The nearly 200-year-old house to worship the founder of Thu Duc
Linh Dong worship house was built in 1823 to honor Ta Duong Minh, who reclaimed the village of Thu Duc in the 17th century.
 | Impressive whale worshipping festival in Vung Tau city |
 | Pictures of worship places on first day of social distancing easing |
 | Worship rituals during Lunar New Year in Vietnam |
 |
| Linh Dong worship house was built in 1823, located on a high hillock with an area of nearly 2,500 m2 on Chuong Duong street, Linh Chieu ward, Thu Duc district. In addition to worshiping the village god, this communal house is also a place to honor Mr. Ta Duong Minh, who explored the land of Thu Duc. Around the year 1679-1725, he and a number of Vietnamese, Champa and Chan Lap residents reclaimed this wasteland, then expanded cultivation in the area. His formal name, which is Thu Duc, was then used to call the land. (Photo: VN Express) |
 |
| Initially, Linh Dong communal house was built with lightweight materials. In later times, the architecture of the house became more spacious, more solemn with brick walls, tile roofs, wooden structures. The facade facing the East-South direction, built in the form of Tam letter, includes works such as front building, middle building, main hall, guest house, communal yard ...(Photo: VN Express) |
 |
| In the middle of the large communal courtyard lies a statue depicting a dragon and a tiger; two fairy animals in Vietnamese folk. (Photo: VN Express) |
 |
| The pavilions of Linh Dong communal house are covered with yin and yang tiled roofs. On the roof of the main hall, there is a statue of two dragons challenging each other for the treasure made of green glazed ceramic, a popular architecture in Vietnamese communal house. (Photo: VN Express) |
 |
| The front of the main hall has the familiar red and yellow tones in the communal house architecture of southern villages. The main hall was built with 32 wooden pillars supporting the entire roof. The door system of the communal house used to be made of wood, but now it is replaced with iron due to termites, rotting and structural damage. (Photo: VN Express) |
 |
| Inside the main hall locates the altars facing each other. The central one is to worship the village's god. The communal house still preserves the ordination given by King Tu Duc in 1853. (Photo: VN Express) |
 |
| The altar of Mr. Ta Duong Minh, painted with gilded lacquer, is located in the left corner of the main hall. (Photo: VN Express) |
 |
| The front building displayed statues of horse and crane standing on turtle backs that are often found in Vietnamese temples. Horses are familiar animals which is often associated with the development and protection of the realms, showing their courage and resilience. Both turtles and cranes are noble folk animals who living a long life, expressing the longevity of human aspirations.(Photo: VN Express) |
 |
| The communal house still preserves many precious objects made of wood, painted with gold lacquer. Every year, Linh Dong communal house holds the main ceremony called Ky Yen, which takes place on October 15 and 16 of the lunar calendar to pray for the nation's peace. In addition, the communal house also celebrates Thuong Nguyen (January 15), Trung Nguyen (July 15), and Mr. Ta Minh Duong's death day on June 19 of the lunar calendar. (Photo: VN Express) |
 |
| Mr. Bui Van Duc, who looks after the communal house said: "After many times of restoration, the temple still retains the ancient architecture of the 19th century. Some objects in the temple, especially the ordination, are still carefully preserved". Linh Dong worship house is ranked by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism as a national architectural monument in November 2020. (Photo: VN Express) |
 |
| About 500 meters from Linh Dong's house is the grave of Mr. Ta Duong Minh. The tomb has an area of about 15m2, built in the shape of an elephant, surrounded by two outer walls; located in the middle of an alley in a residential area. (Photo: VN Express) |
 |
| On the stele does not clearly state the year of Mr. Ta Minh Duong's death but only shows the time of the tomb's establishment in 1890. In July 2016, the tomb was restored at a cost of 120 million VND. (Photo: VN Express) |
 | Impressive whale worshipping festival in Vung Tau city The traditional Nghinh Ong Festival is celebrated annually on August 16-18 in Lunar calendar, dedicated to pay respect to whales and pray for a bumper ... |
 | Worship rituals during Lunar New Year in Vietnam The Lunar New Year or Tet is of great spiritual importance in Vietnam culture. There is a handful of cultural worship rituals during this most ... |
| San Diego-area synagogue shooting leaves one worshipper dead, three wounded A gunman walked into a San Diego-area synagogue crowded with Sabbath worshippers on Saturday and opened fire with an assault-style rifle, killing one woman inside ... |
Related Stories
Friendship
Third Vietnamese Day at Baku Draw Numerous Participants
The third Vietnam Day was held in Baku on July 26-29, at the initiative and organization of the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Vietnam. Numerous guests from Vietnam - musicians, artists, writers, scientists, businessmen, and officials - visited Baku to participate in the events.
