Dinh Cau temple Phu Quoc: Where Culture and Spirituality Intertwine on the Pearl Island

Dinh Cau Temple Phu Quoc is a historical, cultural, and spiritual relic with unique architecture that bears the strong imprints of Vietnamese culture. The site attracts visitors with its ancient and majestic beauty, and it serves as an important spiritual destination for locals. Join Rooty Trip on a journey to discover the spiritual site of Dinh Cau Temple Phu Quoc in this article!

1. Introducing Dinh Cau Temple Phu Quoc

1.1. Where is Dinh Cau Temple located?

Dinh Cau Temple is a relic located in Ward 2, Duong Dong Town, Phu Quoc City, Kien Giang Province, Vietnam. It is a popular tourist destination.

Dinh Cau Temple Phu Quoc is built on the coastal cliffs at the mouth of the Duong Dong River with a unique architectural style. Moreover, thanks to its prime location facing the sea, Dinh Cau Temple boasts a fresh and pleasant natural landscape, making it one of the must-visit tourist destinations in Phu Quoc.

1.2. Who is worshipped at Dinh Cau Temple?

Dinh Cau Temple Phu Quoc worships two deities:

• Lady of the Sea (Lady Ngoc Nuong Nuong): The goddess who rules the sea, respected and trusted by the locals. She is believed to have the power to protect fishermen on their voyages, keeping them safe from storms and accidents.
• Cau Tai and Cau Quy: Two young deities, sons of the Lady of the Sea. These two deities are believed to have the ability to grant wealth and fortune to the people.

In addition, Dinh Cau Temple also worships several other deities such as:

• Quan Cong: The god symbolizing loyalty and bravery.
• Thanh Hoang God: The god who rules the land, protecting the locals.
• Other deities: Ong Dia, Ba Co, Tao Quan,…

1.3. Best time to visit Dinh Cau Temple Phu Quoc

The best time to visit Dinh Cau is on the 15th and 16th day of the 10th lunar month, as this is when the locals hold the fishing festival. During this time, visitors will have the opportunity to learn more about the culture and immerse themselves in the festive atmosphere with the locals.

Additionally, the weather is cool and dry from November to March or from April to June, making it a pleasant time for a vacation.

1.4. Directions to Dinh Cau Temple Phu Quoc

To get to Dinh Cau, head to Tran Hung Dao Street, turn onto Vo Thi Sau Street, and continue to the end of the road. Then, you will see the entrance to Dinh Cau Night Market and Dinh Cau Cape. Since the route is not too difficult, you can flexibly choose to travel by car or motorbike.

3. History of Dinh Cau Temple Phu Quoc

The History of Dinh Cau is Associated with Many Sacred Legends

Dinh Cau was built in 1937 and was recognized as a provincial-level relic in 2012.

The history of Dinh Cau Temple Phu Quoc is one of the fascinating stories that attracts visitors to this place. According to the locals, around the 17th century, fishermen from Phu Quoc often encountered big waves and many could not return.

Until one day, a rock outcropping slowly appeared near the estuary and this was where the fishermen could find shelter in case they faced rough seas. Because of the appearance of the rock outcropping, people believed that it was a sacred place under the protection of the gods. Therefore, they built a shrine and named it Long Vuong. Every time the fishermen prepared to go to sea, they would come to the shrine to pray for a smooth and safe journey.

4. Unique architecture of Dinh Cau Temple Phu Quoc

Dinh Cau Possesses a Unique Architectural Style

• Harmonious combination of traditional house and communal house architecture

Dinh Cau is built in the style of a traditional house with curved tiled roofs and soaring ridges, reflecting a sense of lightness and grace. However, the shrine also shares similarities with the architecture of the northern communal houses, such as the system of pillars and roofs, which exude a sense of majesty and solemnity.

• Building materials

Dinh Cau is built from traditional materials such as wood, bamboo, thatch, and tiled roofs. Over time, the shrine has been renovated many times but still retains its original architectural style.

• Decorative motifs

The decorative details in the shrine are imbued with national cultural imprints such as: images of dragons and phoenixes, patterns, parallel sentences,… expressing the aspiration for a prosperous and peaceful life.

5. What to do at Dinh Cau Temple Phu Quoc

5.1. Praying

Praying at Dinh Cau Temple

Dinh Cau Shrine is an important spiritual destination for the locals. Visitors can come here to pray for family peace, prosperity in business, and national peace and prosperity.

Dinh Cau Temple Phu Quoc is also famous for its mysterious legends that have been passed down from generation to generation. Each shrine has a special story waiting for visitors to discover when they come to visit.

5.2. Admiring the dreamy sunset by Dinh Cau Shrine

Admiring the Stunning Sunset at Dinh Cau

As the sun prepares to set, the dreamy image of the sunset envelops the area around Dinh Cau Temple. The warm yellow light of the sunset painting creates a quiet, gentle space. Besides, the last rays of sunlight shining on the sea create shimmering streaks of light on the waves.

5.3. Discover Dinh Cau Temple Phu Quoc night market

Kẹo chỉ, a popular snack at Dinh Cau

When you come to Dinh Cau Temple Phu Quoc night market, you will be overwhelmed and excited by more than 100 colorful stalls. Here, the stalls sell a variety of specialties from the island such as: butter crab with lemon leaves, grilled sea urchin, boiled snails with chili salt sauce,…

In addition, you can wander through a paradise of local snacks such as: “crispy rice cake”, “palm jelly cake”, “Chou Chou peanuts”,…

5.4. Immerse yourself in Dinh Cau Temple Phu Quoc festival

The Festival at Dinh Cau is Organized Meticulously and Solemnly

On the 15th and 16th day of the 10th lunar month every year, Dinh Cau Temple holds a grand festival with many unique activities and exciting games. Therefore, if you visit Dinh Cau Temple at this time, don’t miss exploring this special traditional festival.

