1. Where is Duong Long Cham Temple?
Duong Long Cham Temple is located in Tay Binh commune, Tay Son district, Binh Dinh province, Vietnam. It is about 40 km northwest of Quy Nhon city center and about 630 km northeast of Ho Chi Minh city.
2. How is Duong Long Cham Temple unique?
Duong Long Cham Temple is a cluster of relics located on a high mound between An Chanh and Van Tuong villages of Tay Son district, Binh Dinh province. Therefore, they also have other names such as An Chanh tower, Binh An tower or Van Tuong tower. Duong Long Cham Temple was built in the late 12th century, this was the most brilliant period of development of Cham culture. The French called this tower “Tour d’Ivoire” (Ivory Tower). This cluster of towers consists of three towers: the middle tower is 39 meters high, the two side towers are 32 meters high.
2.1 About shape
In terms of shape, they built this tower with a square bottom design like traditional Cham towers. But the body of the tower is gradually bent towards the door, creating a unique bud shape. The top of the tower has many floors that gradually shrink and end with a lotus top.
2.2 About construction materials
The tower uses bricks and stones as the main construction materials, which no other Cham tower has. Therefore, this is also one of the unique features, creating an attractive beauty that makes the tower stand out.
2.3 Sculpture art
The strong influence of Khmer architecture is a prominent feature of the architecture and sculpture of the Cham Duong Long temple. As early as the early 20th century, researcher H. Parmentier stated that the shape, structure and many decorative motifs on the Cham Duong Long temple are somewhat similar to the Khmer architecture. Based on the decorative motifs in the Khmer style, researchers determined the date of the Cham Duong Long temple to be around the 12th – 13th century.
2.4 Religious function
In the structure of the Cham tower complex, the religious function is often expressed through the worship of the three supreme gods of Hinduism: Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Usually, the towers have three parallel towers and each tower is dedicated to a god. The North Tower is often dedicated to the god Brahma, the Middle Tower is dedicated to the god Shiva, and the South Tower is dedicated to the god Vishnu.
3. The origin of the formation of the Cham Duong Long Temple
The Cham Duong Long Temple is a Cham architectural work with a long history. Champa architecture has existed for 9 centuries, according to researchers, the construction period of Long Duong Tower took place in the 12th – 13th centuries, which was the peak of Champa culture.
The construction period of the Cham Duong Long Temple clearly reflects the Vijaya period through its architectural features and construction location. During this period, people at that time tended to move the construction location from the plains to the high hills, and the architectural style changed from elegant to strong. This feature also shows the development of Champa culture and society during the Vijaya period. With more than 8 centuries of existence, the tower holds important historical values.
4. Cultural value of Duong Long Cham Temple
Duong Long Cham Temple in Binh Dinh is one of the special historical and cultural relics in Central Vietnam. This place not only represents ancient cultural, spiritual and architectural values. But it is also a tourist destination in Quy Nhon that attracts a large number of tourists.
Besides the location, the meaning of Duong Long Cham Temple is also an issue that many people are interested in. This cluster of towers was built to worship gods in Brahmanism, including the three supreme gods of Hinduism. The three gods Vishnu, Brahma, Shiva and the kings who have contributed to the country.
Possessing many historical values and unique features in architectural art. In 1980, Duong Long Cham Temple was recognized by the Ministry of Culture and Information as a National Architectural and Artistic Relic. In addition, in 2015, this work was also honored to be ranked as a Special National Relic by the Prime Minister.
5. How to get to Duong Long Cham Temple?
Duong Long Cham Temple is not too far from Quy Nhon city center, about 40 km. Moreover, the traffic infrastructure and roads here are quite easy to travel. Therefore, you can easily get here by motorbike, bus or taxi.
From Quy Nhon city center, you travel along National Highway 1A about 35km to the North. After reaching the traffic light intersection in Go Gang town, Phu Cat district, you turn left onto the road to Phu Cat airport and then continue along National Highway 19B about 15km. Next, you follow the instructions of Google Maps or ask the locals for directions to Duong Long Cham Temple.
6. Opening hours and entrance fees to Duong Long Cham Temple
6.1 Opening hours:
- Morning 7:30 – 11:00.
- Afternoon 14:00 – 16:30, all days of the week.
