Lang Song: memories of Quoc Ngu script and wounds after storm 13

Storm 13 left a desolate scene at Lang Song Minor Seminary: dozens of ancient Sao Den trees over 130 years old were broken, and the moss-covered tiled roof was chipped. However, the over 200-year-old building still retains its quiet atmosphere and serves as a stopover to trace the journey of forming the Quoc Ngu script in the Central region.

Scenery after the storm: cuts in time

Around the campus, many old black star trees were felled and lying around; many tree trunks were cut off their tops, large branches were sawed into long rows. The tiled roofs, stained by time, were patched together. A sense of desolation covered every path, but the durability of the structure was still present.

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For many tourists, visiting Lang Song at this time is a journey mixed with regret and admiration: regret for the trees that fell after natural disasters, but admiration for the enduring vitality of a heritage that has overcome turmoil.

National language milestone on the Con River

Binh Dinh is considered the place that marked the first steps of the national language from the beginning of the 17th century. Here, the first Lang Song printing house of Dang Trong was built, marking the introduction and development of the Latinized writing system for the Vietnamese people. Lang Song Minor Seminary, at that time an important religious institution, became the starting point of many activities to spread language and culture.

Currently, Quy Nhon Diocese manages two facilities associated with the history of the national language: Nuoc Man and Lang Song, both in Tuy Phuoc district. Together with Lang Song printing house, the minor seminary is not only an architectural relic, but also a living testimony of the period of cultural exchange that contributed to shaping the appearance of modern Vietnamese writing.

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Rustic Gothic in the countryside of Binh Dinh

The building is in Gothic style with pointed arches, symmetrical windows, soft motifs and elaborate decorative wind flowers. After more than two centuries, the European mark is still evident on every moss-covered wall. The facade of the church is not as massive as St. Paul's Cathedral in Macao built by the Portuguese, but it evokes a sense of closeness, like a rustic version of an ancient Western cathedral set in the middle of a village.

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Following the ancient waterways

According to legend, from Thi Nai lagoon, merchants followed the waterway upstream of the Con River. Along the same journey, Portuguese missionaries came to Quy Nhon and built Lang Song Church - the predecessor of today's minor seminary. Although it has been renovated many times, the original architectural spirit is still retained in every detail.

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Today's experience: listening to heritage

In recent years, Lang Song has attracted domestic and foreign tourists thanks to its ancient beauty, tranquility and peaceful village atmosphere. After the storm, the need for restoration and preservation has been put first. Every step through the campus is a touch of cultural sediment - where the memory of the national language remains intact despite fallen trees and chipped roof tiles.

The urgent restoration and preservation of relics is not only the responsibility of the relevant authorities but also the desire of those who love the history and culture of Binh Dinh. Amidst the wounds of natural disasters, the value of heritage still leads to stories to help us understand more about the journey of a national language.