con Dao specialized area was formed on the basis of integrating Vung Tau town, Long Son commune underChau Thanh district, Dong Nai province and Con Dao district underHauGiang province. The specialized area was divided into 1 district (Con Dao) and 5 wards: Chau Thanh, Thang Nhat, Thang Nhi, Thang Tam, Phuoc Thang and Long Son commune.
· On 14th May 1986,the Council of Ministersissued Decision No. 58-HDBT adjusting the administrative boundary of the wards under Vung Tau - Con Dao specialized area. Accordingly, 5 existing wards were dissolved and replaced by 11 wards with the sequence number from 1 to 11.
· In August 1991, Vung Tau became the city under new Ba Ria - Vung Tau and the county of this province.
· On 16th September 1999Vung Tau was recognized as urban of type 2.
· On 22nd October 2002, ward 12 was established.0n 9th December 2003,Thang Nhatwas established.
· On 24th December 2004, three wards: Thang Tam, Nguyen AnNinh and Rach Dua under Vung Tau city were established.
· On 23rd April 2013, The Prime Minister signed Decision on recognizing Vung Tau city as urban of type 1 under Ba Ria - Vung Tauprovince.
· On 16th December 2014, ward 6 was renamed into Thang Nhi ward.
WHEN COMING TO BA RIA-VUNG TAU WHERE SHOULD YOU VISIT?
Thang Tam Temple is an architectural complex which consists of 3 monuments: Thang Tam Temple, Ba Ngu Hanh Temple, Ong Lang Hai Tomb. According to the legend,Thang Tam Temple worships three people including Pham Van Dinh, Le Van Loc and Ngo Van Huyen who contributed to building three Thang villages in Vung Tau. Every year Thang Tam Temple Festival is held within 4 days from 17th to 20thFebruary of lunar calendar. This is a festival for peace, and is the end and beginning of a harvest of shrimp and fish.
Nghinh Ong Festival is associated with the custom of worshiping Whale which is popular from the central coast to the south coast. Each coastal region celebratesNghinhOng Festival on various occasions but they all have the same opinion that whale is a sacred creature in the sea, and the savior for the fishermen and the people living thanks to sea in general. Nghinh Ong Festival is also held across the coastal regions in Ba Ria - Vung Tau such as Binh Chau commune (XuyenMoc district), PhuocTinh commune, Long Hai commune (Long Dien district), Phuoc Hai (Dat Do district), temples of Thang Nhat, Thang Nhi, Thang Tam (Vung Tau city) ... but Nghinh Ong Festival in Thang Tam Tenple(Vung Tau City) is the most typical.
After being held many times,Nghinh Ong Festival - Thang Tam Temple retains the traditional ceremonies, the festival is associated with folk games such as lion dance, theater. Nghinh Ong Festival - Thang Tam Temple is held within 3 days, every day it attracts about 5,000 visitors. Not only local people, the festival also attracts fishermen from the neighboring provinces and cities such as Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Ben Tre, Can Tho, VinhLong ...
Early morning on 16th August of lunar calendar, the elders dressed in neatly turbans, long dressesconducts Ong Nam Haipalanquin procession down the dragon boat toward the sea. Before the boat’s bowisan incense-table and a tray of offerings. Along with the dragon boat ahead, there are dozens of large and small boats are decorated, bright flowers and flags carrying thousands of people followed. The boats departure in Truocbeach to NghinhPhong cape.When accessingNghinhPhong cape, all boats in the procession turn seaward nose and conduct sea rituals.
About two hours later, the procession returns the departure terminal, then go through streets of QuangTrung, Truong Cong Dinh, Hoang HoaThamto Thang Tam Temple. Wherever the procession accesses, that place is bustling with lion dance, orchestra and drums, gongs. Thousands of local people, visitors pour out the two roadsides to celebrate and show their gratitude to Ong Nam Hai.
After being held many times,Nghinh Ong Festival - Thang Tam Temple retains the traditional ceremonies, the festival is associated with folk games such as lion dance, theater. Nghinh Ong Festival - Thang Tam Temple is held within 3 days, every day it attracts about 5,000 visitors. Not only local people, the festival also attracts fishermen from the neighboring provinces and cities such as Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Ben Tre, Can Tho, VinhLong ...
Early morning on 16th August of lunar calendar, the elders dressed in neatly turbans, long dressesconducts Ong Nam Haipalanquin procession down the dragon boat toward the sea. Before the boat’s bowisan incense-table and a tray of offerings. Along with the dragon boat ahead, there are dozens of large and small boats are decorated, bright flowers and flags carrying thousands of people followed. The boats departure in Truocbeach to NghinhPhong cape.When accessingNghinhPhong cape, all boats in the procession turn seaward nose and conduct sea rituals.
About two hours later, the procession returns the departure terminal, then go through streets of QuangTrung, Truong Cong Dinh, Hoang HoaThamto Thang Tam Temple. Wherever the procession accesses, that place is bustling with lion dance, orchestra and drums, gongs. Thousands of local people, visitors pour out the two roadsides to celebrate and show their gratitude to Ong Nam Hai.
Two days later (on 17thand 18th Augustof lunar calendar), Nghinh Ong Festival continues with the rituals: rite of worshipingancestors and heroic martyrs, and rite of bringing conferment fiatto Ong Nam Hai Tomb, rite of xaychau, rite of praying prosperous country…
Museum of ancient weapons (Worldwide Arms Museum)
The owner of the collection of ancient weapons is Robert Taylor (British nationality). With the passion of weapons, Robert put enthusiasm and money to collect and study weapons research since he was young. Then he went to BR-VT to do business and married Ms. Nguyen Thi Bong in 1998.
Museum of ancient weapons (Worldwide Arms Museum)
The owner of the collection of ancient weapons is Robert Taylor (British nationality). With the passion of weapons, Robert put enthusiasm and money to collect and study weapons research since he was young. Then he went to BR-VT to do business and married Ms. Nguyen Thi Bong in 1998.
With the desire to open the Museum of ancient weapons (Worldwide Arms Museum) in Vung Tau for visitors, research... Mr. Robert and Ms. Nguyen Thi Bong applied to the State for permission to import the said collection into Vietnam and open Museum of ancient weapons (Worldwide Arms Museum)at No. 14 Hai Dang, Ward 2, Vung Tau City.
With the help of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourismand related Ministries and Departments, since 2009 Robert hasimportedancient weapons into Vietnam with 5 times including 1,032 artifacts including guns, swords of all types, military equipment, costumes over the periods... More than 2/3 of about artifacts were assessed and granted certification of registering antiquities by the Council of assessing antiquities under the Department of cultural Heritage (the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) in cooperation with the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and these antiquities were exhibited at the Museum of ancient weapons(Worldwide Arms Museum).
With the help of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourismand related Ministries and Departments, since 2009 Robert hasimportedancient weapons into Vietnam with 5 times including 1,032 artifacts including guns, swords of all types, military equipment, costumes over the periods... More than 2/3 of about artifacts were assessed and granted certification of registering antiquities by the Council of assessing antiquities under the Department of cultural Heritage (the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) in cooperation with the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and these antiquities were exhibited at the Museum of ancient weapons(Worldwide Arms Museum).
The Museum was opened to welcome visitors in early 2012 and attracted the attention of the national visitors by the unique nature. Lots of tours takingvisitorsto BR-VT selectedthe Museum of ancient weapons (Worldwide Arms Museum) to be the highlight of the tour schedule inVung Tau.
Nirvana Vihara
Nirvana Vihara is located in central of Dua beach, and on the mountain, overlooking the sea. In that poetic position, Nirvana Vihara has great appeal for visitors. The site was started construction in 1969, until 1974 it was complete. This is a massive work including many parts, levels, and located on an area of nearly 10,000m2. The entrance is wide and along the slope.
Nirvana Vihara
Nirvana Vihara is located in central of Dua beach, and on the mountain, overlooking the sea. In that poetic position, Nirvana Vihara has great appeal for visitors. The site was started construction in 1969, until 1974 it was complete. This is a massive work including many parts, levels, and located on an area of nearly 10,000m2. The entrance is wide and along the slope.
The main gate is featured with four Chinese characters: Nirvana Vihara. Two pillars of gate carved meaningful couplets:
Nirvana turns out be awe-inspiringly powerful,blesses beings.
Viharais open and straightforward,grows alive toDharma, appears as Nhu Lai.
Inside are two tall good and evil statues looking at door. In the right of gate is a bas-relief with 2m width, 4m height carved dragon shape, dragon head, horse foot on the waves, and flamingos dancing in the cloud at the upper part. Relief was done by tiling drawings white-blue any glaze porcelain, a technique that is quite popular in the temples, tombs of Vietnam in the late nineteenth century and in the early twentieth century. The motifs of ceramic piece make the relief become dazzling, elegant and lively. Facing with the relief and in the front of main hall is elegant bannerwith 21m height, consisting of 42 brains. Banner ismade of concrete with big lower part and gradually smaller toward the upper part, the sides of banner are tiled yellow – red glaze porcelain with three branches of lotus in the three directions at the top is a unique of Nirvana Vihara.
Road to the main hall is a system of 37 three-step staircasesin about 2m width. Right at the entrance is Penjing Landscaping and floor of drumwithMaitreya Buddhasitting on the height. In the middle is Di Dastatue. Tu Linh copper Censer (Long, Ly, Quy, Phung) with large size, clever and elaborate decoration is a treasure of the temple. In the main hall of Nirvana Buddha represents a hugeNirvana Buddha statue- perhaps thatis the reason why the temple is named Nirvana Vihara. Nirvana Buddha statue in brown-pink color and carved and polished elaborately, ingeniously liestoward the west, with head resting on the right hand in 12m length standing out in the middle of main hall. The position of the statue, head backs to the north, legoutstretchesto the south, according to legend it is the pose of the Buddha in Nirvana on the rock inKusinara, the sole of Buddha is 52 pressed points.
