1. Where is Con Temple? How to get there?
Con Temple is the shared name of two temples: Inner Con and Outer Con. Nestled by the Hoang Mai River near the Con Estuary, Inner Con Temple is the more well-known one. Located in Phuong Can Village, Quynh Mai Ward (formerly Quynh Phuong Ward of Hoang Mai Town), it is one of the four most sacred temples in Nghe An, the other being Qua Temple, Bach Ma Temple, and Chieu Trung Temple.
If you are departing from the center of Hoang Mai Town, follow National Road 1A (QL1A) south and turn left onto Tran Anh Tong Road. Follow the road until it merges with Provincial Road 537A (DT537A). Keep going, cross the river, and turn left onto Doan Nhu Hai Road. Turn left again onto Phuong Can Road, then another left onto Hoang Sa Road. Inner Con Temple will be on the left. The trip covers roughly 6 kilometers and takes about 20 minutes by motorbike.
2. Things to know about Con Temple in Nghe An
2.1. Legends
According to the temple’s records, in 1279, the Song Dynasty was defeated by the Yuan Dynasty. King Bing of Song and his generals took their own lives. Queen Mother Duong Nguyet Qua, two princesses, and their nanny also drowned themselves at sea. Their bodies drifted to the Con Estuary, where the locals recovered their bodies, buried them, built a shrine, then began worshiping them. The local fishermen believed that their prayers kept them safe at sea, so the shrine became a place of spiritual significance.
Some legends say the four ladies were Queen Mother Duong Nguyet Qua, Queen Quach Thi, and two princesses. Others believe they were the Queen Mother and three princesses. There is even a story claiming that the main lady was a concubine from Vietnam and not of the Song Dynasty.
2.2. History
Con Temple dates back to the Tran Dynasty, specifically during the reign of King Tran Anh Tong. In 1312, while on a military campaign, the king stationed his troops near the Con Estuary. One night, he dreamed of a sea deity who came to help with his campaign. The campaign went on to be a success. Believing he was blessed by the deity, the king ordered the construction of a temple in the area, which is later known as Inner Con Temple.
In 1470, King Le Thanh Tong built an Outer Con Temple nearby. With a larger scale, this temple has three main halls, statues, and bronze items. It was designated a National Historical and Cultural Site in 1993.
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3. Architectural highlights and artifacts of Con Temple
3.1. Inner Con Temple
Inner Con Temple sits on Diec Hill, along the winding Hoang Mai River. It is dedicated to the four ladies as well as two sacred objects: a piece of driftwood and a rice husk shell, symbols of the local fishing and farming communities.
Here, there is a ceremonial gate, upper hall, middle hall, lower hall, and performance house. The performance house has three main compartments and two side compartments, decorated with motifs of the four sacred animals.
Inner Con Temple houses 142 valuable artifacts, including royal decrees, parallel sentences, horizontal plaques, ceremonial items such as palanquins, parasols, ivory and bronze objects, a two-sided stone stele, a bronze bell cast in 1752, 28 stone statues, and many wooden statues from the Le Dynasty.
3.2. Outer Con Temple
About 1 kilometer away from Inner Con Temple, Outer Con Temple stands on the highest point of the Than Lan mountain range, near Lach Con Port. Its layout follows the Dinh (丁) shape, with three small compartments at the front and a rear sanctuary.
Outer Con Temple preserves an impressive collection of stone sculptures, including a pair of dragons running along the inner steps of the ceremonial gate, two mandarins, two guardian dogs, two Cham kneeling figures offering wine, two tigers, and a pair of elephants positioned right behind the ceremonial gate. Several stone columns used for holding ceremonial parasols, canopies, and flags are still in place.
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4. Traditional festival at Con Temple in Nghe An
You can visit Con Temple any time of the year, with the best time being its annual festival. This festival takes place during 3 days, from the 19th to the 21st of the 1st lunar month. The first day is dedicated to communal sports competitions such as pole pushing or tug of war. The second day is the most vibrant with all sorts of activities: ceremonies, rituals, sports, folk shows, lion dances, etc. The third day is all about processions and boat races.
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5. Extra tips for visitors to Con Temple, Nghe An
Keep the following in mind when visiting Con Temple:
- For offerings, bring incense, flowers, clothes, mirrors, combs, traditional cakes, and fruits.
- Wear modest clothing, avoiding revealing outfits.
- Take photos only in designated areas.
- Keep noise to a minimum.
- Remove shoes when entering temple buildings.
- Do not smoke.
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Con Temple is a sacred site that preserves Nghe An’s spiritual heritage. From its time-worn wooden structures to the legends passed down through generations, every detail reflects the depth of the region’s history. Visiting this temple offers a meaningful way to experience the cultural soul of Nghe An.
When your journey takes you further south in Nghe An, consider a stay at Vinpearl Cua Hoi Resort, Affiliated by Meliá. This resort offers a wide selection of accommodations, from ocean-view rooms to private pool villas.
