Like many regions across Vietnam’s beautiful homeland, the island of Cu Lao Thu (today’s Phu Quy) has stood tall for centuries against wind, waves, and time. Throughout that long journey, the island’s cultural heritage has been lovingly preserved in the memories, hearts, and spiritual life of its people.
Just as Vietnam has the ancient tale of Lạc Long Quân and Âu Cơ, founders of the Vietnamese people, Phu Quy Island—shaped like a mackerel swimming in the sea—has its own touching and mysterious legend: the story of Ong Dun and Ba Giang.
A touching tale of the island’s earliest settlers
Long ago, as the story goes, an elderly couple named Ong Dun and Ba Giang arrived on the island from a distant land to reclaim land and build a new life. They had no children, no relatives—only each other.
Years passed quietly, until one day the sky roared with thunder, the sea surged high, and the islanders sensed something extraordinary. That day marked the couple’s final farewell:
- Ong Dun went up the mountain, choosing the last peak of the island (now in Trieu Duong – Tam Thanh) as his resting place.
- Ba Giang went toward the sea, disappearing near the rocky point at Mui Hai Chau – Ngu Phung.
From that moment, the lives of the islanders became more prosperous—fishing and farming flourished, and good fortune seemed to bless the land. In gratitude, the people named the mountain Núi Ong Dun and the rocky headland Mui Ba Giang, building small shrines to honor them.
Seen as the earliest inhabitants who contributed to the island’s development, Ong Dun and Ba Giang became spiritual guardians—culture heroes who brought blessings even after their departure. Unlike many Vietnamese legends, the tale does not mention divine transformations. Instead, people simply believed that the couple became protective spirits, watching over the island.
Another version of the legend
A second version tells that Ong Dun was an elder among a group of migrants from Trieu Duong (China) who sailed to the island to establish new lives. Because of his age and virtue, he became village chief. He was said to possess extraordinary strength—able to overpower ten buffaloes—and often went up the mountain to cut wood for building homes.
After his passing, islanders named the mountain after him and worshipped him as a local deity. However, over time, the shrine to Ong Dun fell into neglect. Locals explain that during an invasion by Tàu Ô (pirates), Ong Dun—though considered a guardian spirit—failed to help defend the island, while other deities actively protected the people.
This is why both Ong Dun and Ba Giang are the only island spirits not granted royal decrees (sắc phong) by the Nguyễn Dynasty. They also have no dedicated festival day; instead, they are invited symbolically to larger communal ceremonies such as the Spring and Autumn Festivals or rituals honoring Thần Nam Hải, Bà Chúa, or Thầy Chúa.
Cultural meaning of the legend
Perhaps the couple never received royal recognition because their origins were ordinary—they were not nobles, warriors, or mythical beings. Their arrival and departure were simple, human. Yet in the hearts of islanders, Ong Dun and Ba Giang remain like village guardian spirits—loving the land they lived on, watching over its people even after returning to the earth.
The second version also explains why the shrine of Ong Dun is no longer maintained: his perceived failure during the pirate attacks caused the people to gradually stop honoring him as an active protector.
A legend rooted in the spirit of Phu Quy
Whether viewed as cultural ancestors or humble island souls, Ong Dun and Ba Giang embody the resilience, gratitude, and spiritual depth of Phu Quy’s people. Their story continues to be passed down—whispered by elders, etched into the landscape, and cherished as part of the island’s living heritage.