July 30, 2025 | 10:31
Overseas Vietnamese
Various Vibrant Vietnamese Cultural Activities Held in Budapest, Hungary
To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Hungary, the Vietnamese Embassy in Hungary, in coordination with the District 3 authorities of Budapest, recently organized the “Vietnam Cultural Day” featuring a range of vibrant cultural activities. These included painting and photo exhibitions, documentary screenings, and showcases of Vietnam’s landscape, people, and achievements over 40 years of the Doi Moi (Renewal) process.
July 04, 2025 | 14:18
Focus
Vietnam Culture Promoted Through Thai - Vietnamese Cultural Food Street
On March 22, the Thai–Vietnamese Association in Nakhon Phanom coordinated with local authorities to organize the Thai-Vietnamese Cultural Food Street opening ceremony in Nakhon Phanom province, more than 700 km northeast of Bangkok.
March 26, 2025 | 09:01
Handbook
Travelling Vietnam Through French Artist's Children Book
“Sparrow’s Travelogue” - a 40-page picture book, completed in 3 years, is a gift that French artist Olivier Blanchin wants to send to Vietnam, the country he has been attached to for the past 7 years.
March 03, 2025 | 14:39
Recommended
Travel
Expanded Visa Exemptions Open New Markets for Vietnam Tourism
New policy draws more international travelers, spurring ambition to upgrade infrastructure, services, and experiences for unforgettable journeys.
August 16, 2025 | 17:06
Travel
Building 80th National Achievement Exhibition Tour on National Day
On August 11, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism sent document No. 1796/CDLQGVN-LH to travel businesses across the country on the construction of a tour "Exhibition of National Achievements on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of National Day".
August 14, 2025 | 08:36
Travel
Bai Dinh Pagoda Recognized by TripAdvisor as “Outstanding Destination”
Bai Dinh Pagoda has been honored by TripAdvisor - the world’s leading and most reputable travel platform - with the prestigious Travellers’ Choice Award - Outstanding Destination along with a special “Blue Check” verification. Bai Dinh is the only destination on the list to hold this verified status on TripAdvisor.
August 13, 2025 | 07:00
Travel
RoK Press Names Da Nang Among Top Summer Destinations for 2025
Da Nang is the only destination in Vietnam to make the list of the most popular international destinations for travelers from the Republic of Korea (RoK) in summer 2025, especially among young people, thanks to its wide range of exciting experiences and affordable prices.
August 10, 2025 | 07:00
Popular article
Travel
Vietnam Welcomes 12.23 Million International Visitors in 7 Months
Favorable visa policies, enhanced tourism promotion campaigns, and celebrations of major national holidays have contributed to a growing number of international tourists visiting Vietnam.
August 08, 2025 | 08:57
Travel
Foreign Media Highlights Vietnam's Historical Sites for Travelers
Ahead of Vietnam’s upcoming 80th National Day celebration (September 2, 1945 - September 2, 2025), National Geographic (NG) has recommended eight notable historical sites across Vietnam, offering international readers a meaningful and immersive cultural experience.
August 08, 2025 | 08:42
Travel
Quang Tri Welcomes Bollywood Film Crew Shoot Scenes At Natural Caves
On July 30, the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of Quang Tri province held a welcoming ceremony at Dong Hoi Airport to greet and present flowers to members of an Indian Bollywood film crew. The team arrived in Vietnam to film scenes for their upcoming film, SILAA, and chose Quang Tri as one of their filming locations.
August 03, 2025 | 14:17
Travel
Mui Ne Among Southeast Asia's Leading Water Sports Destinations
Mui Ne, with unique terrain and natural conditions, recently earned it the distinction of "Southeast Asia's Leading Water Sport Destination," according to National Geographic Traveller.
August 02, 2025 | 09:03