An Son Temple, Ba Ria - Vung Tau
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An Son Temple- Baria-Vung Tau |
In 1783, Nguyen Anh was defeated by Tay Son and ran
away to Con Dao Island. Together with fishermen, Lord Nguyen Anh
founded three villages: An Hai, An Hoi, and Co Ong. Nguyen Anh sent
Prince Canh followed by Ba Da Loc to France to ask for reinforcements
to fight against the Tay Son troops. Lady Phi Yen, the second wife of
Nguyen Anh, advised him not to do so. Nguyen Anh got angry with her and
thought that his wife might have been dealing with Tay Son troops. He
intended to kill her. Just before Tay Son troops attacked the island,
Nguyen Anh put his wife in prison and went to sea. Prince Cai, who was
then four years old, wanted his mother to come with them. Nguyen Anh
got angry and threw his son into the sea. The body of Prince Cai
drifted onto Co Ong Beach where it was buried by villagers.
According to the legend, Lady Phi Yen was rescued
from the stone prison by a tiger and an ape. She lived with the
villagers, taking care of Prince Cai’s grave. After an unfortunate
encounter with a man, she killed herself to keep her pride.
The villagers mourned her and built a temple in her
honour. In 1861, the French colonialists occupied the island and
destroyed the temple. In 1958, the temple was rebuilt on its present
location.