Nirvana Buddha statue becomes more lively and attractive because it is placed in the space with variety of Buddhist works of high art: At the top and back of the Nirvana Buddha are green natural landscape featured by two Nagarjuna trees embossedin many layers. The peacocks, cranes outstretch wings hidden and appeared in the clouds, lions, tigers, monkeys prostrate Buddhapassed andentered into Nirvana... All are embossed, carved elaborately with colorful harmony, purity which forms the deep and solemnbackdropof place of meditation.
On the right wall of main hallhangs a large lacquered picture showing Buddha meditating. Besides is a different picture showing Locda garden where Shakyamuni Buddha preached the first time...
Overall, the main hall ofVihara Nirvana is not large, apart from the instrument of the Dharma of the temple, the main halldecorates many Buddhastatutes, which highlights the Buddhanirvana, a huge sculpture and is the pride of Buddhist monks in Vung Tau.
Behind the main hall is the “hall” of Chu Tang. The hallhangs 34 pictures depicting the Buddha’s life from birth until the disciples shared the relics. The hall also decorates several other statues such as Luc Tran Maitreya picture...
Based on the position of mountain, Nirvana Viharais located on different heights. Above and behind the main hall worship Buddha. Buddha hall decorates three huge meditating Sakyamuni statues in the direction of symmetry. The upper floor is a large and airy space, visitors can watch the eye away from the sea, or easily observeDua beach coastline. The courtyard is where the visitors cantakesightseeing. This place is decorated with diversity of bonsai and flowers. Looming behind the art bonsaiis the Bat Nhaboat, a stylized big dragon painstakingly and beautifully decorated. Around the boat is tiled blue anyand colorful glaze porcelain.
Being featured on the decoration with many flowers and bonsai of Bat Nha boat courtyard is the big steeple connected with the resting building of the friars. The steeple was built in the square, 4 curved roofs, the tower has a big bell called Dai Hong Chung. Dai Hong Chung is 2.8 m in height, 3.8 m in circumference, and 3500kg in weight. Dai Hong Chung is not only the largest and heaviest bell, but also its soundis the best of the existing temple bell in Vung Tau.
From the steeple, the panoramic of Nirvana appears before the visitors. It is an architectural harmony among nature and the sea,sky, trees and earnestbell sound.
Every year, on the occasion of the holidays, Sundays or full moon days, the first day of the months, tens of thousands of visitors to Nirvana Viharaworship and take sightseeing. With a distinctive architectural style is to be located in a beautiful location of Dua beach, Nirvana Vihara is a famous sight of Vung Tau where areadmired and desired to be visitedand worshiped by a lot of people in all regions of the country.
Dinh Mountain
Far from Ba Ria city of about 6km, long ago DinhMountain (Tan Thanh district) was a favorite destination of the people who are enthusiastic travellingand exploring, especially the young people. This place is like a “Da Lat of Ba Ria-Vung Tau”, thanks to cool air and landscape with many similaritiesof Da Lat.
Nirvana turns out be awe-inspiringly powerful,blesses beings.
Viharais open and straightforward,grows alive toDharma, appears as Nhu Lai.
Inside are two tall good and evil statues looking at door. In the right of gate is a bas-relief with 2m width, 4m height carved dragon shape, dragon head, horse foot on the waves, and flamingos dancing in the cloud at the upper part. Relief was done by tiling drawings white-blue any glaze porcelain, a technique that is quite popular in the temples, tombs of Vietnam in the late nineteenth century and in the early twentieth century. The motifs of ceramic piece make the relief become dazzling, elegant and lively. Facing with the relief and in the front of main hall is elegant bannerwith 21m height, consisting of 42 brains. Banner ismade of concrete with big lower part and gradually smaller toward the upper part, the sides of banner are tiled yellow – red glaze porcelain with three branches of lotus in the three directions at the top is a unique of Nirvana Vihara.
Road to the main hall is a system of 37 three-step staircasesin about 2m width. Right at the entrance is Penjing Landscaping and floor of drumwithMaitreya Buddhasitting on the height. In the middle is Di Dastatue. Tu Linh copper Censer (Long, Ly, Quy, Phung) with large size, clever and elaborate decoration is a treasure of the temple. In the main hall of Nirvana Buddha represents a hugeNirvana Buddha statue- perhaps thatis the reason why the temple is named Nirvana Vihara. Nirvana Buddha statue in brown-pink color and carved and polished elaborately, ingeniously liestoward the west, with head resting on the right hand in 12m length standing out in the middle of main hall. The position of the statue, head backs to the north, legoutstretchesto the south, according to legend it is the pose of the Buddha in Nirvana on the rock inKusinara, the sole of Buddha is 52 pressed points.
Nirvana Buddha statue becomes more lively and attractive because it is placed in the space with variety of Buddhist works of high art: At the top and back of the Nirvana Buddha are green natural landscape featured by two Nagarjuna trees embossedin many layers. The peacocks, cranes outstretch wings hidden and appeared in the clouds, lions, tigers, monkeys prostrate Buddhapassed andentered into Nirvana... All are embossed, carved elaborately with colorful harmony, purity which forms the deep and solemnbackdropof place of meditation.
On the right wall of main hallhangs a large lacquered picture showing Buddha meditating. Besides is a different picture showing Locda garden where Shakyamuni Buddha preached the first time...
Overall, the main hall ofVihara Nirvana is not large, apart from the instrument of the Dharma of the temple, the main halldecorates many Buddhastatutes, which highlights the Buddhanirvana, a huge sculpture and is the pride of Buddhist monks in Vung Tau.
Behind the main hall is the “hall” of Chu Tang. The hallhangs 34 pictures depicting the Buddha’s life from birth until the disciples shared the relics. The hall also decorates several other statues such as Luc Tran Maitreya picture...
Based on the position of mountain, Nirvana Viharais located on different heights. Above and behind the main hall worship Buddha. Buddha hall decorates three huge meditating Sakyamuni statues in the direction of symmetry. The upper floor is a large and airy space, visitors can watch the eye away from the sea, or easily observeDua beach coastline. The courtyard is where the visitors cantakesightseeing. This place is decorated with diversity of bonsai and flowers. Looming behind the art bonsaiis the Bat Nhaboat, a stylized big dragon painstakingly and beautifully decorated. Around the boat is tiled blue anyand colorful glaze porcelain.
Being featured on the decoration with many flowers and bonsai of Bat Nha boat courtyard is the big steeple connected with the resting building of the friars. The steeple was built in the square, 4 curved roofs, the tower has a big bell called Dai Hong Chung. Dai Hong Chung is 2.8 m in height, 3.8 m in circumference, and 3500kg in weight. Dai Hong Chung is not only the largest and heaviest bell, but also its soundis the best of the existing temple bell in Vung Tau.
From the steeple, the panoramic of Nirvana appears before the visitors. It is an architectural harmony among nature and the sea,sky, trees and earnestbell sound.
Every year, on the occasion of the holidays, Sundays or full moon days, the first day of the months, tens of thousands of visitors to Nirvana Viharaworship and take sightseeing. With a distinctive architectural style is to be located in a beautiful location of Dua beach, Nirvana Vihara is a famous sight of Vung Tau where areadmired and desired to be visitedand worshiped by a lot of people in all regions of the country.
Dinh Mountain
Far from Ba Ria city of about 6km, long ago DinhMountain (Tan Thanh district) was a favorite destination of the people who are enthusiastic travellingand exploring, especially the young people. This place is like a “Da Lat of Ba Ria-Vung Tau”, thanks to cool air and landscape with many similaritiesof Da Lat.
MINH DAM MOUNTAIN REVOLUTIONARY BASE
Minh Dam Mountain is the place with lush forests, many caves, and the revolutionary base of the army and people of Ba Ria - Vung Tau during the two wars against the French and the US.
In 1948, to commemorate two Secretaries of Long Dat District Party Committeeincluding Bui Cong Minh and Mac Thanh Dam who are bravely sacrificed at the foot of the mountain, this place was named Minh Dam Mountain by the people. In 1993 Minh Dam base was recognized as a historic revolution site by the Ministry of Culture - Information. Minh Dam today has become an ideal tourist destination for many types of tourism such as ecological, hiking and picnicking tourism andhistory tourism to learnabout the revolutionary history, educate revolutionary tradition for the younger generation today.
Old Artillery Range
Many years ago, BR-VT province had policy to restore some historic and cultural sites for tourism development. As one of the site being restored with the cost of billions, Sao Mai old artillery range became a new tourism destination to attract visitors. However, in recent years, this sitehas also had some limitations, soit has not yet to promote its inherent potential.
Minh Dam Mountain is the place with lush forests, many caves, and the revolutionary base of the army and people of Ba Ria - Vung Tau during the two wars against the French and the US.
In 1948, to commemorate two Secretaries of Long Dat District Party Committeeincluding Bui Cong Minh and Mac Thanh Dam who are bravely sacrificed at the foot of the mountain, this place was named Minh Dam Mountain by the people. In 1993 Minh Dam base was recognized as a historic revolution site by the Ministry of Culture - Information. Minh Dam today has become an ideal tourist destination for many types of tourism such as ecological, hiking and picnicking tourism andhistory tourism to learnabout the revolutionary history, educate revolutionary tradition for the younger generation today.
Old Artillery Range
Many years ago, BR-VT province had policy to restore some historic and cultural sites for tourism development. As one of the site being restored with the cost of billions, Sao Mai old artillery range became a new tourism destination to attract visitors. However, in recent years, this sitehas also had some limitations, soit has not yet to promote its inherent potential.
Foreign visitors are visiting Sao Mai –Big Mountain old artillery.
Catch up with the trend ofhistoric tourism, exploring the landscapes associated with the formation and development of BR-VT land, Sao Mai –Big Mountain old artillery range is chosen as one of the tourism destination bythe province and the industry. Sao Mai –Big Mountain old artillery range is the defense line built by French colonists from the nineteenth century, and arranged in a row in a straight line at different heights from the Northwest to the Southeast of Big Mountain and Small mountain of Vung Tau City. Antique artillery range is divided into three major clusters with all 23 borders, including the Cau Da artillery range, Big Mountain artillery range and Tao Phungartillery range.
