Architectural and Artistic Heritage Site: Vĩnh Nguơn Temple Vĩnh Nguơn Ward – Châu Đốc City

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         The Vĩnh Nguơn Temple is an architectural and artistic heritage site located at the beginning of the Vĩnh Tế Canal in Châu Đốc City, a renowned area in An Giang Province. Historically, the temple was situated in Vĩnh Ngươn Hamlet, Châu Phú District, Tây Xuyên County, Tuy Biên Prefecture, An Giang Province. Today, it is part of Vĩnh Nguơn Ward, Châu Đốc City, An Giang Province.
         In the process of clearing land, establishing settlements, and settling into new communities, local residents, driven by their spiritual beliefs, came together to contribute their efforts and resources to build a temple dedicated to deities as a spiritual anchor for the people in this new land. In 1824, after the completion of the Vĩnh Tế Canal, the influx of settlers to the area increased. Thoại Ngọc Hầu established five villages along the canal, including Vĩnh Nguơn. The villagers named their temple after the village, resulting in the Vĩnh Nguơn Temple that still stands today.

         The Vĩnh Nguơn Temple, constructed in the mid-19th century, has undergone several renovations over the years. The existing structure is the result of a renovation in 1929, featuring a three-tiered roof covered with large cylindrical tiles, an ancient-style roof ridge, and brick walls. The main hall retains its original cylindrical wooden columns made of pyinkado wood, with the bases elevated by over 1 meter to balance the height and proportions of the temple. The Vĩnh Nguơn Temple is a grand architectural work that reflects the architectural style of the Nguyễn era, preserved and maintained to this day. The overall structure includes various components: the entrance gate, courtyard, front hall, rear hall, main hall, and incense house.
The Vĩnh Nguơn Temple covers an area of 526.60 square meters and is designed in the shape of the Chinese character "三" (/Sān/ - Three) with three tiers of roofs. The roof ridges are adorned with dragon and pearl sculptures, as well as representations of the Sun and Moon. At the ends of the roof eaves, there are decorative elements including qilin (mythical unicorns), Carp turns into dragon, cloud patterns, and geometric designs. The temple's facade is decorated with bas-reliefs of bats holding flower baskets, intertwined vines, and leaves, symbolizing wishes for prosperity, longevity, and eternal blessings.
         The interior of the Vĩnh Nguơn Temple is designed with three main halls and two side wings. The wooden framework, which supports the entire structure, features 36 vertical columns distributed in four rows of horizontal columns and eight rows of vertical columns. Notably, the central hall has 18 round wooden columns made of cam xe wood, a remnant from the early construction period. The roof beams are carved to be thinner at the top and gradually thicker towards the ends, providing structural strength. Additionally, the walls between the different levels of the roof are decorated with painted panels that depict historical themes, traditional stories, rural landscapes, mountains, rivers, flowers, and vines. These decorations enhance the traditional aesthetic and artistic value of the temple's interior. The central hall and the side wings share a similar design, both featuring a three-hall, two-wing layout with a four-pillar roof structure.

         The architectural design of the Vĩnh Nguơn Temple is characterized by its focus on four central, tall, and robust columns (known as "tứ trụ"). These primary columns not only provide structural support for the entire framework but also connect the roof beams, cross beams, and walls, creating a classical multi-tiered, pagoda-style structure. This design ensures the stability and harmony of the building's architecture.
         The "vỏ quy" (or "vỏ qui") is constructed using the traditional technique of interlocking beams and columns. Besides connecting the main hall ("chánh điện") and the "vỏ ca," the "vỏ quy" serves to expand the interior space, facilitating the organization of festival activities. Additionally, it plays a crucial role in allowing natural ventilation and light to enter the interior of the temple, enhancing its functionality and ambiance.

         The interior decorations of Vĩnh Nguơn Temple are rich in quantity and diverse in type, encompassing a full range of carving arts. The most notable features are the intricate wooden carvings, with artisans of old showcasing various techniques such as relief carving, high relief, and low relief on over 30 sets of carved decorative frames, horizontal plaques, and couplets. Particularly striking are the three-layered relief carvings of the couplets hanging on the two columns in front of the deity's altar. These carvings, featuring dragons and harmonious Chinese characters, are beautifully enhanced by the use of red lacquer and gold leaf, adding a vivid and prominent touch to the artistic themes. Overall, these carvings are among the many unique pieces of high artistic craftsmanship by ancient artisans, representing the pinnacle of Vietnamese wooden sculpture during the Nguyễn dynasty and now recognized as a significant cultural heritage.

         The arrangement of altars, incense tables, and ritual objects inside the temple is harmoniously designed according to the traditional worship practices of the feudal society and the local people's spiritual beliefs. The main hall ("chánh điện"), which is the most important area, houses the primary deity being worshipped, Nguyễn Hữu Lễ. According to the royal decree of King Khải Định in the 9th year of his reign, dated July 20, 1924, Nguyễn Hữu Lễ was bestowed the title of "Đoan Túc Dực Bảo Trung Hưng Tôn Thần."
The interior of the temple features a total of 20 altars, including those for Tả ban (Left board), Hữu ban (Right board), Tiền hiền (those who made significant contributions to reclaiming and cultivating land, establishing villages and hamlets), and Hậu hiền (those who continued the efforts to develop and expand the villages), and others. Made of wood, each altar and ritual object showcases the exquisite craftsmanship of ancient artisans, with intricate carvings and colorful mother-of-pearl inlays. These decorative elements enrich the artistic and technical aspects of the altars, creating a splendid and solemn system of worship that reflects the divine presence of the deity.

         The Vĩnh Nguơn Temple, a masterpiece of architectural art, is set in a scenic and open natural environment along the Hau River. It is one of the most beautiful and renowned ancient temples in An Giang, reflecting the architectural style of the Nguyễn dynasty. The temple adds a distinctive charm to the Vĩnh Nguơn area and brings warmth to the local community. What is particularly commendable is the ongoing effort by the cultural sector, local authorities, the temple committee, and the community to preserve and maintain this historic site. Their commitment ensures that the temple remains well-preserved, elegant, and a testament to its traditional grandeur.

         In 2002, the Vĩnh Nguơn Temple was officially recognized as a provincial-level architectural and artistic heritage site by the People's Committee of An Giang Province, according to Decision No. 1250/QĐ-CT.UB dated May 21, 2002. Subsequently, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism designated the Vĩnh Nguơn Temple as a national-level architectural and artistic heritage site through Decision No. 1713/QĐ-BVHTTDL dated June 2, 2011.