Southeast Asia's largest whale bone museum in Vietnam

Van Thuy Tu Palace is a famous tourist destination in Phan Thiet city, displaying the largest whale skeleton in Vietnam and breaking records in Southeast Asia.

Built in 1762, Van Thuy Tu Palace was once located close to the sea, facing the East Sea and was the place where a 22m long whale drifted ashore. According to the beliefs of the coastal people here, the god of the South Sea is worshiped to show gratitude to the whale that often protected fishermen during their days of drifting to make a living at sea. Today, the palace is located on Ngu Ong Street, Duc Thang Ward, Phan Thiet City.

The central area of ​​the palace holds more than 100 whale skeletons, nearly half of which are between 100 and 150 years old.

The palace is famous both domestically and internationally for its unique and rare features, preserving many valuable historical and cultural artifacts related to the formation and development of the fishing industry in Binh Thuan in particular and the South Central region in general. This place of worship has 24 precious royal decrees of the Nguyen Dynasty kings, because the Nguyen Dynasty generals were rescued many times by whales at sea. In addition, the palace also has Han-Nom cultural heritages, horizontal lacquered boards and parallel sentences on a bronze bell that is over 140 years old.

When visiting the palace, passing through the three-door gate to the left is Ngoc Lan Holy Land - a large area for whale burial, on the right is the Nam Hai whale bone exhibition house - where the giant whale skeleton (gray whale) is kept, 22m long, weighing 65 tons, almost completely restored.

Van Thuy Tu Palace displays the skeleton of a grey whale with a length of 22m and a weight of 65 tons.

Going further inside, you will see the altar of the Nam Hai Cu Toc Ngoc Lan Ton Than (also known as the Nam Hai god - whale), on the left is the altar of Thuy Long Thanh Phi Nuong Nuong Ton Than, and on the right is the altar of Hi Hoang Thai Hieu Tien Su Ton Than. This is a difference compared to other temples in the Central region. To this day, the area in the middle of the temple preserves more than 100 whale skeletons, nearly half of which are between 100 and 150 years old, with large skeletons being worshiped respectfully.

Behind the main hall, there is a shrine to "The virtuous ancestors, the virtuous ancestors, the deceased ancestors, the creators" - referring to those who pioneered and founded the fishing village. In this room, visitors will have the opportunity to hold a jar - an ancient ceramic jar - 20cm high, 12cm wide at the mouth.

Dragon boats and paper boats are used in the Nghinh Ong ceremony.

According to the legend of the whale, when the palace was completed, the storm lasted for three days before clearing up. Some fishing boats and ships were stuck offshore and were rescued by the whale, but the whale died from exhaustion while bringing the fishing boats safely to shore.

Scientists explain the phenomenon of whales saving people because during storms, whales are battered by big waves and have to find a place to lean on to withstand the storm. Fishermen's boats become more stable when they lean on whales. Eventually, both will be pushed to shore by the waves. Sometimes the whales are exhausted and have to rely on them, sometimes the whales safely return to the open sea when the sea is less stormy.

According to VnExpress