Vinh Loc Shrine, known locally as Ong Doi Shrine, was built in the early 20th century. In its earliest days, the shrine was a modest structure made of bamboo, thatch, and earthen walls. Over time, thanks to the contributions of local residents and boat owners, the shrine was renovated and expanded into the solid, well-structured building seen today.
The shrine follows a traditional Vietnamese “three-chamber” layout (Tiền đường – Chính điện – Hậu cung). Its architecture features wooden rafters, “bat-wing” bracket systems, and intricately carved motifs of dragons, unicorns, turtles, and phoenixes on the altars, horizontal boards, and parallel sentences. Decorative reliefs depicting the Four Sacred Animals (Long, Lân, Quy, Phụng) and the Four Seasons (Mai Điểu, Trúc Tước, Tùng Lộc, Cúc Trĩ) reflect strong Nguyễn-era artistic influences and contribute significant cultural value to the shrine.
The principal deities worshipped at Vinh Loc Shrine are the Five Element Goddesses (Kim, Mộc, Thủy, Hỏa, Thổ) – protective mother goddesses deeply rooted in Vietnam’s agrarian belief system. Over time, the Vietnamese community in Ben Dinh Village came to believe that Thiên Y A Na possessed even greater spiritual power and could subdue harmful supernatural forces. They therefore invited the goddess from her main temple in An Vinh Village to be enshrined in the rear sanctuary, creating a unique co-worship practice between Thiên Y A Na and the Five Element Goddesses. This reflects the villagers’ desire for peace, protection, and prosperity.
In folk belief, the Five Elements influence every aspect of human life, regardless of occupation or place of residence. Coastal communities, especially fishing villages, often worship the Five Element Goddesses with the hope of avoiding misfortune and natural disasters while at sea. Thus, in the early days of settling Ly Son Island, these elemental forces profoundly shaped the spiritual life of its people. Recognizing their sacred significance, the Nguyễn dynasty conferred royal titles upon the goddesses and encouraged the establishment of shrines dedicated to them.
Following long-standing local traditions, the residents of Ben Dinh Village hold several annual ceremonies at Vinh Loc Shrine according to the lunar calendar, including:
- 24th Lunar December: New-year pole ceremony
- 3rd Lunar January: Ground-breaking rite
- 2nd Lunar February: Peace-prayer ceremony
- 25th Lunar February: Lady Goddess’ Festival
- 2nd Lunar May: Ceremony for village founders
- 19th Lunar October: Thanksgiving (profession-renewal ceremony)
- Lunar New Year (1st–7th days): Tet festivities
These rituals are organized by the shrine keeper and the ceremonial committee, with full participation from the local community.
In 2015, Vinh Loc Shrine was officially recognized as a Provincial-level Historical and Cultural Site, honoring its importance to the spiritual and cultural heritage of Ly Son Island.
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