In 2008, in order to “revive” the Sao Mai - Big Mountain old artillery range for cannons festival; the province invested 3 billion for restoration to serve visitors. However, from 2008 to now in addition to restoration, this artillery seems to be “forgotten” on the mountain. When the people of Vung Tau city are asked about this old artillery, most of them don’t knowit. Mr. Nguyen Hong Son, a resident living in Nguyen AnNinhstreet said: “I have lived in Vung Tau for a long time, but I never heard aboutsuch large old artillery on the mountain”.
Although this is a site recognized as national historic site by the Ministry of Culture and Information, there is no road signage. From Alley No. 444, Tran Phu Street, we had to ask for directions and we also had a hard time to access artillery. The road to the siteis narrow, winding, steep, many roads were deteriorated which causing difficulties for travel. Two sides of the road, the people occupied significantly for living such as bathing, drying shrimp, fish and hanging clothes make the road even more cramped.
Access the destination, we were amazed by the landscape of this place, 6 cannons, marking the history of a time. But just take a moment, we had a feeling “bored” because around almost had no services for stopping to rest or recreation as well as tour guide. Sitting in a precarious drink shop base precarious run by Nguyen Van Trac –the guard and his wife, we knew that after the restoration was completed, many visitors have comeSao Mai – Big Mountain artillery range, most of them are foreign visitors. However, the time to visit was only a few minutes because there was no tour guide
Catch up with the trend ofhistoric tourism, exploring the landscapes associated with the formation and development of BR-VT land, Sao Mai –Big Mountain old artillery range is chosen as one of the tourism destination bythe province and the industry. Sao Mai –Big Mountain old artillery range is the defense line built by French colonists from the nineteenth century, and arranged in a row in a straight line at different heights from the Northwest to the Southeast of Big Mountain and Small mountain of Vung Tau City. Antique artillery range is divided into three major clusters with all 23 borders, including the Cau Da artillery range, Big Mountain artillery range and Tao Phungartillery range.
In 2008, in order to “revive” the Sao Mai - Big Mountain old artillery range for cannons festival; the province invested 3 billion for restoration to serve visitors. However, from 2008 to now in addition to restoration, this artillery seems to be “forgotten” on the mountain. When the people of Vung Tau city are asked about this old artillery, most of them don’t knowit. Mr. Nguyen Hong Son, a resident living in Nguyen AnNinhstreet said: “I have lived in Vung Tau for a long time, but I never heard aboutsuch large old artillery on the mountain”.
Although this is a site recognized as national historic site by the Ministry of Culture and Information, there is no road signage. From Alley No. 444, Tran Phu Street, we had to ask for directions and we also had a hard time to access artillery. The road to the siteis narrow, winding, steep, many roads were deteriorated which causing difficulties for travel. Two sides of the road, the people occupied significantly for living such as bathing, drying shrimp, fish and hanging clothes make the road even more cramped.
Access the destination, we were amazed by the landscape of this place, 6 cannons, marking the history of a time. But just take a moment, we had a feeling “bored” because around almost had no services for stopping to rest or recreation as well as tour guide. Sitting in a precarious drink shop base precarious run by Nguyen Van Trac –the guard and his wife, we knew that after the restoration was completed, many visitors have comeSao Mai – Big Mountain artillery range, most of them are foreign visitors. However, the time to visit was only a few minutes because there was no tour guide
Sao Mai - Big Mountain artillery range is a historical mark, and located on a beautiful location overlooking the sea will develop its potential if it is paid attention to promoting image, road and tour guide team.
At the same time, a group of Australian visitorsguided by Nguyen Thi Sen, Vung Tau Besttour Companyalso came here to visit. Ms. Sen said that this was a tourism destination where attracts many foreign visitors. “Each month, our company also has 2-4 tours to this place. Although, the restoration ofsiteis beautiful, the consciousness of the people living along two roadsides is not high. They often dry shrimp, fish on the road, causing difficulties for travelling of passenger cars which makethe visitors have to walk. Additionally, if this place is promoted better, more and more people will visit this site” - Ms. Sen said.
Mr. Nguyen Danh Ha, deputy director of OSC Vietnam Travel said that when visiting the historic sites in Sao Mai - Big Mountain old artillery range ... manyvisitors are disappointed becausebesides 6 cannons, therewere no tour guide, no ancillary works, no instruction materials and souvenir items. Mr. Ha also said that although Sao Mai - Big Mountain old artillery range was restored, to attract visitors to the old artillery, it is necessary to be more widely promoted, serve the necessaryneeds of visitors... The road to artillery also needs to be repaired, ensured safety, ease to travel for visitors.
At the same time, a group of Australian visitorsguided by Nguyen Thi Sen, Vung Tau Besttour Companyalso came here to visit. Ms. Sen said that this was a tourism destination where attracts many foreign visitors. “Each month, our company also has 2-4 tours to this place. Although, the restoration ofsiteis beautiful, the consciousness of the people living along two roadsides is not high. They often dry shrimp, fish on the road, causing difficulties for travelling of passenger cars which makethe visitors have to walk. Additionally, if this place is promoted better, more and more people will visit this site” - Ms. Sen said.
Mr. Nguyen Danh Ha, deputy director of OSC Vietnam Travel said that when visiting the historic sites in Sao Mai - Big Mountain old artillery range ... manyvisitors are disappointed becausebesides 6 cannons, therewere no tour guide, no ancillary works, no instruction materials and souvenir items. Mr. Ha also said that although Sao Mai - Big Mountain old artillery range was restored, to attract visitors to the old artillery, it is necessary to be more widely promoted, serve the necessaryneeds of visitors... The road to artillery also needs to be repaired, ensured safety, ease to travel for visitors.
Hon Ba
Hon Ba is a small islandwith the approximate area of 5,000m2, and located in Sau beach (Vung Tau City), about 200 meters ofNghinhPhong cape, and is a beautiful landscape. On Hon Ba is Ba Temple (also known as Hon Ba Temple). For residents of Ba Ria - Vung Tau and other provinces such as Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, TayNinh, Can Tho, TraVinh, Vinh Long ... Hon Ba Temple is aspiritual address to worship and pray for many years.
To access Hon Ba temple has two roads, run out Sau beach road or if run from Truoc beach, according to Ha Long road round the Small Mountain, through Dua beach to NghinhPhong cape facing the sea, the visitors easily see a small lonely island on the high sea. it was Hon Ba temple.
According to legend, in 1781, anofficialof Thang Tam formedBa temple on Hon Ba to worship Thuy Long female god with desire she will bless for fishermen on the sea. In 1939 a French officer named Archi-nard order to shot the temple, but only one shotwas in the temple corner. This officer lost his live athere because of a careless timeupon gunpoint. Thus, the island was named Archi-nardby the French, but it is often called as Hon Ba temple by the people inVung Tau. Then, one person in TraVinhnamed Thanh Phongcame to Vung Tau to do business raisedhis money to repair the temple in 1971. Over many times of the restoration and repair,Hon Ba temple is shaped like todaywith the height above ground of 4 meters; inside is the shrine of the gods; below is a basement with 6m length, 3m width. This was ever a secret meeting place of patriotic compatriots and soldiers during the war time.
Currently, all activities related to the sacrifices at Hon Ba temple are run by the Management Unit of Thang Tam temple. Therefore, in fact Ba temple is a component attached to Thang Tam temple. Each year Hon Ba Temple holds 4 ceremonies based on water condition, including: January, April, July and October (lunar). Particularly in January - the first month of the pagoda pilgrimage - the local people and visitors from everywhere visiting thetempleare the mostcrowed. The daysof full of water, the visitors can take boat to visit the temple. But best of all is the feeling of walking to the island. In two days of 14 and 15 lunar of every month, tide is deep in the afternoon, a bumpy rock road is exposed, the pilgrims visiting the temple can park theirvehicles at Thuy Van parking lot and walk down the beach towards the foot ofNghinhPhongslope and walk along the rock road to reach Hon Ba temple. Agroup crowded peoplebut there was no hustle, everyone is like removing the upset, daily worries to feelcomfortable, respectful when visiting he daily worries to crush gently, respectfully when visiting her.
Hon Ba is a small islandwith the approximate area of 5,000m2, and located in Sau beach (Vung Tau City), about 200 meters ofNghinhPhong cape, and is a beautiful landscape. On Hon Ba is Ba Temple (also known as Hon Ba Temple). For residents of Ba Ria - Vung Tau and other provinces such as Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, TayNinh, Can Tho, TraVinh, Vinh Long ... Hon Ba Temple is aspiritual address to worship and pray for many years.
To access Hon Ba temple has two roads, run out Sau beach road or if run from Truoc beach, according to Ha Long road round the Small Mountain, through Dua beach to NghinhPhong cape facing the sea, the visitors easily see a small lonely island on the high sea. it was Hon Ba temple.
According to legend, in 1781, anofficialof Thang Tam formedBa temple on Hon Ba to worship Thuy Long female god with desire she will bless for fishermen on the sea. In 1939 a French officer named Archi-nard order to shot the temple, but only one shotwas in the temple corner. This officer lost his live athere because of a careless timeupon gunpoint. Thus, the island was named Archi-nardby the French, but it is often called as Hon Ba temple by the people inVung Tau. Then, one person in TraVinhnamed Thanh Phongcame to Vung Tau to do business raisedhis money to repair the temple in 1971. Over many times of the restoration and repair,Hon Ba temple is shaped like todaywith the height above ground of 4 meters; inside is the shrine of the gods; below is a basement with 6m length, 3m width. This was ever a secret meeting place of patriotic compatriots and soldiers during the war time.
