Vinh Hung ancient tower is not only a tower architecture belonging to the Oc – Eo culture that is left alone in the Southwest region, but during the excavation at Vinh Hung tower, archaeologists also obtained many valuable artifacts with many stone, bronze, ceramic, precious stones… marking a rather long period of existence and development (from the IV to the 13th century AD) of the ancient tower of Vinh Hung.
By Thomas Vietnam at vemekong.com | Official Bac Lieu Visitor Guide
1. Better to Know as a Tourist
Ticket: Free
Spend-time: One hour (approx)
Hours: Dawn – dusk
Food:
Shop:
Parking lot: Yes
Blog: https://vemekong.com/vinh-hung-ancient-temple-bac-lieu/
Address: Located in Trung Hung 1B hamlet, Vinh Hung A commune, Vinh Loi district, Bac Lieu province, about 20 km from the city center. Follow National Highway 1A, from Bac Lieu towards Ca Mau 5km
Added values: If you have the opportunity to travel to Bac Lieu, remember to spend time visiting Vinh Hung ancient tower to better understand an ancient civilization. The scenery here is very attractive to visitors, in addition to the tower architecture, visitors can breathe in the fresh air filled with the scent of field flowers, watch over the vast and fertile fields of a land that has been cultivated.
Nearby attractions and hidden gems: Looking for places to stop on your way to and from Vinh Hung Ancient Temple? Ghositaram pagoda (22 km), Xiem Can Pagoda (18 km), Cong Tu Bac Lieu House (18 km), Bac Lieu Bird Sanctuary (14 km), Tac Say Church (53 km), Bac Lieu market (16 km)…
2. Travel Guide to Vinh Hung Ancient Temple
Vinh Hung tower has undergone many surveys, in 1911 French scholar Lunet de Lajonquiere discovered it under the name Tra Long tower. In 1917 Henri Parmentier came to survey this area and reported it in the journal of the School of the Ancient Far East (No. XVII, vol. 6, 1917, pp. 48-49). In this report (under the name Luc Hien tower) he listed a number of artifacts discovered inside and outside the tower. In particular, among them is a stele found in Phuoc Buu Tu temple next to the tower engraved with Sanskrit characters, clearly stating the month of Karhila, year 814, corresponding to the year 892 AD, and the name of King Yacovan-Man (in the IX century). Archaeologists have determined that the tower was built around the 9th century AD to worship a king named Khmer Yacovar – Man.
In May 1990, archaeologists from the Institute of Social Sciences of Ho Chi Minh City. Ho Chi Minh City (now the Institute of Sustainable Development for the Southern Region) in collaboration with Minh Hai Provincial Museum came to survey and dug a survey hole, discovering a number of artifacts such as idol heads, civilizations, grinding tables, Linga – Yoni…
Continuing the journey to clarify the value of a national relic, as well as to serve the restoration, embellishment and anti-degradation work of Vinh Hung tower relic, in 2002 and then in 2011. Archaeological Research Center in collaboration with Bac Lieu Provincial Museum excavated around the tower. These excavations continue such things as revealing the base of the tower, solving the traces submerged in the ground to have solutions to restore and embellish the tower to promote the value of the monument. Many valuable artifacts were discovered during the surveys such as: the goddess statue carved in the traditional style of the round statue of Oc Eo Funan, the right hand of the “God statue”, some Linga – Yoni, furniture. Ceramics used in daily life and especially bronze statues are considered by archaeologists as a unique collection of statues, a “national treasure”, in which there are a number of unique statues of very high value.
In 2011, Vinh Hung tower relic was restored and embellished, including the following items: gallery, stele house, guard house, fence and some other items in order to preserve and promote the value of the relic.
3. What to Do –See – Eat at Vinh Hung Ancient Temple
From afar, the tower looks like a cylindrical block standing tall in the middle of the forest, with an ancient appearance – partly covered with moss, there are still many holes in bricks that are deepened near the inside of the Tower by long time suffering. influence of rain and sun. Bac Lieu province had to go to the East to find soil to bring back and bake it into bricks to restore a damaged front part.
The ancient tower has a fairly simple and rustic architecture on a promontory with an area of about 100m, the gate of the tower faces to the west, the plane of the foot of the tower is rectangular with two sides of 5.6m and 6.9m. The height of the Tower is 8.2m (from the base of the Tower). All three sides of East – South – North are built of bricks. The wall of the foot of the tower is 1.8m thick, the higher the height, the thinner the wall thickness, the wall is gradually tilted to the top to form a rolling arch.
Experiencing many changes of history, what has created an ancient tower dating back thousands of years? According to many scientists, the ancient Khmer used a special construction technique, they used vegetable glue to stick the bricks together, without using construction materials such as cement or lime mortar like now. The tower is built with two types of bricks of different colors. From the base of the tower to a height of 4m, red bricks are used, and from 4m upwards, white bricks are used. Looking in from the main door is the restored Linga – Yoni symbolizing the harmony of yin and yang. The original Linga – Yoni set is being preserved at the museum.
From the unique values recorded, Vinh Hung Ancient Tower has been recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) as a national architectural and artistic relic since 1992.
4. Free Itineraries from VeMekong
As a local travel expert, we have some ideas for you to think about.