6. Legends of Dinh Cau Temple Phu Quoc

The Spiritual Legend of Mrs. Kim Giao at Dinh Cau Phu Quoc

Dinh Cau Temple Phu Quoc attracts visitors not only by its beautiful scenery and fascinating history, but also by the following 3 famous legends:

• Legend of Mrs. Kim Giao from the land reclamation period

Mrs. Kim Giao is one of the characters appearing in the land reclamation legend of Phu Quoc island. According to legend, Mrs. Kim Giao was a member of the royal family of Chan Lap, but due to political turmoil, she had to flee to Phu Quoc island. Since then, she has made great contributions to leading the land reclamation, cultivation, renovation, and construction of houses… on the island.

There is also a legend that Mrs. Kim Giao once provided food for King Gia Long – Nguyen Anh during the time when the king stayed on the island to avoid the Tay Son army.

• Legend of the sacred rock

Before it was beautifully renovated as it is today, Dinh Cau Temple was just a simple old shrine. According to legend, in the 17th century, when the first people from Central Vietnam set foot on Phu Quoc, they made a living by fishing. At that time, fishermen often encountered strong winds and waves when going out to sea, and many people never returned.

Suddenly, one day a sacred rock appeared in the middle of the sea and washed ashore. The people on the island considered it a sacred rock, so they built a shrine to pray for the gods’ protection. Locals began to come here to make offerings, and indeed they went out to sea more safely than before. The good news spread far and wide, many people learned about this story and came here to pray more. Since then, Dinh Cau Temple has become one of the famous spiritual places on Phu Quoc island.

• Legend of the hermit man

According to many elders, in the 20th century, there was a strange man who came to live in the Long Vuong shrine. At first, this person only did the work of sweeping, lighting incense, and did not communicate with anyone, so no one knew where he came from. It wasn’t until a while later that he crawled into a large cave, blocked the entrance with stones, and practiced inside. The people at that time were afraid that he would die, so they often brought food to the door of the cave, but the next day the food was still intact.

After 2 years of practicing, this man returned to the Long Vuong shrine and continued his work as before. This time he interacted with the villagers more but was still quite secretive. He was particularly talented in predicting the future, he often predicted the future for those who came to the Long Vuong shrine to pray. On the 15th and 16th lunar months, he would sit in a trance, channeling the gods to give blessings to the fishermen who came to worship. Since then, the people have called him with the familiar name “Cau”.

7. Tourist Information for Dinh Cau Temple Phu Quoc

7.1. Opening hours and entrance fee

• Opening hours: Open all day.
• Entrance fee: Free.

7.2. Dress code

At a spiritual place like Dinh Cau Temple, visitors should dress neatly and politely. Choose modest clothes with not too bright colors. Avoid wearing shorts, skirts, or dresses that are too short above the knee.

7.3. Regulations when visiting Dinh Cau Temple Phu Quoc

When visiting Dinh Cau Temple Phu Quoc, you must follow these regulations:

• Do not take photos or videos inside the shrine.
• Do not make noise or disturb the order.
• Do not damage the landscape or litter.

7.4. Where to stay near Dinh Cau Temple?

Here are 3 hotels that Rooty Trip recommends for you to consider:

Seashells

• Address: 01 Vo Thi Sau Street, Duong Dong Town, Phu Quoc, Kien Giang
• Phone: +84 297 7300 999
• Google rating: 4.4 stars

M Hotel

• Address: 46 Tran Hung Dao Street, Cua Lap, Phu Quoc, Kien Giang
• Phone: +84 297 3618 686
• Google rating: 4.4 stars

An Phu Hotel

• Address: 185 30 Thang 4 Street, Duong Dong Town, Phu Quoc, Kien Giang
• Phone: +84 297 3898 777
• Google rating: 4.3 stars

7.5. Tourist attractions near Dinh Cau Temple Phu Quoc

Beside Dinh Cau Temple Phu Quoc, you can visit Dinh Ba Temple Phu Quoc, which is only about a 3-minute walk away. Since they are close to each other, Dinh Cau Temple and Dinh Ba Temple are two spiritual sites often visited together by tourists.

Additionally, you can explore other famous tourist attractions such as Ong Lang Beach, Ham Ninh Fishing Village, Phu Quoc Pepper Garden, Sao Beach, and Ngoc Hien Pearl Farm.

In recent years, Phu Quoc has gained increasing attention from travelers thanks to its modern and vibrant entertainment complexes:

• VinWonders Phu Quoc: The largest theme park in Vietnam, featuring six zones and 12 different themes.

• Vinpearl Safari Phu Quoc: The biggest wildlife conservation park in Vietnam, home to over 3,000 animal individuals from more than 150 species, including rare and exotic animals from around the world.

• Hon Thom Cable Car: Experience the world’s longest over-the-sea three-wire cable car and admire the breathtaking natural beauty of Hon Thom Island.

Dinh Cau Temple Phu Quoc is a destination that blends history, scenic views, festivals, and delicious cuisine. It is truly a must-visit spot in Phu Quoc. Pack your bags and head to this beautiful island to explore this hundred-year-old spiritual landmark!

ROOTY TRIP PHU QUOC

Address: Suoi May intersection, Duong To, Phu Quoc, Kien Giang
Phone/Whatsapp: 0886.068.886 – 033.906.2222
Email: cskh@rootytrip.com
Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/rootytripphuquoc/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rootytrip/