Currently, all activities related to the sacrifices at Hon Ba temple are run by the Management Unit of Thang Tam temple. Therefore, in fact Ba temple is a component attached to Thang Tam temple. Each year Hon Ba Temple holds 4 ceremonies based on water condition, including: January, April, July and October (lunar). Particularly in January - the first month of the pagoda pilgrimage - the local people and visitors from everywhere visiting thetempleare the mostcrowed. The daysof full of water, the visitors can take boat to visit the temple. But best of all is the feeling of walking to the island. In two days of 14 and 15 lunar of every month, tide is deep in the afternoon, a bumpy rock road is exposed, the pilgrims visiting the temple can park theirvehicles at Thuy Van parking lot and walk down the beach towards the foot ofNghinhPhongslope and walk along the rock road to reach Hon Ba temple. Agroup crowded peoplebut there was no hustle, everyone is like removing the upset, daily worries to feelcomfortable, respectful when visiting he daily worries to crush gently, respectfully when visiting her.
Group of pilgrims is visiting Hon Ba Temple.
Vung Tau is increasingly changing with many modern architecture works, Hon Ba Temple, NghinhPhongcape - Small Mountain, VongNguyet Beach and Sau beach formeda complex of charming and peaceful landscape, and is an address containing both human values andunique spiritual tourist sights of Vung Tau city
LINH SON CO TU
Linh Son co tu is anold temple located on Hoang HoaTham Street, Ward 2, Vung Tau City. In the main hall there is 1.2 m high Buddha statue made of stone, gold, carved, sculpted very ingeniously.
According to the legend: 100 years ago there wasa group of fishing boat from the Central came and caught fish at Truocbeach, at the time of stopping the boat to look for firewood on BigMountain, they accidentally discovered two stone Buddha statues buried under rocks on the mountain slope near the Daubeach. They dug up and prepared offerings to bring these statuesto their village. After hearing about this, the local people prevented, and they believed that these statuesare historical relics of the locality, and they wereresolute toretain. Later, the fishermen in the central region was permitted to bring small statue to their village for worship, while the larger statue were brought the village by the local peoplefor worship which is current statue in Linh Son Pagoda.
Vung Tau is increasingly changing with many modern architecture works, Hon Ba Temple, NghinhPhongcape - Small Mountain, VongNguyet Beach and Sau beach formeda complex of charming and peaceful landscape, and is an address containing both human values andunique spiritual tourist sights of Vung Tau city
LINH SON CO TU
Linh Son co tu is anold temple located on Hoang HoaTham Street, Ward 2, Vung Tau City. In the main hall there is 1.2 m high Buddha statue made of stone, gold, carved, sculpted very ingeniously.
According to the legend: 100 years ago there wasa group of fishing boat from the Central came and caught fish at Truocbeach, at the time of stopping the boat to look for firewood on BigMountain, they accidentally discovered two stone Buddha statues buried under rocks on the mountain slope near the Daubeach. They dug up and prepared offerings to bring these statuesto their village. After hearing about this, the local people prevented, and they believed that these statuesare historical relics of the locality, and they wereresolute toretain. Later, the fishermen in the central region was permitted to bring small statue to their village for worship, while the larger statue were brought the village by the local peoplefor worship which is current statue in Linh Son Pagoda.
LONG SON BIG HOUSE
The security situation is good, there is no phenomenon of trafficking hawkers, begging ... The drainage system and toilet work well, and are clean. Outside the Big House is arranged many stone seats for visitors to rest, inside the Big House isarranged long rows of tables and chairs close together and tea for visitors. There are no materials and tour guide teams, the Big House is only transmitted orally from this generation to other generation, and implemented by 08 officials.
Every year on the death anniversary of Ong Tran (20th February - lunar calendar), Trung Cuu Tet holiday (9th September - lunar calendar) and other holidays, the Big House organizes a solemn festival attracting tens of thousand visitors from near and far places (mainly from the provinces in the SouthEastand SouthWest) to attend.
Come to the cultural space of the Big House, the visitors are immersed in the traditions remained intact regulated byOng Tran which are stillstrictly maintainedby the people who follow his belief. People coming Big House are sheltered and have free vegetarian meal.
Each spring, the Big House holds“Spring Tree”, these are gifts given to poor and hard-working students, and the poor households in the commune, with morals of “The good leaves protect the worn-out leaves”.
Recommendations of the Big House: Since 2008, the Big House has appliedto the city People’s Committee and Ba Ria – Vung Tau Provincial People’s Committee for repairing, expanding the area of the front campus as the accommodation for visitors, but now due to dispute land, the application has not yet to be settled. The Council of officials of the Big House is looking forward to the attention of the Provincial People’s Committee to consider and settle early to conduct repair, to meet the accommodation for thevisitors when theywant to stay at Big House for a long time.
- History: Long Son Big House was built by Mr. Tran (real name is Le Van Muu, native place in Ha Tien). In 1900he came to the island and started to build the Big House, until 1929 it was completed. All were thanks tohis money and effort and many people who believed him. August 3rd, 1991, the entire area of Big was recognized as national historical – cultural site by the Ministry of Culture –Information.
- Landscape overview: Long Son Big House is also known as Ong Tran Temple which is an architectural and art complex of ancient style made of brick and precious woods. With a total area of about 2 hectares, Big House is situated on the eastern slope of Nua Mountain, is a self-contained and interconnected architectural complex, and is divided into three separated areas: the temple; the hall; the school; market of Ghe Sam preservation house and Ong Tran tomb. Many objects Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism; and Ong Tran and the others in Leparentage are worshiped in here. Additionally, Ong Tran collected many items of all three regions: South - Central - North such as tables and chairs, altars, horizontal lacquered board...
The security situation is good, there is no phenomenon of trafficking hawkers, begging ... The drainage system and toilet work well, and are clean. Outside the Big House is arranged many stone seats for visitors to rest, inside the Big House isarranged long rows of tables and chairs close together and tea for visitors. There are no materials and tour guide teams, the Big House is only transmitted orally from this generation to other generation, and implemented by 08 officials.
Every year on the death anniversary of Ong Tran (20th February - lunar calendar), Trung Cuu Tet holiday (9th September - lunar calendar) and other holidays, the Big House organizes a solemn festival attracting tens of thousand visitors from near and far places (mainly from the provinces in the SouthEastand SouthWest) to attend.
Come to the cultural space of the Big House, the visitors are immersed in the traditions remained intact regulated byOng Tran which are stillstrictly maintainedby the people who follow his belief. People coming Big House are sheltered and have free vegetarian meal.
Each spring, the Big House holds“Spring Tree”, these are gifts given to poor and hard-working students, and the poor households in the commune, with morals of “The good leaves protect the worn-out leaves”.
Recommendations of the Big House: Since 2008, the Big House has appliedto the city People’s Committee and Ba Ria – Vung Tau Provincial People’s Committee for repairing, expanding the area of the front campus as the accommodation for visitors, but now due to dispute land, the application has not yet to be settled. The Council of officials of the Big House is looking forward to the attention of the Provincial People’s Committee to consider and settle early to conduct repair, to meet the accommodation for thevisitors when theywant to stay at Big House for a long time.
CHON KHONG MEDITATION CENTER
The length of history of Buddhism in Vietnam is nearly eighteen centuries (from the second century to the twentieth century), Thien Tong Buddhism over time, these up and down events changed silently under evolutionary which had contributed a huge role to building the country, which have been proved in the kings: Dinh, Le, Ly, Tran ... Chon Khong Meditation Center after the time of disintegration and integration, now it is rebuilt into a stately Meditation Center. Truc Lam Yen Tu Meditation Center is brightened after a long time being forgotten, The Zen master - Hoang Tran Nhan Tong is resurrected in the heart of the Buddhist in Vietnam. Buddhist monk - Thich Thanh Tu imitate the Zen master of Vietnam, lived his life according to the national spirit, restored Meditation Center of Vietnam, brighten again Truc Lam Yen Tu Meditation Center. The monk had established the Meditation Center to teach meditation since 1971, especially ethnic Buddhism meditation formed by the Zen master - Hoang Tran Nhan Tong.
Chon Khong Meditation Center was recognized the record of Vietnam as “the first place restored Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen in Vietnam” in 2009, This is a Zen Buddhist site in Vietnam in the twentieth century. Hopefully that belief will be firm and Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen will develop throughout over the world.
The landscape of Meditation Center consists of main hall, steeple, gravestone tower of the Zen master - Truc Lam, father grave of the monk, gravestone of Chon Khong Meditation Center. There are also monuments: Phap Lac That Linh Bon of Chon Khong Meditation Center, old kitchen floor and Phap Lac That lake, Tieu Dao Road, Tu Tai Hill, Dai Mai Road, Thach Dau Road, Kinh Hanh Road and the Ngoi That monuments ...
CHRIST STATUE (Christ statue spreading his arms)
- History: The statue was built in 1974 run and implemented by Vung Tau Christian Association. Due to difficult conditions of construction (high mountain, rock foundation, difficult implementation of scaffolding system) ... Thus, the work was extended and until 1994 the work was completed.
+ This statue was recognized as the Asia-largest Christ statue by the Asia Organization 1n 2012.
-Landscape overview: Jesus statue stands at the top of Small Mountain (at the height of over 100 meters). The statue has 32m height, and is spreading arms of 18.3m at the 170m height overlooking the sea, inside is a staircase of 133 steps to the arms of statue..
+ The road from the foot of mountain to the foot of statue has about 1,000 steps.
Inside Christ statue is 135 spiral steps running to the arms of statue.
+ From the arms, visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of the beach and Vung Tau city and enjoy the cool and fresh air from the sea making your mind become relaxed, comfortable, removing the daily life burden.
+ Immediately below the foot of Christ statue is the three giant artillery, they are the old artillery of old artillery battlefield of Small Mountain with 11cannons. Each cannon is placed in a round deeply foundation, with a diameter of 10.5 m. These artillery are linked together by a system of trenches and bunkers below the Christ statue.
+ This is a symbol of belief toward the Christ, and the will together to build up the great work.
- The security situation is good, there is no phenomenon of trafficking hawkers, begging,
- The water supply and drainage system and toilet is in good and clean condition.
- From the foot of mountain to the Christ statue has four stopover points with outhouse, and arranged hundreds of benches which are scattered from the foot of the mountain to the top used as a stopping point for the visitors.
