Nam Giang town (Nam Truc district, Nam Dinh province) is a land with a long history and cultural tradition. This place preserves many unique architectural works and national relics such as Dai Bi Pagoda, Am temple, Giap Ba temple, Van Chang communal house.
Dai Bi Pagoda is one of the famous ancient temples of the ancient Son Nam land. This is a rare relic in the lower Red River Delta, worshiping Saint Tu Dao Hanh. Dai Bi Pagoda was ranked as a national relic in 1964; Dai Bi Pagoda festival was included in the list of National Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2020.
With the architectural style of both internal and external architecture, Dai Bi Pagoda has up to 60 compartments, mostly made of ironwood. The entire relic is arranged in a balanced and sturdy manner. The temple grounds also leave an impression with the two-story, eight-roofed bell tower, one of the most valuable architectural units of the temple.
Giap Ba Temple is located in Nam Giang town, where King Trieu Viet Vuong is worshiped - a man who contributed to the country's fight against the Liang invaders. With its cultural and historical values, Giap Ba Temple was ranked as a national historical and cultural relic in 1994.
The temple faces south, consists of 4 main buildings and 2 disarming buildings, built in the style of "inner-outer-country", on high ground, with a vestibule system and a lake in front. To the east of the main temple, there is also a temple to worship the two elders Doan Quan Cong and Doan Tuong Cong. The entire complex of relics consists of 10 buildings with 40 large and small rooms. The front hall has 5 curved-roof rooms, which were renovated during the second year of Dong Khanh (1887); the system of naturally curved roofs and eaves still retains the style of the Later Le period.
One of the national relics associated with the traditional blacksmithing village in Nam Giang town is Van Chang communal house. The ancient communal house is located on a 1,480m2 plot of land, a place of worship and gratitude of the local people towards the Six Blacksmith Patriarchs.
Van Chang communal house was built on a large scale during the Later Le Dynasty (18th century) and was restored during the Nguyen Dynasty (19th century). In the communal house grounds, there are many ancient trees creating a cool, fresh atmosphere. Looking from the outside in, the communal house consists of architectural works: the main gate, the screen, the lake, the yard, the temple to worship the family's ancestors, the central architectural work and two rows of inner courtyards on both sides.
In Nam Giang town, Am temple is a national relic associated with the local revolutionary and resistance movements. The temple is where local people worship and show gratitude to the merits of the Holy Ancestor, Zen Master Bui Hue To (1566 - 1641). The main temple has a Cong-shaped architecture including the following items: Front hall, middle hall, and forbidden palace.
In 2012, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism decided to recognize Am Temple as a national relic, due to its outstanding historical, architectural and artistic values.
Mr. Cao Xuan Nghi - Chairman of Nam Giang Town People's Committee said that Nam Giang Town is home to many outstanding national historical, cultural and architectural relics. Today, these relics are preserved and conserved by local people and are places for people in the region to pray for peace and luck.