From Bac Lieu city center:
Route 1:
Route 2:
Route 3:
If you do not have much time left, it is easy to check out spots in one full day by boat or with bike or with motorbike and car. But there are much more than tourist sites like these in Bac Lieu. Make sure you have more time to feel and explore more about the hidden gems and the culture, food, night life, wildlife and forest as well. Top tip: Stay in a homestay nearby, so you have more chances to visit it and surroundings. If you are looking for the package Bac Lieu daily tour with local, you can contact www.vemekong.com or Hotline/WhatsApp/WeChat/Zalo +84939888559; email: hello@vemekong.com
5. Google Maps of Vinh Hung Ancient Temple
Google Maps made a name for itself helping people travel from one place to another, avoid traffic (You probably know the route from your hotel to the gas station by heart, but what you can’t be sure about is gridlock), measure a distance, get back to the hotel on time, share the location…
6. Visit Vinh Hung Ancient Temple by yourself
Solo traveller? Travelling on your own means you will get out of any difficult situations by yourself. This, in turn, leads to more satisfying travel experiences and helps you improve your problem-solving skills. These days we rarely get the chance to sit with ourselves and simply be. That’s why you should consider the time you spend alone on your trip as a gift.
It is possible for solo travellers to use google maps and do it alone. But sometimes they need to update local maintained roads and bridges which close and lead you a longer road than the road from Google maps. It is just about the time. It takes more time to find the correct garden to come. Adventure is always fun. Wifi is strong in Bac Lieu village! The locals find it hard to speak English as well. Top tip: Sticking to one canal and keeping going along it which gives you more things to see and avoids getting lost. Contact vemekong.com to hire a car, scooter with English-speaking-guide or cycling tours in Bac Lieu.
7. Responsible Travel and Advice Vinh Hung Ancient Temple
Don’t get us wrong. But we assure you that you totally agree with us. “Do not give candy and things to the children when you plan to visit any local villages”, the kids will leave the school and follow the sweets and later they find some things to give you or sell to you. The garden is a little forest, don’t pick and touch the flowers or fruits without the local’s smiles. We deal with traveling green and leaving green behind, not plastic. Top tip: Vemekong.com are some of the companies that care a lot about responsible travel and local respectation.
8. Amazing Video flycam/drone of Vinh Hung Ancient Temple (4k)
If a picture says a thousand words, it stands to reason that the video says many times more.
9. Incredible Tips for Photography, Specialists, KOLs, Media and Influencers
To get the best of the best for your unique writing, featuring, photo, video and insider’s stories. We do recommend you to have a local travel expert, the one who always gets more ground information and makes sure every single element is solved perfectly. The Vemekong (very exclusive Mekong) team is your priority choice. Email and have a private talk with them to customize your journey smoothly, personal and the most ultimately amazing. You can contact www.vemekong.com or Hotline/WhatsApp/WeChat/Zalo +84939888559; email: hello@vemekong.com
10. Pro Tips
You can stay in a homestay which is near the riverside, this will help you out the best option. Then you can hire a scooter, car or bike and explore it by yourself and I hope you have an amazing Mekong Delta river sunrise.
If you plan to extend your travel to Bac Lieu homestay, do not forget to bring mosquito repellent cream.
Visit Bac Lieu or do any customized tours, please choose reputable providers with boat trips equipped with lifebuoys, jackets, motorcycle and cycling tours with the helmets and. Safety is a priority! Choose Bac Lieu responsible tours which help you give back while traveling. It’s a cliché, but it’s true.
Bac Lieu food & drink guide ranges from street food, authentic, fancy to fusion foods. As a tropical land of many fresh vegetables and homegrown gardens, which always make Bac Lieu cuisines fresh, close to nature and very traditional. If you are a food lover, don’t hesitate to put other bites onto your food lists such as Bun bo cay (Spicy beef noodle soup), Three-striped crab (Freshwater crab in Bac Lieu), Banh cu cai (White radish pies), Banh tam bi Bac Lieu (Bac Lieu thick noodles & creamy coconut milk), Pho Ngheu, Bon Bon Pickles
Bring your hat, sunglasses, and sunblock, scarf to wear when visiting temples, pagodas, and the cathedral.
Bring the raincoat if you’re planning a trip to Bac Lieu in the rainy season, as Bac Lieu always looks fantastic in the full rain and full sun.
Bac Lieu tourist attractions are magnificent itself, but if you have enough time, don’t forget to put other places onto your bucket lists such as Bac Lieu Bird Sanctuary, Bac Lieu Salt Farm, Buddha Temple Ba Nam Hai, Cong Tu Bac Lieu House, Ghositaram Pagoda in Bac Lieu, Bac Lieu Wind Farm, Ancient Longan Orchards, Vinh Hung Ancient Temple, Xiem Can Pagoda Bac Lieu, Cao Van Lau Theater (Conical Hat Non La Theater), Tac Say Church, Cao Van Lau Musician Memorial Site, Nha Mat amusement park, Bac Lieu Beach and mangrove forests, Phuoc Duc Ancient Temple and Dia Mau Cung (Ba Pagoda), Bac Lieu Market, Hung Vuong Square in Bac Lieu…
Hopefully, the above tips will help you to come up with a great plan for your adventure in Bac Lieu province, Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Have a safe trip!
“Sleep less, travel more, respect more” – Thomas Vietnam – Local travel expert.
Thank you
