Van Thuy Tu Temple

Phan Thiet


Vietnam's whale-worship cult is thought to have originated in early Cham times. Fishing communities in southern Vietnam revere whales as near-divine beings who offer protection against storms, and there are whale temples dotted along the coast. This one is particularly fascinating to visit as it contains the skeleton of a 19m whale. The temple itself is said to date back to 1762 and also contains other cultural relics.


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