BA RIA GRAVE
- History: At 15 years old (1670) Ba Ria was present in the group of migrants from Dinh Tran Bien (Phu Yen) to the South to do business. Destination was the vast land, sacred forest and poisonous water, uneven and complex terrain, many evil beasts. When arriving in the sacred forest and poisonous water land, she focused on reclamation in the mountains of Dong Xoai, Go Xoai - Phuoc Lieu to Lang Dai - Xuyen Moc. She motivated the people to repair bridges and roads damaged and helped the troops of Nguyen Huu Canh to complete the task. The Lord found Ba Ria had great contribution, so she was ordained Ham Nghe and permitted to bring the parentage of Lord, from that time she has named Nguyen Thi Ria
+ She died in 1759, the age of 94, the entire of her cleared land was added to the public land area to allocate for the poors.
+ In 1902, the School of Indochina Ancient Far East rebuilt Ba Ria grave, around the grave was built of honeycomb stone, part of gravestone was engraved “Nguyen Thi Ria Tien Nuong”.
+ In 2010, the People’s Committee of Long Dien district made a shrine, repair, appointed the people to caretaker and incense her grave in Tam Phuoc commune.
- Landscape overview: Around the grave was built of honeycomb stone, the gravestone was also engraved “Nguyen Thi Ria Tien Nuong”, the whole of her grave was located on the campus of shrine in a solemn manner.
- The security situation is good, there is no phenomenon of begging, trafficking hawkers in the shrine.
- On 04/4 of lunar calendar, Long Dien District holds the ceremony for Ba Ria to commemorate and educate future generations about her merits with the land of Ba Ria - Vung Tau, and attracts the masses of local people from around Ba Ria - Vung Tau province to attend.
VUNG TAU LIGHTHOUSE
- History: Vung Tau Lighthouse was built in 1870 for the first time with the simple scale of construction and low brightness.
+ In 1913, it was re-built from the old location, the style remains the same.
+ Vung Tau Lighthouse has a very important position in Vietnam maritime route. Lighthouse is still operating night and day, to signal the boats in and out Saigon - Vung Tau maritime route (running to the port of Ho Chi Minh City), Thi Vai route (port of Cai Mep - Thi Vai, Phu My Industrial Zone, Go Dau Industrial Zone) Dinh river route, Duan river, Soai Rap - Hiep Phuoc.
- Landscape overview: Lighthouse is located on Small Mountain at an altitude of 170m over the sea level. It is a round tower, painted white, 18m high. The light at the top of the tower beams 30 knots (ie nearly 55km). The capacity of lamp is only 500W, but the Lighthouse beams thanks to the composition of huge lens system including three-sided glass panels (triangular type) surrounded. Light canopy with two large holes close together. The rotation system is based motor with a speed of 5 rounds/ minute. Lighthouse tower is connected with the housing of the operators by a firm tunnel. This house has the French architecture, two-stories, and was built at the same time with Lighthouse (now it is degraded and re-built entirely based on old architecture).
- The security situation is guaranteed, with supervision of 24/24.
- The road from the foot of Small Mountain to the Lighthouse was repaired and upgraded, installed lighting system and warning signs along the road by the local authorities serving the visitors and residents. However, the section from the beginning of Ha Long road hugging bend to the mountain (about 100 meters) the road was narrow and entangled the houses of the people which has not yet to be cleared, upgraded, formed knots, over-15-seat passenger cars can not to be accessed. It is necessary to expand this section by the authorities.
- Vung Tau Lighthouse is also known as one of the famous scenic spots. Every day there are about 20-30 international visitors, 100 local visitors visiting how to operate lighthouse, enjoying the fresh and quiet air and take sightseeing of the magical city at night, dynamic and bustle city and rush boats on the day.
* The capacity to attract visitors: Lighthouse is located in near the beautiful beaches, hotels and restaurants, entertainment areas, shopping centers of the city, so it is able to attract visitors in the form of tourism of taking sightseeing, exploring how to operate the lighthouse, enjoying the fresh and quiet air and watching the city.
WHITE PALACE
- History: The work was started in 1898, until 1902 it was completed. The Palace was painted white outside, so Vietnamese people used to call the Palace as the White Palace.
+ From 1907 to 1916, this place was used as a resting place for the Governor General of Indochina, Emperor Bao Dai and Presidents of the Republic of Vietnam. This is also the place where the French colonial government used as a place of detention of Emperor Thanh Thai.
+ From 1934, the White Palace was ceded to as a resting place for Emperor Bao Dai and Queen Nam Phuong. In the following years, the Palace has always been as a resting place of heads or senior officials of the Republic of Vietnam.
+ On 4th August 1992, the White Place was recognized as national historic and cultural site by the Ministry of Culture - Information.
- Landscape overview: The Palace is located at a height of 27 meters over the sea level. The palace has French architecture of the late 19th century, overlooks the Truoc beach, surrounded by a small forest is a small forest with many trees, especially porcelain trees. There are two roads to the White Palace, a road is for cars to the lobby, winding under teak-wood tree forest, a walkway through the 146 three-step staircases made of old banyan-tree wood, in the middle of two rows of old porcelain.
Bach Dinh is in 19m hieght, has three floors including the basement used for cooking, ground floor used as for reception, and first airy floor for the rest. Here preserved ancient artifacts for interior decoration such as: song binh Bach dieu chau phung, the Royal couch marked Khai Dinh age in 1921, the couple of African elephant tusks with the length of 170cm, tam da ngu thai Phuc - Loc – Tho. On the wall outside the palace has eight semi-body stone statues mounted on a straight line around three main wall sides of the building, most of the statues are art style of ancient Greece.
+ Currently, the White Palace is used as a museum, showcasing the Khang Hy ceramics salvaged from the sunken wrecks in the area of Hon Cau - Con Dao, cannons and many other valuable artifacts found through archaeological excavations in Ba Ria Vung Tau ...
- The security situation is good, there is no phenomenon of trafficking hawkers, begging ..
- The water supply and drainage systems and toilets are in good and clean condition.
- The campus of White Place is arranged many benches for visitors to rest.
- I showroom of useful souvenirs, the products are not diverse, eye-catching.
- Each month the White Place welcomes about 5-6 thousand visitors to visit.
* Road is convenient, clean and airy, and is located in the most beautiful route of the country, the passenger cars can access the Palace.
* The policy is being applied: entrance fee, VND5,000/person. Additionally, the White Place is enjoyed other incentives as prescribed by the Museum.
* Comments of White Place: Mr. Doan Van An – Head of heritage site management and promotion department said that “White Palace is one of the most famous sites and attracts many visitors to visit Vung Tau city (Each month the White Palace welcomes about 5-6 thousand visitors come to visit). Currently applicable ticket fee for a passenger is VND5,000, the visitor groups are mainly students, revolutionary veterans, guests who are exempted tickets. Therefore, the revenue from ticket is very limited and insufficient to restore, preserve, hire more tour guides, employees for cleaning up the environment around the Palace. The management unit of White Place has also repeatedly applied to raise ticket fee to VND15,000 under Circular No. 127/2011/ TT-BTC of the Ministry of Finance, but it has not yet been approved by the competent authorities.
VO THI SAU MEMORIAL HOUSE, MONUMENT PARK AND VO THI SAU TEMPLE
Vo Thi Sau has real name is Nguyen Thi Sau (1935 - 1952) - a female soldier who was awarded the title Hero of People’s Armed Forces. She was born in Dat Do, Long Dien, Ba Ria province (now in Phuoc Long Tho commune, Dat Do district, Ba Ria - Vung Tau province). When she was 12 years old, she and her brother jointly participated in revolutionary activities and escaped to the war zone. In 1949, she participated in the youth volunteers in Dat Do and was in charge of contacting and resupplying. In 1950, when was just 15 years old, she was arrested by the French government and sentenced to death by the French court in April 1951 for having thrown a grenade at Dat Do market, killing the Canton chief Tong - an evil person betrayed the country at the commune and injured 20 French soldiers. After nearly 3 years of torture, detention, French colonists imprisoned her in Con Dao. In the prison for the people who were sentenced to death, she was still unaffected, playful, confident in the victory day of the country. Although her defense lawyers objected to her sentence on the grounds that she was not enough 18 years old, but the French colonists remained stubbornly to sentence to death. Before being executed the sentence, she was exiled to the prisons of Chi Hoa, Ba Ria and Con Dao. Because the French colonists did not dare publicly executing the sentence against her, they stealthily killed her. According to the story, when the group of executioner asked her to kneel, she shouted them with a legendary sentence: “I just stand, not kneel!”. She was executed by firing squad in Con Dao in 1952 when she was not enough 18 years old.
Vo Thi Sau memorial house is located at Dat Do intersection in Phuoc Long Tho commune - Dat Do District (next to Dat Do theater). House has wooden walls, ancient tiled roofs where she lived with her family when she was a child, there are also memorabilia, simple things, ancestral altars and her altar placed in outer room. In 1980, the house was refurbished by Dat Do district People’s Committees to be in condition today.
Far from that place of about 100m is the monument park and Vo Thi Sau temple. The copper statue with 7m height expresses cavalier posture to the place of execution of Vo Thi Sau which is the ideal of artist Thanh Thanh. The temple is a place for people to worship, memorate the heroine and a place to display artifacts, introduce photos about the life of heroine Vo Thi Sau and some photos of the Dat Do homeland. In January 2012 the Park and Temple was nicely and widely restored as today.
LONG PHUOC TUNNEL
Long Phuoc tunnel is located in Long Phuoc commune, and about 7km northeast of the center of Ba Ria town. This is a fascinating testimony of our army and people during the two resistance wars against the French colonialists and the US imperialists. In addition, Long Phuoc tunnel is also a unique creative work of people’s war led by the Vietnam Communist Party.
