Lien Thanh Fishing Guild Temple – commonly known as Vạn Liên Thành or Đình Vạn Liên – is one of the largest and most important traditional communal temples in Long Hai, Phu Quy Special District. It serves as a sacred worship space for the fishing communities of Lien Thanh and Long Hai villages.
The temple was first constructed in the late 18th century. After several restorations, Vạn Liên Thành now stands as a spacious and prominent architectural complex, featuring high stone walls and an imposing main gate facing the sea.
Although its royal decrees (sắc phong) were unfortunately lost or destroyed over time, the temple continues to play a central role in the island’s spiritual and cultural life.
Every year, Vạn Liên Thành hosts three major ceremonial festivals:
- Spring Offering (Tế Xuân) – held in the first lunar month
- Autumn Offering (Tế Thu) – held in the seventh lunar month
- Ancestor Commemoration (Kỵ Lễ) – held on the 13th–14th days of the tenth lunar month
In agricultural regions of Vietnam, these communal worship structures are referred to as Đình (village communal houses). However, in coastal fishing communities and islands like Phu Quy, they are known as Vạn. While both Đình and Vạn honor the local tutelary deity (Thành Hoàng Bổn Xứ) along with founders and early settlers, the Vạn carries a distinct maritime character.
In fishing guild temples, the primary deity is Thần Nam Hải—the Whale God—who is believed to protect fishermen at sea, bless them with good weather, and ensure safe voyages and abundant catches. The tutelary deity (Thành Hoàng) holds an auxiliary position, while the worship of Nam Hải remains central to the Vạn’s spiritual identity.
Vạn Liên Thành stands today not only as an architectural landmark but also as a testament to the cultural heritage, beliefs, and seafaring traditions of the fishing communities on Phu Quy Island.
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