Shrine of whale bones: 200 years of devotion in Quy Nhon

Lang Ong Nam Hai, a shrine dedicated to whale and dolphin remains, has served as a sacred site and spiritual anchor for Quy Nhon's coastal fishing community for over 200 years.

The fishing prayer festival at Xuong Ly lagoon emerged over 200 years ago, coinciding with the establishment of Truong Lang, also known as Lang Ong Nam Hai. This shrine, founded by local residents to worship whales as patron deities of coastal fishermen, is considered the first whale shrine built by Vietnamese people in Quy Nhon, dating back to 1815.

In 1839, village officials in the Don mountain area, now Quy Nhon Dong ward, Quy Nhon City, built Lang Ong Nam Hai. The initial structure featured a thatched roof and earthen walls. All whale remains from Truong Lang were then moved here for worship. After numerous renovations and reconstructions, the shrine stands as a robust structure, preserving whale remains and serving as a spiritual and cultural hub for the fishing community.

Whale and dolphin bones are preserved in glass cabinets at the shrine. Fishermen worship these remains, respectfully referring to them as "Ca Ong" and "Ca Ba" (Mr. Fish and Mrs. Fish). Locals believe that the Nam Hai deity offers protection and aid to fishermen encountering danger at sea.

The shrine also houses statues of Quan Cong, flanked by his two attending generals, Chau Thuong and Quan Binh.

Annually, on the 10th day of the first lunar month, Nhon Ly fishermen hold the Xuong Ly lagoon fishing prayer festival, adhering to the traditional Ca Ong worship belief. Approximately 100 people set out from Lang Ong Nam Hai to Xuong Ly beach, located about 500 m away, to perform a water-land procession. This ritual involves bringing the deity from the sea back to the shrine.

Following the procession, Nguyen Kim Huong, Chief of Lang Ong Nam Hai, performs a ritual to worship the deity. During this ceremony, prayers are offered for national peace, prosperity, safe voyages for fishermen, and abundant catches.

The festival's celebratory segment features a variety of traditional sports and art forms: ba trao singing, hat boi (classical opera), boat racing, basket boat racing, bai choi card game, and other folk games. In 2024, the festival was recognized as a National Intangible Heritage.