Formerly known as a cellar of Mr. Nam Hoi with a length of 300m, thanks to that place in October 1949 the Revolutionary Armed Forces won the French sweep and maintained the revolutionary base. In April 1963, the tunnel system was restored and developed into a solid uninterrupted position. Tunnel is a system in all 5 hamlet in the commune: East hamlet, West hamlet, South hamlet, North hamlet and Phuoc Huu hamlet. Tunnel clusters are interconnected by a backbone and have secret tunnels for food reserves, fortifications to fight against the enemy. Backbone tunnel is 2-3m above the ground, the height of heart of tunnel is 1.5-1.6m, its width is 0.6-0.7m ensuring quite easy travel and movement. Tunnel has become a solid base for the revolutionary force to defeat the enemy’s encroachments and attacks, and contributed to the national liberation of the South along the people.
Revolutionary historic site “Long Phuoc Tunnel” was recognized and classified national level by the Ministry of Culture and Information on 09th January 1990. Over many years, partly by the destruction of rains of bombs, storms of bullets, partly by the effects of weather, climate and farming and cultivation of gardens of the residents so far have been damaged and landslided, many places have been removed all traces. So now the site are restored and put into use, exploit the tunnel of North hamlet and one part of tunnel of West hamlet (including 7 ends with a length of nearly 2000m). Nowadays, the previous arduous tunnel was arranged steps for easier travel of the visitors. At the beginning part of the tunnel had a roof to protect the site. The visitors can comfortably walk down the tunnel, along the tunnel was cemented, and had hurricane lamps for lighting.
Every day, the tunnel welcomes domestic and international visitors. Long Phuoc tunnel not only attracts domestic visitors, but also attracts a large amount of visitors from Australia, connected from visitor system from Long Tan cross site near there and is introduced as one vivid proof, heroic revolutionary spirit of the local people in the struggle for national liberation through two resistance wars of the nation.
BAI DAU Marian shrine Bai Dau Marian is the name of a complex of shrine and Marian monument, and located on the slope of Big Mountain, Vung Tau City, Vietnam. It is also the place where normally takes place the annual meeting of the Vietnam Episcopal Council.
In 1926, on the slope of Big Mountain has about a 10-acre land in the name of Vung May registered for ownership with the authority by Mr. Le Huu Luong, a Christian of Vung Tau parish on 9th April. Then, on 14th April, Mr. Luong transferred to Mr. and Ms. Nguyen Hong An usually called as Ve An (French nationality. Also in this year, Mr. and Ms. Ve An built a small stone chapel, next to “coffin covered by cement”, with the desire after passing away, they shall be buried in it (latter they moved to Ba Ria and passed away at here).
The length of history of Buddhism in Vietnam is nearly eighteen centuries (from the second century to the twentieth century), Thien Tong Buddhism over time, these up and down events changed silently under evolutionary which had contributed a huge role to building the country, which have been proved in the kings: Dinh, Le, Ly, Tran ... Chon Khong Meditation Center after the time of disintegration and integration, now it is rebuilt into a stately Meditation Center. Truc Lam Yen Tu Meditation Center is brightened after a long time being forgotten, The Zen master - Hoang Tran Nhan Tong is resurrected in the heart of the Buddhist in Vietnam. Buddhist monk - Thich Thanh Tu imitate the Zen master of Vietnam, lived his life according to the national spirit, restored Meditation Center of Vietnam, brighten again Truc Lam Yen Tu Meditation Center. The monk had established the Meditation Center to teach meditation since 1971, especially ethnic Buddhism meditation formed by the Zen master - Hoang Tran Nhan Tong.
Chon Khong Meditation Center was recognized the record of Vietnam as “the first place restored Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen in Vietnam” in 2009, This is a Zen Buddhist site in Vietnam in the twentieth century. Hopefully that belief will be firm and Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen will develop throughout over the world.
The landscape of Meditation Center consists of main hall, steeple, gravestone tower of the Zen master - Truc Lam, father grave of the monk, gravestone of Chon Khong Meditation Center. There are also monuments: Phap Lac That Linh Bon of Chon Khong Meditation Center, old kitchen floor and Phap Lac That lake, Tieu Dao Road, Tu Tai Hill, Dai Mai Road, Thach Dau Road, Kinh Hanh Road and the Ngoi That monuments ...
- Roads: The Meditation Center is located on the mountain slope, there are relatively high slopes, but passenger cars can still run. The parking lot of the Meditation Center is very wide which can containdozens of large and small passenger cars.
- The capacity to attract visitors: Being able to attract immediately. It is suitable for spiritual and belief tourism associated with learning Zen, it is possible to combine hiking, sightseeing surroundings.
CHRIST STATUE (Christ statue spreading his arms)
- History: The statue was built in 1974 run and implemented by Vung Tau Christian Association. Due to difficult conditions of construction (high mountain, rock foundation, difficult implementation of scaffolding system) ... Thus, the work was extended and until 1994 the work was completed.
+ This statue was recognized as the Asia-largest Christ statue by the Asia Organization 1n 2012.
-Landscape overview: Jesus statue stands at the top of Small Mountain (at the height of over 100 meters). The statue has 32m height, and is spreading arms of 18.3m at the 170m height overlooking the sea, inside is a staircase of 133 steps to the arms of statue..
+ The road from the foot of mountain to the foot of statue has about 1,000 steps.
Inside Christ statue is 135 spiral steps running to the arms of statue.
+ From the arms, visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of the beach and Vung Tau city and enjoy the cool and fresh air from the sea making your mind become relaxed, comfortable, removing the daily life burden.
+ Immediately below the foot of Christ statue is the three giant artillery, they are the old artillery of old artillery battlefield of Small Mountain with 11cannons. Each cannon is placed in a round deeply foundation, with a diameter of 10.5 m. These artillery are linked together by a system of trenches and bunkers below the Christ statue.
+ This is a symbol of belief toward the Christ, and the will together to build up the great work.
- The security situation is good, there is no phenomenon of trafficking hawkers, begging,
- The water supply and drainage system and toilet is in good and clean condition.
- From the foot of mountain to the Christ statue has four stopover points with outhouse, and arranged hundreds of benches which are scattered from the foot of the mountain to the top used as a stopping point for the visitors.
- Roads are convenient, clean and airy situated on the most beautiful road of the country.
- The capacity to attract visitors: Christ statue has been completed on infrastructure, convenient transportation, close to the beautiful beaches, hotels and restaurants, and entertainment areas of Vung Tau city. Thus, it is able to serve the visitors even in the form of spiritual tourism, mental training, health, visiting and observing the coastal city of Vung Tau from above.
BA RIA GRAVE
- History: At 15 years old (1670) Ba Ria was present in the group of migrants from Dinh Tran Bien (Phu Yen) to the South to do business. Destination was the vast land, sacred forest and poisonous water, uneven and complex terrain, many evil beasts. When arriving in the sacred forest and poisonous water land, she focused on reclamation in the mountains of Dong Xoai, Go Xoai - Phuoc Lieu to Lang Dai - Xuyen Moc. She motivated the people to repair bridges and roads damaged and helped the troops of Nguyen Huu Canh to complete the task. The Lord found Ba Ria had great contribution, so she was ordained Ham Nghe and permitted to bring the parentage of Lord, from that time she has named Nguyen Thi Ria
+ She died in 1759, the age of 94, the entire of her cleared land was added to the public land area to allocate for the poors.
+ In 1902, the School of Indochina Ancient Far East rebuilt Ba Ria grave, around the grave was built of honeycomb stone, part of gravestone was engraved “Nguyen Thi Ria Tien Nuong”.
+ In 2010, the People’s Committee of Long Dien district made a shrine, repair, appointed the people to caretaker and incense her grave in Tam Phuoc commune.
- Landscape overview: Around the grave was built of honeycomb stone, the gravestone was also engraved “Nguyen Thi Ria Tien Nuong”, the whole of her grave was located on the campus of shrine in a solemn manner.
- The security situation is good, there is no phenomenon of begging, trafficking hawkers in the shrine.
- On 04/4 of lunar calendar, Long Dien District holds the ceremony for Ba Ria to commemorate and educate future generations about her merits with the land of Ba Ria - Vung Tau, and attracts the masses of local people from around Ba Ria - Vung Tau province to attend.
VUNG TAU LIGHTHOUSE
- History: Vung Tau Lighthouse was built in 1870 for the first time with the simple scale of construction and low brightness.
+ In 1913, it was re-built from the old location, the style remains the same.
+ Vung Tau Lighthouse has a very important position in Vietnam maritime route. Lighthouse is still operating night and day, to signal the boats in and out Saigon - Vung Tau maritime route (running to the port of Ho Chi Minh City), Thi Vai route (port of Cai Mep - Thi Vai, Phu My Industrial Zone, Go Dau Industrial Zone) Dinh river route, Duan river, Soai Rap - Hiep Phuoc.
- Landscape overview: Lighthouse is located on Small Mountain at an altitude of 170m over the sea level. It is a round tower, painted white, 18m high. The light at the top of the tower beams 30 knots (ie nearly 55km). The capacity of lamp is only 500W, but the Lighthouse beams thanks to the composition of huge lens system including three-sided glass panels (triangular type) surrounded. Light canopy with two large holes close together. The rotation system is based motor with a speed of 5 rounds/ minute. Lighthouse tower is connected with the housing of the operators by a firm tunnel. This house has the French architecture, two-stories, and was built at the same time with Lighthouse (now it is degraded and re-built entirely based on old architecture).
- The security situation is guaranteed, with supervision of 24/24.
- The road from the foot of Small Mountain to the Lighthouse was repaired and upgraded, installed lighting system and warning signs along the road by the local authorities serving the visitors and residents. However, the section from the beginning of Ha Long road hugging bend to the mountain (about 100 meters) the road was narrow and entangled the houses of the people which has not yet to be cleared, upgraded, formed knots, over-15-seat passenger cars can not to be accessed. It is necessary to expand this section by the authorities.
- Vung Tau Lighthouse is also known as one of the famous scenic spots. Every day there are about 20-30 international visitors, 100 local visitors visiting how to operate lighthouse, enjoying the fresh and quiet air and take sightseeing of the magical city at night, dynamic and bustle city and rush boats on the day.
* The capacity to attract visitors: Lighthouse is located in near the beautiful beaches, hotels and restaurants, entertainment areas, shopping centers of the city, so it is able to attract visitors in the form of tourism of taking sightseeing, exploring how to operate the lighthouse, enjoying the fresh and quiet air and watching the city.