6.2 Entrance fee:
- Adults & Children over 1m2: 15,000 VND/ticket/turn.
- Children under 1m2: Free.
7. Admiring the unique architecture of Duong Long Cham Temple
Duong Long Cham Temple consists of 3 towers: North tower, South tower and Middle tower. The cluster of 3 towers is arranged in a straight line on the North – South axis. From the center of one tower to the center of the other tower is about 18m apart.
7.1. Overall architecture
In general, the architecture of this building strictly follows the layout and function of Champa plastic art. Like a temple decorated with columns, door frames; clear radial layout, … However, it seems that all are expressed in a different form. The centripetal design becomes clearer thanks to the ground plan created by the perpendicular columns continuously facing the tower door, almost inscribed in a circle.
The tower roof has 4 floors. The upper roof floors gradually shrink in the same direction as the tower body, creating an increasingly circular structure, thereby merging with the lotus throne on the top of the tower. The architecture of Duong Long tower is a special case in the history of Champa architecture.
7.2. Middle Tower
With a height of 38.81m, the Middle Tower is the tallest brick tower in Southeast Asia. Up to now, this structure has been severely damaged. The front hall area, the fake doors and the main door arch have collapsed, leaving only a few stone bars on the body, the fake door in the South has the remaining door pillars. Surrounding the tower walls is a system of wide-paneled pillars, without decorative patterns. Each wall has 7 pillars, the top of the pillars is attached to stone blocks, slightly flared and decorated in many stepped bands.
In addition, the base is covered with sandstone blocks with a square plan, each side is 16.5m long. After the excavation in 2006, the base of the tower was completely exposed, the current status is as follows:
- East side: the base band remains only at the bottom level on the northeast side of the tower. It is assembled from 4 adjacent stone blocks without decorative patterns, 0.59m high.
- West side: the base has almost no trace of the decorative band at the base of the tower. The decorative patterns on the band are in some unfinished sections.
- South side: the base band here is almost complete, there are bricks inside.
7.3. South Tower
The South Tower is 32.94m high, the base plan is square, the protrusion at the false door is 0.76m, and the width is 14m. The distance between the Middle Tower and the South Tower from the false door is 1m. People built the wall in a stepped corner style, protruding towards the door, the wall has no moldings, middle frame and is left smooth. In the South tower, the main door frame is still made of sandstone but the fake doors, the main door arches on the West and South sides have collapsed.
Similar to the Middle tower, the roof of the tower is also made of 4 roof levels, 4 sides have windows, decorative arches above. All are made of stone. The current state of the base is as follows:
- East side: almost all is lost, only a section in the Northeast connecting to the North side remains.
- West side: the Southwest side has lost the outer stone cladding belt, only bricks remain inside.
- North side: the length of the cladding belt is 14m. The stone base of the fake door protrudes 0.76m, broken into 2 levels (inner level 0.35m and outer level 0.42m).
- South side: completely destroyed, only bricks remain inside. Previously, the part close to the body was reinforced with bricks, protruding from the body of the tower, running at an angle into the pillars.
7.4. North Tower
The North Tower was the most severely damaged, the body was hollowed out quite deeply but was reinforced in 1984. This tower is 31.76m high, with a square plan the same size as the South Tower. The main door of the North Tower has collapsed, only a part of the upper door arch remains, the base of the arch has a few stone bars left on the main body. They made the fake door in the South of stone.
The current status of the base of the North Tower is as follows:
- East side: is the main door of the tower, covered with stone. The base and the pillars are both lost, leaving only 2 stone blocks lying next to each other in the Southeast.
- West side: was hollowed out the deepest so all the tower bases were reinforced with bricks. The base has been lost, leaving only a few blocks on the base, the Southwest side and the fake door section. • North side: almost completely lost, only a few stone blocks remain on the last level, including 1 block on the northeast side and 2 blocks at the corner of the false door.
- South side: there is still a section of the base band on the southeast side and in front of the false door. The false door made of stone from the base to the arch is almost intact, except for the missing top of the arch.
8. Activities and experiences when visiting Duong Long Cham Temple
8.1 Admiring two impressive open structures
In addition to the three towers in the complex, the relic site also preserves two other structures, built of bricks and located in the West. These structures have been discovered through archaeological excavations.
