Historical Site Thoại Ngọc Hầu Temple and Thoại Sơn Stele Núi Sập Town, Thoại Sơn District, An Giang Province

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        Thoại Ngọc Hầu Temple, also known as Thoại Sơn Communal House, Thoại Sơn Martial Temple, or Thoại Ngọc Hầu Communal House, is a historical site located in Đông Sơn I hamlet, Núi Sập town, Thoại Sơn district, An Giang province. Originally, the site was part of Thoại Sơn commune, Định Phú district, Châu Thành district, Long Xuyên province.
        The site is situated 26 km from the center of Long Xuyên city, with convenient road access for all types of vehicles. Visitors can travel from Long Xuyên along provincial road 943 towards Núi Sập for approximately 26 km to reach Núi Sập town. Upon reaching the town, they can turn onto Lê Thánh Tôn Street: turn right onto Thoại Ngọc Hầu Street to reach the main gate of the site, or continue straight onto Trần Nguyên Hãn Street to access the site from the back entrance.
Thoại Ngọc Hầu Temple is a beautiful architectural work, reflecting the traditional Southern village temple style. It is well-known both locally and nationally for its ancient beauty, combined with the natural landscape of the semi-mountainous region, making it an attractive destination for tourists.
        The temple is dedicated to Thoại Ngọc Hầu Nguyễn Văn Thoại (1761–1829), a prominent general during the Nguyễn dynasty. He was born in An Hải village, Diên Phước district, Điện Bàn prefecture, Quảng Nam province, which is now An Hải Tây ward, Sơn Trà district, Đà Nẵng city.
           The people of Thoại Sơn district, in particular, and An Giang province, in general, are grateful and always remember the contributions of Thoại Ngọc Hầu Nguyễn Văn Thoại in the reclamation and development of An Giang in the early 19th century. Notably, he was responsible for the excavation of the Đông Xuyên canal (1818), which stretched approximately 32 km and connected Đông Xuyên with Giá Khê, forming a significant strategic transportation route west of the Hậu River, linking the Hà Tiên and Vĩnh Thanh provinces. This facilitated the establishment of villages and the development of Thoại Sơn’s population. Subsequently, Thoại Ngọc Hầu presented the canal and Sap mountain maps to the king. In recognition of his efforts, King Gia Long named the canal “Thoại Hà” and renamed Sập Mountain (Sạp Sơn) to “Thoại Sơn” (Thoai Mountain). The names Thoại Sơn and Thoại Hà originate from these events. To commemorate the excavation of Thoại Hà, Thoại Ngọc Hầu erected a Mountain God temple at the foot of the mountain and carved a stone stele with the words "Thoại Sơn" at the front, detailing the history of the mountain’s name for posterity. In the third year of Minh Mạng's reign (1822), Thoại Ngọc Hầu held a grand ceremony to erect the stele and inaugurate the God Temple.
        In 1904, the French governor of Long Xuyên visited Thoại Sơn village to admire the scenic landscape of the river and mountain. He ordered the relocation of the Thoại Sơn stele to be erected at the governor’s garden in Long Xuyên's provincial capital. Over time, as the provincial governors changed, the inscription on the stele was translated into French. However, finding the translation unsatisfactory, the governor ordered the local village leaders to return the stele to its original location on the Sập Mountain slope. Unfortunately, the original site had been occupied by the French military as a garrison, so the village leaders decided to move the stele to a location near the Cống Cô creek along the main road, where it stands today. This new location is approximately 300 meters from its original site where Thoại Ngọc Hầu had originally erected it.
        In 1922, the village leaders and the people of Thoại Sơn constructed the Thoại Ngọc Hầu Temple to honor “imperial envoy Thoại Ngọc Hầu” and to protect the Thoại Sơn stele from damage caused by weather. On August 15, 1943, the imperial court bestowed upon Thoại Ngọc Hầu the honorific title “Quang Ý Dực Bảo Trung Hưng Trung đẳng Thần” (The term "dực bảo trung hưng" (翊保中興) means: through assistance, what was once in decline has now flourished again. "Dực" (翊) means to respect and assist; "bảo" (保) means to take responsibility and preserve. This phrase appeared towards the end of the Nguyễn dynasty and signifies gratitude for significant contributions to the nation's revival."Quang Ý" is a title for mid-tier rank, reflecting honor and respect at an intermediate level within the imperial system of titles and accolades.) and decreed that he be worshiped at the temple, where his legacy is honored to this day.
        Thoại Ngọc Hầu Temple is one of the most significant historical sites, holding great spiritual influence for the local people of Thoại Sơn. It plays an essential role in the spiritual life of the community, serving as a sacred flame that inspires and energizes the people to drive out invaders. Continuing the patriotic tradition of Thoại Ngọc Hầu—a renowned general who once safeguarded the nation's frontiers—the soldiers and citizens of Thoại Sơn, fueled by deep-seated hatred for the enemy, joined forces with the district’s military and civilian populace to achieve a glorious victory, contributing to the overall triumph on April 30, 1975.
        Over its long existence, the Thoại Ngọc Hầu communal house has undergone renovations to become more splendid while retaining its ancient charm and harmony with nature. With its grand architectural scale and exquisite artistic carvings, Thoại Ngọc Hầu Temple stands as a symbol of the people's deep respect for Thoại Ngọc Hầu Nguyễn Văn Thoại.

