Origins
On a sunny morning, I was strolling through the streets of Ha Long City. The aroma of baguettes mixed with coffee beans filled the air, making passersby stop in their tracks. Street vendors pushed tricycles loaded with fresh fruits, their calls echoing back and forth. While sipping Vietnamese coffee and capturing the morning light with my camera, I was always curious about lesser-known historical sites as a travel blogger. Just as I was about to turn away, an elderly local with graying hair grabbed my attention and led me with shuffling steps down a quiet alley, sharing a mysterious story about An My Tower.
First Encounter with An My Tower
In Tan Tien Village of Le Loi Commune, Ha Long City, stands an ancient temple with over 200 years of history - An My Tower. Locals prefer to call it Phuc Khanh Pagoda. Standing before this ancient tower for the first time, I was deeply drawn to its unique architectural style. Morning sunlight filtered through the treetops, casting dappled shadows on the tower's surface, while distant bell sounds seemed to narrate its weathered history. Though covered in traces of time, the tower retained its solemn dignity. Surrounding ancient trees reached skyward, their swaying branches adding an air of mystery.
Walking along the bluestone path, the scent of sandalwood drifted through the air. In the distance, several elderly people in plain clothes chanted sutras before the tower, their voices blending with the surroundings. At that moment, I felt transported back two centuries, experiencing the tower in its most original form.
Historical Imprint
An My Tower was built between the late 18th and early 19th centuries during Vietnam's Nguyen Dynasty. Vietnam was undergoing tremendous changes at that time. In that era of warfare, this ancient tower witnessed countless historical transitions. According to local historical documents, An My Tower's construction took nearly twenty years and involved hundreds of skilled craftsmen. They had to overcome not only technical difficulties but also harsh weather conditions and material shortages.
During construction, the craftsmen used unique mortise and tenon structures, allowing the building to stand firm after centuries of weather exposure. Each brick was carefully selected and polished, bearing the craftsman's name and production date. These details not only demonstrate the ancient craftsmen's ingenuity but also provide valuable information for studying construction techniques of that time.
Through archaeological analysis of the stonework, experts discovered most building materials came from local mountains and underwent special processing before use. Interestingly, some bricks contain poems and blessings left by ancient craftsmen, still clearly visible today, providing important clues about social life at that time.
Architectural Features
An My Tower's architectural style blends Vietnamese tradition with Buddhist culture. The tower consists of three levels, each with unique decorations and symbolic meaning. The bottom level symbolizes the human realm, the middle represents the path of practice, and the top signifies nirvana. The building uses traditional wood and stone construction, ensuring stability while displaying unique artistic beauty.
Most striking are the exquisite carvings - lifelike dragons and phoenixes, lotus patterns - all showcasing the craftsmen's extraordinary skills. Each carving contains deep meaning; for example, the lotus represents purity and transcendence, while coiled dragons symbolize power and protection. These patterns are not mere decorations but crystallizations of ancient wisdom.
Each level of the tower features corridors with ingenious ventilation design. Even in hot summers, the interior remains cool. Window positions were carefully calculated to allow sunlight to illuminate Buddha statues at specific times, creating a solemn and sacred atmosphere. The upturned roof corners use traditional multi-eaved design, both beautiful and effectively rain-resistant.
In architectural details, An My Tower demonstrates craftsmanship throughout. For instance, copper bells at the eaves produce crisp sounds in gentle breezes, adding dynamic beauty to the ancient tower. Wall paintings maintain vibrant colors after centuries of exposure, thanks to the ancient craftsmen's unique pigment formulation techniques.
Center of Faith
During my interviews with locals, an elderly woman in her seventies held my hand and shared her story about An My Tower. She said since her earliest memories, this ancient tower has been the spiritual center of villagers' lives. On the first and fifteenth of each lunar month, villagers would bring offerings to pray for good weather and abundant harvests.
The elderly woman recalled that in her youth, this was the only temple for several nearby villages. During major festivals, people from surrounding villages would come together, bringing their best offerings and wearing their most formal attire to participate in worship ceremonies. Monks would ring bells and drums at dawn to announce the start of ceremonies, followed by sutra chanting, incense offering, and blessing rituals.
These traditions continue today. Each Lunar New Year, grand blessing ceremonies are held here. Amidst the incense smoke, you can almost hear the monks' chanting from hundreds of years ago. During ceremonies, the temple prepares vegetarian meals for worshippers to share food and insights in a warm and peaceful atmosphere.
Notably, An My Tower preserves some precious Buddhist artifacts. Most famous is a bronze Buddha statue, reportedly bestowed by the Nguyen Dynasty emperor himself. This statue not only shows exquisite craftsmanship but carries deep historical and cultural significance. Many devotees make special pilgrimages to worship it each year.
