Dong Thap: Nam Phuong Linh Tu Temple welcomes thousands of visitors

DNHN - Every year, the 8th of the 3rd lunar month is the anniversary of the death of historical figures of the Southern land, and the 9th is the anniversary of the death of Admiral Dang Nhan Cam - the Ancestor of the Dang Long Hung and Phuong Nam families.

This year, the Phuong Nam Cultural Tourism Area (Lap Vo district, Dong Thap province) organised the 204th anniversary of the death of Admiral Dang Nhan Cam (1820-2024) on April 16, 2024 (the 8th of the 3rd lunar month) to express gratitude to the ancestors who reclaimed, preserved and glorified the Phuong Nam land. Thousands of tourists and the Dang family from all over the country came to attend the ceremony to pay tribute to the ancestors and the 204th anniversary of the death of the Ancestor of Admiral Dang Nhan Cam. Nam Phuong Linh Tu Temple - the highlight of the Phuong Nam Cultural Tourism Area was bustling with people and tourists from all over the country as if it were a big festival.

Admiral Dang Nhan Cam was born in the year Giap Ty 1744, in Van Lieu village, Uy Vien commune, Phan Xa canton, Nha Nghi district, Duc Quang prefecture, Nghe An town in the past. The father of Dang Nhan Cam was Dang Si Quan, alias Duy Phien, who was an official holding the position of Chief Envoy of Lang Son (Provincial Governor).

After passing the Tam Truong exam, Dang Nhan Cam and Dang Nhan Cam went to the Southern land. The two brothers Dang Nhan Cam followed Nguyen Anh and contributed to the establishment of the powerful Nguyen Gia Long Dynasty.

Admiral Dang Nhan Cam was born into an aristocratic family in which his father, son, grandfather, grandson, and maternal and paternal grandfathers were all scholars and officials of the Royal Dynasties. When he died, his tomb was buried in Long Hung A commune, Lap Vo district, Dong Thap province. Prince Dang Si Vinh Temple in Ha Tinh is a historical and cultural relic.

The ancestral tablet of Admiral Dang Nhan Cam is worshipped in that temple. Businessman and graduate Dang Phuoc Thanh is a direct descendant of Admiral Dang Nhan Cam.

The Nam Phuong Linh Tu complex and the Dang family of Nam Phuong Linh Tu were started on October 30, 2009, covering an area of over 5 hectares with a total cost of over 300 billion VND.

Nam Phuong Linh Tu worships 125 historical figures of the Southern land. Of these, there are 21 figures from the time of land reclamation and opening up, 62 figures who preserved and protected, and 42 figures who glorified the Southern land, built according to the ancient - wooden architecture with the traditional Hue communal house style, bearing the strong imprint of the Nguyen Dynasty’s court.

The Dang family temple, the Dang family museum, the Southern museum and the row of school corridors (forming 5 continents), have 4 ponds for growing plants and aquatic species (4 tanks), 63 yellow apricot pots (symbolising 63 provinces and cities of Vietnam) and 54 species of ornamental flowers and green trees (symbolising 54 ethnic groups of Vietnam).

The temple of the Dang family in Nam Phuong Linh Tu Temple was built on an area of 644 m2 with 80 main pillars, 7 compartments, 2 wings, and 5 aisles, which is a place to worship the ancestors and descendants of the Dang family such as Minister Dang Nghiem, Minister of State Dang Tat, Prime Minister Dang Dung, Third Doctoral Graduate Dang Ma La, etc.

In particular, among them is the ancestor of the Dang family of Long Hung, Admiral Dang Nhan Cam (Admiral is the highest naval general awarded in wartime under the Nguyen Dynasty) - who is recorded in history as one of the most important figures who contributed to reclaiming and preserving the Southern land.

At the 204th anniversary of the death of the Ancestor of Admiral Dang Nhan Cam (1820-2024), Mr Dang Phuoc Thanh - the Chief Celebrant shared: “The Phuong Nam Cultural Tourism Area was recognised by the Dong Thap Provincial People’s Committee as a provincial-level historical - cultural relic, which is a complex of cultural - spiritual works worshipping the ancestors, families from all over the country, including the ancestors of the Dang family who reclaimed this new land, as well as people from generations and historical periods who have settled here. To express gratitude and honour the sacrifice of the ancestors who only wanted the country to be peaceful and prosperous forever, I and the Dang clan in Long Hung A commune, Lap Vo district, Dong Thap province donated to build this project. With the indomitable and resilient tradition, hard work and creativity of the entire nation, generations of Vietnamese people have written a heroic history in the process of building, preserving and developing the Southern land, contributing to making the country of Vietnam more and more beautiful”.

Mr Dang Phuoc Thanh is currently a Senior Advisor to Vinasun Corporation and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Phuong Nam Cultural Tourism Area Co., Ltd. As a son of the Mekong Delta, nearly 40 years ago, when he had to leave his hometown for Ho Chi Minh City to start a business, Mr Dang Phuoc Thanh always kept in mind one thing, when he had the opportunity, would return to his hometown and try to do something that would be both useful for the present and could also be left for the future. That dream has fostered the business passion of Mr Dang Phuoc Thanh and from 2000 - 2023 he held the position of Chairman of Vinasun, after leaving the position of Chairman, he became a Senior Advisor to Vinasun Corporation, and his son - Dang Thanh Duy is currently holding the position of General Director of Vinasun.

Uyen Nhi