        The architectural layout of the Thoại Ngọc Hầu Temple follows the traditional three-compartment, two-wing design, consisting of the front compartment (Võ ca), the middle compartment (Võ Quy), and the main compartment (Chính điện) sections adjacent to each other. The roof system is tiled with large and small tiles in three tiers. The corners, roof edges, and ridges are decorated with traditional folk statues, such as the "two dragons facing the moon" and "clouds transforming into dragons." The front of the temple faces south and is adorned with bas-reliefs and geometric patterns symbolizing yin and yang harmony, reflecting the ancestors' wishes for good fortune for the villagers of Thoại Sơn. The interior of the temple is spacious and airy, with a sturdy wooden frame crafted from precious wood dating back to its original construction. Each wooden pillar has a diameter of over 0.3 meters, the outermost walls are built with 0.3-meter-thick bricks, and the floor is paved with traditional tiles. The intricate carvings on the decorative frames, couplets, and horizontal lacquered boards, all gilded with bright gold paint, enhance the grandeur and splendor of the main hall, demonstrating the descendants' deep reverence for the deities. The main deity worshiped in the main compartment is Thoại Ngọc Hầu, alongside additional deities such as 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). The altar arrangement follows the hierarchical order of the feudal era, ensuring the sanctity of the worship space and adhering to the Southern communal house motif.
 

        The ritual ceremonies are still meticulously preserved and practiced with 16 worship rituals conducted throughout the year in a specific chronological order, including:
        - Tam nguyên worship on the 15th day of the 1st, 7th, and 10th lunar months.
        - Tứ thời tiết lạp (Seasonal worships, ceremonies, festivals in a year)
        - Kỳ yên Festival (Pray for Peace) on the 10th, 11th, and 12th days of the 3rd lunar month
        - Commemoration of the Spirit of Thoại Ngọc Hầu on the 5th and 6th days of the 6th lunar month
        - Lạp miễu (Year End Ceremony) on the 11th and 12th days of the 12th lunar month.

    The festivals take place in a solemn yet warm atmosphere, fostering community spirit and solidarity among villagers. Among these, the Kỳ yên festival and Lạp miễu ceremony are the most elaborate and grand. The Kỳ yên festival, originally confined to the village and Thoại Sơn district, has now become a gathering event for the people of An Giang province, as well as those from Sơn Trà district in Đà Nẵng and Cù Lao Dài in Vũng Liêm district, Vĩnh Long province. This traditional festival, rooted in local folklore, has gradually spread and is now considered a significant cultural event for Thoại Sơn district. The festival holds great importance for the local community, reflecting their desire for the Spirit to bless them with peace, prosperity, favorable weather, and abundant harvests. This belief has deeply embedded itself in the consciousness of the people. Recognizing its cultural value, the Kỳ yên festival of Thoại Ngọc Hầu Temple was inscribed in the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List by the Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism according to Decision No. 2947/QĐ-BVHTTDL dated October 16, 2020.

         The unique feature of the communal house is its preservation of Thoại Sơn Stele, an architectural and artistic work with historical significance from the early 19th century in An Giang province. The stele was erected by the illustrious Thoại Ngọc Hầu in 1822. Its inscription consists of 629 Nom characters, meticulously engraved to describe the natural beauty, scenic spots, and landscapes of the Núi Sập region, while also recording the reclamation and canal-digging efforts. The Ministry of Culture and Information issued Decision No. 993/VH-QĐ on September 28, 1990, to recognize the Thoại Sơn stele as a historical relic. This legal framework is crucial for preserving and promoting the site's value.
In 2013, the Thoại Ngọc Hầu Temple was honored to be listed among the top 100 "Impressive Destinations of Vietnam" by the Vietnam Federation of UNESCO Associations.
        The Thoại Ngọc Hầu Temple and Thoại Sơn Stele are deserving of attention from researchers interested in the historical and scientific values, the legacy of Thoại Ngọc Hầu, and the early reclamation of the Thoại Sơn region. It also serves the cultural and spiritual needs of people from within and outside the province, providing a place for returning to roots and learning about traditional values for the younger generation to follow and promote. In 2019, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism issued Decision No. 415/QĐ-BVHTTDL on January 29, 2019, amending and supplementing Clause 15, Article 1 of Decision No. 993/VH-QĐ dated September 28, 1990, regarding the national historical relic ranking, specifically recognizing the Thoại Ngọc Hầu Temple and Thoại Sơn Stele as national historical sites.