The beautiful religious traditions of fishermen in the fishing village at the beginning of spring.

Old fisherman Le Van, over 60 years old, went to the table to register the names of his fellow fishermen and lit a nearly half-meter-tall incense stick to pray for peace. As he left the shrine, Mr. Van shared: "Every year, on the 4th day of Tet, my fellow fishermen and I come to Ba Pagoda to pray for peace and for the souls of the deceased, hoping for favorable weather and a successful fishing trip."

"It's not just my boat; dozens of other boat owners in Phu Hai and neighboring areas also come to light incense and pray for a safe journey in the early spring before setting sail. We regard Lady Thien Hau as a deity who always protects and helps fishermen in times of trouble at sea..."

The Three-Gate Entrance of Ba Thien Hau Temple

The history of the Thien Hau Temple is filled with many fascinating and intriguing stories passed down through generations. One legend recounts: “In the past, the Phu Hai estuary (Phan Thiet) was a gathering place for merchants trading goods. They always prayed for smooth sailing for their ships, so the boat owners worshipped the Thien Hau Goddess. One day, a fishing boat owner's engine broke down and he had to anchor on the Phu Hai River for repairs. He temporarily moved the statue of the Goddess ashore. After the boat was repaired, he tried to carry the statue back to its original place, but it suddenly became too heavy to move. Seeing this auspicious sign, the people erected a shrine to the Thien Hau Goddess here in 1725.”

On the main hall's large door, the story of the Goddess Thien Hau is clearly recorded: Born in the North, she was like an ordinary person from a young age. She memorized everything she read. As she grew up, she only did good deeds, helping people and constantly studying medicine, treating illnesses, and guiding people on how to prevent epidemics. She was very knowledgeable about meteorology, astronomy, and the flow of water. She rescued fishing boats when they encountered difficulties… Later, seafarers spread stories of seeing her in a red robe “flying” over the sea, rescuing people in distress. Therefore, fishermen in coastal villages painted or sculpted her image to worship and pray for a peaceful life and prosperous business. During the resistance war against the French, the shrine completely collapsed. It wasn't until 1995 that the shrine was rebuilt into a larger temple, and the construction of the Thien Hau Temple was finally completed in 2003. Every year on the anniversary of the Goddess's death, the people of Phu Hai in particular and the residents of the surrounding coastal areas in general come here to commemorate her contributions. Furthermore, word of her virtues has spread far and wide, attracting tourists from all over who come to Phan Thiet for holidays and traditional festivals to pray for peace and good fortune. Especially fishermen, before setting sail in the early spring, often come to the temple to light incense, pray for peace, and offer prayers for the souls of the deceased.

Visiting Thien Hau Pagoda in spring, tourists not only pray for peace and well-being for themselves, their families, and friends, but also admire its unique architectural and cultural features. The Tam Quan gate is meticulously carved by artisans; the red and gold paint creates a sacred and reverent atmosphere. The exquisitely carved dragon and phoenix statues, crafted by many artisans, enhance the pagoda's beauty and majesty while also carrying spiritual significance in the worship of the Mother Goddess. The pagoda also preserves intact Han-Nom artifacts through couplets, horizontal plaques, sculptures, and stone steles, creating unique historical and cultural values.

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