The first structure is square, with a smaller rectangular protrusion on the East side. The East-West side is 7.88m long, the North-South side is 7.52m long, and the protrusion on the front side is 3.16m long (width unknown due to severe damage). The main axis of this structure passes through the corridor between the Middle Tower and the South Tower.
The second structure has a similar shape to the first structure, but is larger. The East-West side is 11.20m long, the North-South side is 9.72m long, and the protrusion on the front side is about 1.12m. The main axis of this architecture is directed towards the corridor between the North Tower and the Middle Tower.
8.2 Visiting the famous Cham pottery villages
When visiting Duong Long Cham Temple, you also have the opportunity to visit the famous Cham pottery villages. Such as: Go Cay Ke, Go Hoi for more interesting experiences.
8.3 Checking – in to preserve the mysterious and beautiful image of Duong Long Cham Temple
Duong Long Cham Temple is truly an interesting check-in point in Quy Nhon for you to admire the ancient beauty of Cham architecture. With hundreds of years of age, this place possesses a mysterious and admirable history. When viewed from afar, the tower creates a unique landscape, standing out among the green rice fields. It becomes an important part in beautifying the natural landscape of this land.
9. Enjoying Binh Dinh specialties when visiting Duong Long Cham Temple
When traveling to Duong Long Cham Temple, you will have the opportunity to enjoy many attractive Binh Dinh specialties. In particular, the most prominent are the rich seafood dishes such as shrimp, squid, fish, and crab. Some delicious local specialties that you should not miss when coming to Quy Nhon, Binh Dinh are Phu My sour fish, Chau Truc ebony eel, eel salad, Tay Son beef jerky, etc.
In addition, you can refer to many delicious dishes. Such as: crab with tamarind, chicken, grilled snakehead fish, wild vegetables with fish sauce, fish with giang leaves, eel stewed with banana, etc. Most of the restaurants around this area sell fresh and delicious food at reasonable prices. Therefore, you can completely rest assured when enjoying.
10. Accommodation when visiting Duong Long Cham Temple
When traveling to Duong Long Cham Temple, you can refer to some of the following accommodations:
- Tan Nhat Suong Hotel. Address: No. 19 Vo Xan, Phu Phong Town, Tay Son, Binh Dinh.
- 252 Hotel – West Village. Address: No. 252 Quang Trung, Phu Phong Town, Tay Son, Binh Dinh.
- Hieu Ngoc Hotel. Address: Quang Trung, Phu Phong, Tay Son, Binh Dinh.
- Hoa Chau Hotel. Address: Embankment area, Phu Phong Town, Tay Son, Binh Dinh.
- Ba Dam Hotel. Address: Hoa Trung Hamlet, Binh Tuong, Tay Son, Binh Dinh.
- Kim Thu Hotel. Address: 189 Le Loi, Phu Phong Town, Tay Son, Binh Dinh.
- Phu Phong Hotel. Address: 160 Quang Trung, Phu Phong Town, Tay Son, Binh Dinh.
- Hong Trinh Hotel. Address: 65 Quang Trung, Phu Phong Town, Tay Son, Binh Dinh.
- Phu Phong 2 Hotel. Address: 180 Tran Hung Dao, Phu Phong Town, Tay Son, Binh Dinh.
11. Some important notes when visiting Duong Long Cham Temple
When visiting Duong Long Cham Temple, you need to pay attention to the following issues:
- Do not bring weapons, explosives, flammable objects or pollute the environment into the relic.
- Do not perform superstitious activities.
- Respect the culture of the indigenous people.
- Do not damage, carve, dig, write graffiti. Or affect the landscape of the relic.
- Do not graze livestock, cut down trees, take land. Or rob other properties belonging to the relic.
- Keep the environment and landscape here green, clean and beautiful. Do not litter.
Through the changes of time, Duong Long Cham Temple still stands firm as a step of history. It carries within it stories and cultural heritages that are worth cherishing. Join Origin Vietnam – the leading tour operator. We will accompany you on the custom tour to Vietnam to explore Duong Long Cham Temple. This will be a source of inspiration, the beginning of the next journeys of discovery. Where we learn and appreciate the cultural, historical and religious values of the nation.
