Long An: A Rich Culture and History Unfolded

Long An: A Rich Culture and History Unfolded

A province in the Mekong Delta area, Long An has always been known for its natural, untouched beauty. But it is also famous for one other thing, a rich history of the Oc Eo culture.

 

Long An is a culturally diverse, agricultural province located 47 kilometers West of Ho Chi Minh City. There are four major religions followed by the people: Buddhism, Catholicism, Cao Dai and Protestant. It is abundant in fruit orchards because it is situated between the Vam Co Dong and Vam Co Tay rivers which makes it a good source of alluvium to fertilize the soil. It also covers immense areas of rice fields and is home to different species of flora and fauna.

 

The Hundred-Column House is one tourist attraction in Long An because of its uniquely beautiful architectural style. Built from 1901-1903, the house has an area of 882 sq. m. and designed with the architectural style of the Hue capital and the Nguyen dynasty. The whole house is made of wood with beams that are designed with a mortar and pestle to symbolize Yin and Yang or harmony. Other designs of the house are traditional Vietnamese features like the four sacred animals (dragon, unicorn, turtle and phoenix); the four seasons; eight kinds of ceremonial/ ancestor worship fruits; and Western items such as roses, squirrels and vines. The house is made up of three main chambers and two sub-chambers.

 

But its Oc Eo culture is what really made Long An establish its name in the international scene because of its interesting history and development through time. Oc Eo culture began between the 1st to 6th century with certain Indian influence. Many artifacts were found that established the culture's stability in Vietnamese history. 12,000 relics were excavated in 20 prehistoric sites and 100 Oc Eo cultural sites. As if that's not plenty enough, there are 90 more historical and cultural sites in Long An, many of which are national heritage sites. Some of these are the Binh Ta relics in Duc Hoa District; and the tomb and temple of Nguyen Huynh Duc.

 

The Binh Ta site was established way back during the pre-historic and proto-historic periods between the 1st - 7th century A.D. during the reign of the of Phu Nam kingdom. It is a compound showcasing the architectural and archaeological sites of Go Xoai, Go Don and Go Nam Tuoc. The Go Xaoi Temple is 1.9 meters deep and was used as a religious ceremonial site by the Phu Nam residents who practiced Brahmanism. The religion originated in India in the 1st century B.C., even befoe Christianity came and influenced up to the Southern part of Indochina. Among the precious items that can be seen at the site are the statues of the gods Shiva and Vishnu; sacred objects like Linga and Yoni; and a gold leaf document containing Buddhist prayers written in old Sanscit letters.

 

The tomb and temple of Nguyen Huyn Duc is a particularly famous relic because Nguyen Huyn Duc is the founder of the Nguyen Dynasty. It is also one of the oldest tombs in Long An, built in 817 and amazingly still completely preserved up to this day.

 

For visitors who are not history buffs and more into the natural scenery of a place, Long An is also blessed with eco-tourism sites which are worth discovering. The cajeput forest is an 800-hectare area filled with birds, medicinal herbs and other gifts of nature. Tourists can even enjoy the local delicacy which is served during the tour. Moreover, souvenirs are sold such as honey, dried fish and herbal medicine. Tan Lap Floating Village is an eco-tourism area 135 hectares big and surrounded by another 500 hectares of natural beauty. Binh An drum-making village in Thu Thua District is a community composed of many generations of drum-makers.

 

Through time, the number of tourists entering Long An increased. According to the figures gathered by the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, at just the first half of 2014, 179,500 tourists visited the place, a 26% rise compared to the same period in 2013. This year, Long An expects to receive 360,000 visitors, 25% higher than last year. The province aims to have a 30% annual growth rate in its tourism sector from 2011-2015 by inviting investors and creating projects that will further boost tourism in Long An. Some of these projects included putting up a 23-hectare entertainment park in Duc Hua Town, a cultural park in Tan An City; Tan Lap Foating Village in Moc Hoa District; and Rach Cat Military Post in Can Duoc District.

 

Long An's local cuisine is also a big tourist attraction because it reflects the province's strong and beautiful culture. Meals such as canh chau ca chot (sour soup with local fish), ca loc nuong trui (baked snake-headed fish), and lau man (hot pot) are among the top favorites. Long An is filled with so much history and culture that anyone who visits it will surely leave filled with rich experiences and memories, wanting to come back to rediscover its simple yet irresistible beauty.