Promise before the Venerable Master

Generations of teachers and students of Thoai Ngoc Hau High School for the Gifted are proud of the school's Buddhist chanting. Photo: PHUONG LAN

Divine Origin

The journey of Niem Su Tu started with sincere gratitude. Ms. Nguyen Kim Nuong - Former student and former teacher of Thoai Ngoc Hau High School for the Gifted shared: “Niem Su Tu was built in 1943 in the former school area of Long Xuyen province to honor and commemorate the pioneer teachers who brought letters and meanings to this land with many difficulties. In 1948, when the project was located in the campus of Thoai Ngoc Hau High School (former name of Thoai Ngoc Hau High School for the Gifted), it became an indispensable traditional symbol of the school's teachers and students”.

This sacred symbol has gone through many historical ups and downs. After 1975, the Niem Su Tu fell into a period of serious degradation. The climax was the demolition in 1981 to make way for another construction. Although only a small temporary shrine remained to maintain the incense, the flame of gratitude never went out.

Since 2004, many former students have longed to restore the Temple of the Precepts. In 2008, the Thoai Ngoc Hau Former Students Association was established. In early 2010, the construction of the Temple of the Precepts was officially restarted and completed with a new architecture, marking the return of the ancestors to a solemn “new home”, reaffirming the historical, cultural and educational values of deep gratitude.

The Niem Su Tu has become a place of worship for deceased teachers. Through historical upheavals, the project has been rebuilt, maintained and preserved to this day. Currently, the Niem Su Tu has expanded its scope, becoming a common place of worship for more than 500 deceased teachers of all levels, from preschool, primary to high school in the entire Long Xuyen, Binh Duc, and My Thoi wards...

Continuing the tradition of respecting teachers

Mr. Le Trung Liet - Chairman of the Trade Union of Thoai Ngoc Hau High School for the Gifted confided about the special role of Niem Su Tu: “This place is not only a destination for students to express their deep gratitude to their predecessors, but also a tangible tradition for them to learn, preserve and promote the morality of remembering the source of drinking water. This is a testament to the eternal attachment of teachers to the school, from life to death, creating a sustainable traditional value. Besides special occasions such as Vietnamese Teachers' Day (November 20), the school still maintains solemn offerings on the 15th and 30th of every month, keeping this flame of gratitude never extinguished at Niem Su Tu”.

For students, the Niem Su Tu is an extremely sacred and solemn space. Nguyen Hoang Tan, a 12th grade student at Thoai Ngoc Hau High School for the Gifted, shared: “Every time I face an important exam, I go to the Niem Su Tu to burn incense. This is a strong motivation to help me do well on the test and bring glory to the school's tradition.” Tan expressed: “When I stop to read the names of the ancestors, I deeply feel that each teacher is a very respectable person... Later, when I become successful, I will definitely return to the school to contribute.”

Sharing the same sentiment, Do Mai Anh, a 12th grade literature student at Thoai Ngoc Hau High School for the Gifted, sees Niem Su Tu as a peaceful place, the most vivid proof of the tradition of respecting teachers. For Mai Anh, this place is not only a place to worship the deceased but also a spiritual fire that gives strength and reminds each student of the responsibility to live up to the gratitude of teachers.

On May 30, 2025, the Vietnam Records Organization (VietKings) announced the Vietnam Record: An Giang Province (before the merger) is the first locality in the country to successfully implement the model "Each administrative unit at the district, town, and city level has a Master Recitation Temple" contributing to educating and promoting the tradition of respecting teachers and remembering the source of water. From 1943 to 2024, the locality had 11 works in 11 administrative units of the province. This is a vivid proof that the tradition of respecting teachers and respecting teachers is preserved and strongly promoted in An Giang land.

PHUONG LAN

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/loi-hua-truoc-niem-su-tu-a466759.html