WHITE PALACE
- History: The work was started in 1898, until 1902 it was completed. The Palace was painted white outside, so Vietnamese people used to call the Palace as the White Palace.
+ From 1907 to 1916, this place was used as a resting place for the Governor General of Indochina, Emperor Bao Dai and Presidents of the Republic of Vietnam. This is also the place where the French colonial government used as a place of detention of Emperor Thanh Thai.
+ From 1934, the White Palace was ceded to as a resting place for Emperor Bao Dai and Queen Nam Phuong. In the following years, the Palace has always been as a resting place of heads or senior officials of the Republic of Vietnam.
+ On 4th August 1992, the White Place was recognized as national historic and cultural site by the Ministry of Culture - Information.
- Landscape overview: The Palace is located at a height of 27 meters over the sea level. The palace has French architecture of the late 19th century, overlooks the Truoc beach, surrounded by a small forest is a small forest with many trees, especially porcelain trees. There are two roads to the White Palace, a road is for cars to the lobby, winding under teak-wood tree forest, a walkway through the 146 three-step staircases made of old banyan-tree wood, in the middle of two rows of old porcelain.
Bach Dinh is in 19m hieght, has three floors including the basement used for cooking, ground floor used as for reception, and first airy floor for the rest. Here preserved ancient artifacts for interior decoration such as: song binh Bach dieu chau phung, the Royal couch marked Khai Dinh age in 1921, the couple of African elephant tusks with the length of 170cm, tam da ngu thai Phuc - Loc – Tho. On the wall outside the palace has eight semi-body stone statues mounted on a straight line around three main wall sides of the building, most of the statues are art style of ancient Greece.
+ Currently, the White Palace is used as a museum, showcasing the Khang Hy ceramics salvaged from the sunken wrecks in the area of Hon Cau - Con Dao, cannons and many other valuable artifacts found through archaeological excavations in Ba Ria Vung Tau ...
- The security situation is good, there is no phenomenon of trafficking hawkers, begging ..
- The water supply and drainage systems and toilets are in good and clean condition.
- The campus of White Place is arranged many benches for visitors to rest.
- I showroom of useful souvenirs, the products are not diverse, eye-catching.
- Each month the White Place welcomes about 5-6 thousand visitors to visit.
* Road is convenient, clean and airy, and is located in the most beautiful route of the country, the passenger cars can access the Palace.
* The policy is being applied: entrance fee, VND5,000/person. Additionally, the White Place is enjoyed other incentives as prescribed by the Museum.
* Comments of White Place: Mr. Doan Van An – Head of heritage site management and promotion department said that “White Palace is one of the most famous sites and attracts many visitors to visit Vung Tau city (Each month the White Palace welcomes about 5-6 thousand visitors come to visit). Currently applicable ticket fee for a passenger is VND5,000, the visitor groups are mainly students, revolutionary veterans, guests who are exempted tickets. Therefore, the revenue from ticket is very limited and insufficient to restore, preserve, hire more tour guides, employees for cleaning up the environment around the Palace. The management unit of White Place has also repeatedly applied to raise ticket fee to VND15,000 under Circular No. 127/2011/ TT-BTC of the Ministry of Finance, but it has not yet been approved by the competent authorities.
VO THI SAU MEMORIAL HOUSE, MONUMENT PARK AND VO THI SAU TEMPLE
Vo Thi Sau has real name is Nguyen Thi Sau (1935 - 1952) - a female soldier who was awarded the title Hero of People’s Armed Forces. She was born in Dat Do, Long Dien, Ba Ria province (now in Phuoc Long Tho commune, Dat Do district, Ba Ria - Vung Tau province). When she was 12 years old, she and her brother jointly participated in revolutionary activities and escaped to the war zone. In 1949, she participated in the youth volunteers in Dat Do and was in charge of contacting and resupplying. In 1950, when was just 15 years old, she was arrested by the French government and sentenced to death by the French court in April 1951 for having thrown a grenade at Dat Do market, killing the Canton chief Tong - an evil person betrayed the country at the commune and injured 20 French soldiers. After nearly 3 years of torture, detention, French colonists imprisoned her in Con Dao. In the prison for the people who were sentenced to death, she was still unaffected, playful, confident in the victory day of the country. Although her defense lawyers objected to her sentence on the grounds that she was not enough 18 years old, but the French colonists remained stubbornly to sentence to death. Before being executed the sentence, she was exiled to the prisons of Chi Hoa, Ba Ria and Con Dao. Because the French colonists did not dare publicly executing the sentence against her, they stealthily killed her. According to the story, when the group of executioner asked her to kneel, she shouted them with a legendary sentence: “I just stand, not kneel!”. She was executed by firing squad in Con Dao in 1952 when she was not enough 18 years old.
Vo Thi Sau memorial house is located at Dat Do intersection in Phuoc Long Tho commune - Dat Do District (next to Dat Do theater). House has wooden walls, ancient tiled roofs where she lived with her family when she was a child, there are also memorabilia, simple things, ancestral altars and her altar placed in outer room. In 1980, the house was refurbished by Dat Do district People’s Committees to be in condition today.
Far from that place of about 100m is the monument park and Vo Thi Sau temple. The copper statue with 7m height expresses cavalier posture to the place of execution of Vo Thi Sau which is the ideal of artist Thanh Thanh. The temple is a place for people to worship, memorate the heroine and a place to display artifacts, introduce photos about the life of heroine Vo Thi Sau and some photos of the Dat Do homeland. In January 2012 the Park and Temple was nicely and widely restored as today.
LONG PHUOC TUNNEL
Long Phuoc tunnel is located in Long Phuoc commune, and about 7km northeast of the center of Ba Ria town. This is a fascinating testimony of our army and people during the two resistance wars against the French colonialists and the US imperialists. In addition, Long Phuoc tunnel is also a unique creative work of people’s war led by the Vietnam Communist Party.
Formerly known as a cellar of Mr. Nam Hoi with a length of 300m, thanks to that place in October 1949 the Revolutionary Armed Forces won the French sweep and maintained the revolutionary base. In April 1963, the tunnel system was restored and developed into a solid uninterrupted position. Tunnel is a system in all 5 hamlet in the commune: East hamlet, West hamlet, South hamlet, North hamlet and Phuoc Huu hamlet. Tunnel clusters are interconnected by a backbone and have secret tunnels for food reserves, fortifications to fight against the enemy. Backbone tunnel is 2-3m above the ground, the height of heart of tunnel is 1.5-1.6m, its width is 0.6-0.7m ensuring quite easy travel and movement. Tunnel has become a solid base for the revolutionary force to defeat the enemy’s encroachments and attacks, and contributed to the national liberation of the South along the people.
Revolutionary historic site “Long Phuoc Tunnel” was recognized and classified national level by the Ministry of Culture and Information on 09th January 1990. Over many years, partly by the destruction of rains of bombs, storms of bullets, partly by the effects of weather, climate and farming and cultivation of gardens of the residents so far have been damaged and landslided, many places have been removed all traces. So now the site are restored and put into use, exploit the tunnel of North hamlet and one part of tunnel of West hamlet (including 7 ends with a length of nearly 2000m). Nowadays, the previous arduous tunnel was arranged steps for easier travel of the visitors. At the beginning part of the tunnel had a roof to protect the site. The visitors can comfortably walk down the tunnel, along the tunnel was cemented, and had hurricane lamps for lighting.
Every day, the tunnel welcomes domestic and international visitors. Long Phuoc tunnel not only attracts domestic visitors, but also attracts a large amount of visitors from Australia, connected from visitor system from Long Tan cross site near there and is introduced as one vivid proof, heroic revolutionary spirit of the local people in the struggle for national liberation through two resistance wars of the nation.
BAI DAU Marian shrine Bai Dau Marian is the name of a complex of shrine and Marian monument, and located on the slope of Big Mountain, Vung Tau City, Vietnam. It is also the place where normally takes place the annual meeting of the Vietnam Episcopal Council.
In 1926, on the slope of Big Mountain has about a 10-acre land in the name of Vung May registered for ownership with the authority by Mr. Le Huu Luong, a Christian of Vung Tau parish on 9th April. Then, on 14th April, Mr. Luong transferred to Mr. and Ms. Nguyen Hong An usually called as Ve An (French nationality. Also in this year, Mr. and Ms. Ve An built a small stone chapel, next to “coffin covered by cement”, with the desire after passing away, they shall be buried in it (latter they moved to Ba Ria and passed away at here).
On 01/12/1927, Mr. and Ms. Ve An donated the chapel and land to Paris Foreign Mission Society. In the past, Vung May is a dense forest, few people, so the missionary priest conducted deforestation, sericulture, creating jobs for Catholics, so this area was called Bai Dau from that time. In 1962, year of opening of Vatican II Community, on October 1962, in Bai Dau, parish priest cum head of country Paul Nguyen Minh Tri counties (there is document mentioning Nguyen Van Tri) built the statue of Marian of Grace with the height of 7m on the mountainside. On 08/11/1963, Sai Gon Bishop Paul Nguyen Van Binh Saigon blessed to inaugurate the monument.
Date 04/10/1965, Xuan Loc Diocese was founded. Father Joseph Le Van An, the first bishop, was officially announced Bai Dau as the Marian center of Xuan Loc Diocese, and enthusiastically organized the solemn pilgrimage respecting Maria. Many Catholics in the Diocese never forget the acclaim of Maria of the diocese in May, 1973. Tens of thousands of people and hundreds of large and small boats came to Bai Dau to celebrate the biggest procession at the time to honor Maria. The bishop's successor makes Bai Dau increasingly attract many people to pilgrimage respecting Maria.
Marian shrine was established by Bishop Joseph Le Van An on 15/05/1969. Through the ups and downs, today Bai Dau Marian shrine became a tourism destination of natural sightseeing, rest and pray of domestic and foreign visitors.
