Vietnam's Largest Whale Skeletons Housed in Ly Son Island's Ancient Temple

Lang Tan Temple (also known as Sở Đại dương) on Ly Son Island in the central province of Quang Ngai is a significant cultural and historical site, housing two of Vietnam's largest whale skeletons and attracting visitors keen to learn about the island's maritime heritage. The temple, originally built in 1832 and later relocated, was moved to its current site in 2002. The worship of whales, or 'cá Ông' (ca Ong), has roots in the ancient Cham culture and was later adopted by the Vietnamese and Chinese communities. During the Nguyen Dynasty, King Gia Long reportedly conferred the title 'Deity of the South Sea' upon ca Ong, encouraging people to worship them in remembrance of the deity's role in saving the king's life. The temple's architecture is in the traditional 'tam' (three) character shape, comprising three connected buildings: the front hall, the main hall, and the inner sanctum. The roofs are adorned with motifs of dragons and the moon, along with the four sacred beasts, characteristic of Central Vietnamese village temples. The main hall features altars dedicated to ca Ong and other local deities, where residents perform rituals and offer prayers to the whales that have washed ashore in Ly Son's waters. Displayed within the temple's exhibition hall are the whale skeletons. Ly Son Island has seven such temples dedicated to ca Ong, each housing dozens of skeletons, or 'ngoc cốt' (jade bones), dating from several decades to over 300 years old. The two whale skeletons at Lang Tan Temple were officially recognized as the largest in Vietnam by the Vietnam Record Organization in June 2025, and were bestowed the divine titles 'Đồng Đình Đại Vương' and 'Đức Ngư nhị vị tôn thần'. In early 2022, experts meticulously restored these skeletons into lifelike poses, depicting them in motion. The restoration project, including the construction of the exhibition house, incurred a total investment of VND 14 billion (approximately USD 570,000). The restored 'Đồng Đình Đại vương' measures 22 meters in length, while 'Đức Ngư nhị vị tôn thần' is 18 meters long. Each skeleton consists of 50 vertebrae, nearly 10 meters of ribs, a 4-meter-high skull, and 4.7-meter-long tusks. Located along Ly Son Island's cultural and historical tourist route, Lang Tan Temple is often visited in conjunction with other sites such as An Vinh Communal House, the Hoang Sa Flotilla and North Sea Administration Exhibition House, Hang Pagoda, Thoi Loi Mountain, and the Gate of Heaven (Cong To Vo). Admission to the temple is free. Visitors are requested to dress respectfully, maintain silence, refrain from touching the sacred objects, and adhere to the temple's regulations during their visit. Source: VnExpress