Cultural Heritage
I was moved by the local people's strong awareness of protecting this ancient tower. They voluntarily organized cultural relic protection teams for regular cleaning and maintenance. Every first weekend of the month, volunteers gather here to carefully inspect building components, clear weeds, and maintain the environment.
Statistics show over 100,000 visitors annually, with foreign tourists accounting for 30%. Facing such large numbers of visitors, the local community has implemented measures to protect this historic site. They established detailed visiting rules, limited daily visitor numbers, and arranged trained guides to introduce the tower's history and culture.
It's particularly encouraging that younger generations have begun paying attention to and participating in cultural heritage protection. Local primary and secondary schools often organize student visits for learning, helping children develop awareness of cultural heritage protection from an early age. Some young volunteers use social media to promote An My Tower's history and culture, attracting more attention to this historic site.
In conversations with local youth, I deeply felt their pride in traditional culture. They not only understand the tower's history but can also tell many related folk stories. This cultural identity and pride form an important foundation for cultural inheritance.
Protection and Development
In recent years, Ha Long City government has invested heavily in the tower's restoration and protection. A 2020 survey showed government investment in cultural relic protection reached 50 billion Vietnamese dong. These funds were mainly used for reinforcing building structures, restoring ancient murals, and improving surrounding environment.
The government also hired professional cultural relic restoration teams for regular inspection and maintenance. They use advanced technologies like 3D scanning and infrared detection to comprehensively assess the building's condition and promptly identify and resolve potential issues.
Regarding environmental improvements, the government planned and built cultural squares and parking lots, facilitating visitor access while effectively controlling commercial activities' impact on the historic site. They also established a special cultural relic archive room to collect and organize historical documents and research materials related to An My Tower.
To better spread An My Tower's cultural value, the government organized the writing of multilingual introduction booklets and produced documentary films to help more people understand this ancient tower's historical and cultural significance. Additionally, they regularly hold cultural lectures and exhibitions, inviting experts and scholars for in-depth research and discussion.
Travel Tips
To deeply understand An My Tower's history and culture, I recommend visiting in early morning or evening. This helps avoid heat and offers the best lighting. Morning sunlight through leaves creates unique light effects on the tower; evening sunlight bathes the tower in golden hues, particularly enchanting.
When visiting, dress appropriately. Long pants or knee-length skirts are recommended, and avoid revealing tops. Remove shoes when entering temple areas as a sign of respect for local culture. For photography, best to ask permission first as some areas prohibit photos.
I recommend hiring a local guide who can explain the tower's history and architectural features in detail. Many details are easily missed without professional explanation. Guides usually speak English, some know other languages, and can be booked in advance.
Prepare some small change for donations or incense purchases. While not mandatory, this supports the temple. For deeper understanding of Buddhist culture, consider staying longer to participate in morning and evening services or meditation activities.
Reflections
At An My Tower, I deeply experienced time's power. It's not just an ancient building but a bridge connecting past and present. Each brick and mural tells historical stories. Standing here, you feel history's weight, faith's power, and cultural inheritance's importance.
Particularly moving is locals' adherence to traditional culture. In this rapidly developing era, they maintain sincere devotion to faith and reverence for tradition. This cultural consciousness is fundamental to civilization's continuation.
Through this visit, I better understand the importance of cultural heritage protection. This concerns not just a building's preservation but a nation's cultural memory. Each historic site is precious heritage from ancestors; we're responsible for protecting and passing it on.
Don't you think this place is worth a special visit? If you're interested in history and culture, consider coming here. Perhaps you'll find your own touching moments. Here, you can appreciate architectural beauty and experience faith's power and cultural charm.
Future Outlook
As tourism develops, finding balance between cultural relic protection and tourism development becomes a thought-provoking issue. We must let more people understand and appreciate this ancient tower's value while ensuring it's not damaged by overdevelopment.
The government is developing more comprehensive protection plans, including establishing cultural relic protection funds, strengthening professional talent training, and promoting cultural education. They're also exploring new presentation methods, using modern technology like virtual reality to help visitors more intuitively understand the tower's historical changes.
In the future, An My Tower may become an important cultural research base. It's not just a historic site but will become a cultural link connecting past and future. Through deep research and protection, this ancient tower will continue telling its story, inspiring future generations.
I believe with everyone's sense of responsibility, this ancient tower carrying centuries of history will continue standing, witnessing more passing years. It will forever be a pearl in Ha Long Bay's land, shining with historical brilliance, transmitting cultural power.
Ending this visit, I stood before the ancient tower, watching sunset redden the horizon, listening to melodious bells echoing in the air, my heart full of awe and emotion. This ancient tower will continue guarding this land, witnessing changing times, telling those untold stories.