On 01/01/1992, 25th World Peace Day, the father Paul Nguyen Minh Nhat, Xuan Loc bishop put the stone to restore pilgrimage center. The monument was replaced by the statue of the Mother of God, in white color, 25m height with a weight of almost 500 tons, which was located on the slope of Big Mountain at a height of 60m above sea level. Marian statue is overlooking the sea, carrying Jesus. Statue of Mary Mother of God was blessed and inaugurated on 31/12/1994, led by Bishop Xuan Loc Paul Nguyen Minh Nhat. Later, the stone chapel was moved down the foot of mountain, giving way to a dome church which can accommodate 1,000 people being constructive. The below ground was renovated into a site with a capacity of 100,000 seats. Statue of Maria of Grace over many years of standing on the bank of the ocean was removed and taken to a new station in Sao Mai Parish on 10/03/1995 and pilgrims still come to Sao Mai to pray blessings from the Maria.
Cathedral dedicated to the Mother of God is located on the left slope of Maria statue, with a height of about 28 meters above sea level and overlooking the sea. The shrine was rebuilt on 19/03/1994 with the length of 49m, and the width of 38m, in the shape of a ship of sails fill, 27.5m high tower is like as a gentle mast but firm to catch the wind and take the ship to port in peace.
There are also other buildings such as traditional house dedicated to the martyrs, Rosary contemplating mystery road, pilgrim house... All created a harmonious, beautiful overview and full of sacredness of this pilgrimage center.
In the campus of Bai Dau Marian Shrine not only has Marian statue and shrine but also has a cluster of religious architecture which is quite spectacular. There is a road to the Big Mountain top for panoramic view of Vung Tau sea. The destination is cross and the along the road is the Catholic relic including 14 roads of cross of Jesus.
It is quite easy to access Marian statue, because the statue is not in very high position, but if you want to access Cross, you need to have a health or a deep faith, because at the Cross is located in the high mountain top, and the road to access it is very steep.
In Vung Tau, two most famous Catholic sites are statue of Jesus on Tao Phung mountain (Small Mountain) and Bai Dau Marian Shrine in Tuong Ky mountainside (Big Mountain).
Platform of Shakyamuni Buddha
Platform of Shakyamuni Buddha is located in the northern direction of the foot of Big Mountain, Vung Tau City. Visitors can come to Platform of Shakyamuni Buddha along Le Loi street, turning to Tran Phu street or from Tran Phu street (Truoc beach) along the coast passing Bai Dau, through the territory of Da terminal to Platform of Shakyamuni Buddha.
Date 04/10/1965, Xuan Loc Diocese was founded. Father Joseph Le Van An, the first bishop, was officially announced Bai Dau as the Marian center of Xuan Loc Diocese, and enthusiastically organized the solemn pilgrimage respecting Maria. Many Catholics in the Diocese never forget the acclaim of Maria of the diocese in May, 1973. Tens of thousands of people and hundreds of large and small boats came to Bai Dau to celebrate the biggest procession at the time to honor Maria. The bishop's successor makes Bai Dau increasingly attract many people to pilgrimage respecting Maria.
Marian shrine was established by Bishop Joseph Le Van An on 15/05/1969. Through the ups and downs, today Bai Dau Marian shrine became a tourism destination of natural sightseeing, rest and pray of domestic and foreign visitors.
On 01/01/1992, 25th World Peace Day, the father Paul Nguyen Minh Nhat, Xuan Loc bishop put the stone to restore pilgrimage center. The monument was replaced by the statue of the Mother of God, in white color, 25m height with a weight of almost 500 tons, which was located on the slope of Big Mountain at a height of 60m above sea level. Marian statue is overlooking the sea, carrying Jesus. Statue of Mary Mother of God was blessed and inaugurated on 31/12/1994, led by Bishop Xuan Loc Paul Nguyen Minh Nhat. Later, the stone chapel was moved down the foot of mountain, giving way to a dome church which can accommodate 1,000 people being constructive. The below ground was renovated into a site with a capacity of 100,000 seats. Statue of Maria of Grace over many years of standing on the bank of the ocean was removed and taken to a new station in Sao Mai Parish on 10/03/1995 and pilgrims still come to Sao Mai to pray blessings from the Maria.
Cathedral dedicated to the Mother of God is located on the left slope of Maria statue, with a height of about 28 meters above sea level and overlooking the sea. The shrine was rebuilt on 19/03/1994 with the length of 49m, and the width of 38m, in the shape of a ship of sails fill, 27.5m high tower is like as a gentle mast but firm to catch the wind and take the ship to port in peace.
There are also other buildings such as traditional house dedicated to the martyrs, Rosary contemplating mystery road, pilgrim house... All created a harmonious, beautiful overview and full of sacredness of this pilgrimage center.
In the campus of Bai Dau Marian Shrine not only has Marian statue and shrine but also has a cluster of religious architecture which is quite spectacular. There is a road to the Big Mountain top for panoramic view of Vung Tau sea. The destination is cross and the along the road is the Catholic relic including 14 roads of cross of Jesus.
It is quite easy to access Marian statue, because the statue is not in very high position, but if you want to access Cross, you need to have a health or a deep faith, because at the Cross is located in the high mountain top, and the road to access it is very steep.
In Vung Tau, two most famous Catholic sites are statue of Jesus on Tao Phung mountain (Small Mountain) and Bai Dau Marian Shrine in Tuong Ky mountainside (Big Mountain).
Platform of Shakyamuni Buddha
Platform of Shakyamuni Buddha is located in the northern direction of the foot of Big Mountain, Vung Tau City. Visitors can come to Platform of Shakyamuni Buddha along Le Loi street, turning to Tran Phu street or from Tran Phu street (Truoc beach) along the coast passing Bai Dau, through the territory of Da terminal to Platform of Shakyamuni Buddha.
Platform of Shakyamuni Buddha is located on an area of approximately 6 hectares, the lower is Thien Lam pagoda, and the upper Platform of Shakyamuni Buddha. The entire campus of Platform of Shakyamuni Buddha is like a crescent moon divided into three levels according to the pyramid, with the height from 3m to 29m over sea level. Although it is relatively high, the visitors do not feel tired because the steps are easy to travel, and the slope is gentle.
In 1957, this place was untouched with the modest Thien Lam pagoda. In 1962, Platform of Shakyamuni Buddha was started to build. After more than a year of construction, in March, 1963, Platform of Shakyamuni Buddha was inaugurated. Unlike other Buddhist pagodas, the architectural feature of Platform of Shakyamuni Buddha is a sculptural architectural formed according to the story of the life of Shakyamuni Buddha attached harmony with the landscape of Big Mountain. Level 1 is Tam Quan and flower gardens. Level 2 is a cool house and traditional exhibition house. Level 3 is Thien Lam pagoda and ancient Buddhist site, including works of architecture-sculpture: Statue of a child standing on a lotus flower, one hand pointing to the sky, one hand pointing down the ground showing the Buddha was born; the statues of princes cutting hair, servant Chana, Bach Ma representing the scene of Prince abandoning the life of an aristocrat to become a Buddhist. Next is the statue of Prince cultivating and enlightening - statute White Buddha with the height of 11.6 meters, with 16 relics of the Buddha inside. Octagon House has the statues, symbolizing Buddha preaching morality: Sakyamuni Buddha sitting on a lotus, the magus listening to the sermon. Next is a complex of statues of elephants, monkeys offering fruit to the Buddha. Stupa of Sakyamuni is in 17m height, with a lotus at the top, and 13 relics of the Buddhe inside.
In 1957, this place was untouched with the modest Thien Lam pagoda. In 1962, Platform of Shakyamuni Buddha was started to build. After more than a year of construction, in March, 1963, Platform of Shakyamuni Buddha was inaugurated. Unlike other Buddhist pagodas, the architectural feature of Platform of Shakyamuni Buddha is a sculptural architectural formed according to the story of the life of Shakyamuni Buddha attached harmony with the landscape of Big Mountain. Level 1 is Tam Quan and flower gardens. Level 2 is a cool house and traditional exhibition house. Level 3 is Thien Lam pagoda and ancient Buddhist site, including works of architecture-sculpture: Statue of a child standing on a lotus flower, one hand pointing to the sky, one hand pointing down the ground showing the Buddha was born; the statues of princes cutting hair, servant Chana, Bach Ma representing the scene of Prince abandoning the life of an aristocrat to become a Buddhist. Next is the statue of Prince cultivating and enlightening - statute White Buddha with the height of 11.6 meters, with 16 relics of the Buddha inside. Octagon House has the statues, symbolizing Buddha preaching morality: Sakyamuni Buddha sitting on a lotus, the magus listening to the sermon. Next is a complex of statues of elephants, monkeys offering fruit to the Buddha. Stupa of Sakyamuni is in 17m height, with a lotus at the top, and 13 relics of the Buddhe inside.
Buddha statue with the height of 2.4m and width of 12.2m.
The statue of Buddha entering into Nirvana is turned westward, with the height of 2.4 m, length of 12.2m, with 9 monks folding hands below. In the ancient Buddhist site also has lush linden extracted from previous linden which Buddha meditated. In 1989, Platform of Shakyamuni Buddha was recognized as national cultural and historic site.
Undergo many restorations but Platform of Shakyamuni Buddha remains the original architecture, tree-lined campus is located at an ideal height, so it is often chosen as the place of rest of the visitors. From this location, the visitors can observe the sea from all sides, with beautiful sights which make visitors be more interested, and feel their trip enjoyable, meaningful.
The statue of Buddha entering into Nirvana is turned westward, with the height of 2.4 m, length of 12.2m, with 9 monks folding hands below. In the ancient Buddhist site also has lush linden extracted from previous linden which Buddha meditated. In 1989, Platform of Shakyamuni Buddha was recognized as national cultural and historic site.
Undergo many restorations but Platform of Shakyamuni Buddha remains the original architecture, tree-lined campus is located at an ideal height, so it is often chosen as the place of rest of the visitors. From this location, the visitors can observe the sea from all sides, with beautiful sights which make visitors be more interested, and feel their trip enjoyable, meaningful.