Two coastal spiritual landmarks in Dung Quat

The three-faced Quan Am statue and Am Hon Temple in Long Phung commune, located two kilometers apart along the coastal road, symbolize prayers for peace for fishermen.

The gate of Duc Lam Pagoda faces the sea, with carvings above conveying wishes for peace and safety for fishermen.

Located on the coast of the former Duc Loi commune (now Long Phung commune), the 40-meter-tall three-faced Quan Am Bodhisattva statue at Duc Lam Pagoda attracts many locals and tourists who come to worship and pray for peace.

Construction on the structure began and was completed in 2021. It stands 2 km south of Cua Lo, the sea mouth at the end of the Ve River, which is a busy area for boats to dock and depart.

After the Dung Quat - Sa Huynh coastal road completed the section connecting Long Phung and Tu Nghia communes, the statue is now about 500 m from the road, shortening the distance by 9 km compared to the route from National Highway 1.

Most Venerable Thich Hanh Nhan, abbot of Duc Lam Pagoda, stated that benefactors, Buddhists, and local residents contributed to building the statue. The statue has three faces looking in three directions: towards the sea, the residential area, and the cemetery. The face looking towards the East Sea is Quan Am Bodhisattva holding a vase of nectar, conveying the wish for storms to pass gently. The face looking towards the residential area is Quan Am Nhu Y, praying for peace and good fortune. The face looking towards the cemetery is Quan Am guiding souls to nirvana.

The statue's base area is 24 m wide, a place where locals and tourists stroll after worshipping Quan Am Bodhisattva.

In front of the pagoda's courtyard, there is a flower garden shaped like the Swastika symbol and the Vietnamese national flag.

The main hall of Duc Lam Pagoda has small reading tables for people to study scriptures and pray.

The temple's roof is covered with red yin-yang tiles, enabling it to withstand the sunny, windy weather and the salty air of the central coast. The roof corners (dau dao) are carved with dragon heads pointing upwards, symbolizing the harmony between heaven and earth and a plea for protection.

Three-faced Quan Am statues are not uncommon in Buddhism but are usually designed in small or medium sizes; large three-faced Quan Am architectural works are rare. Globally, the largest three-faced Quan Am statue is the Nanshan Haishang Guan Yin on Hainan Island, China, which stands 108 m tall and is made of stainless steel and copper.

Two kilometers north of the three-faced Quan Am statue is Am Hon Temple, shaped like a boat, located next to Cua Lo, where the Ve River meets the East Sea.

Am Hon Temple is where coastal residents worship river gods, sea gods, and honor the souls of fishermen who perished at sea.

Location of the Dung Quat - Sa Huynh coastal road and the two structures: the three-faced Quan Am statue and the boat-shaped temple.

According to local residents, this area previously had an old, small temple. Over time, the temple deteriorated, so fishing villages in the former Duc Loi commune contributed money and effort to rebuild the structure. The temple was completed in 2023, covering 1,500 m2, with the boat structure approximately 53 m long.

The worship hall is about 100 m2, featuring the imagery of two dragons flanking the moon.

A view from the Dung Quat - Sa Huynh coastal road towards the sea in Long Phung commune (formerly Duc Loi commune), where the three-faced Quan Am statue and Am Hon Temple are located. The Dung Quat – Sa Huynh Coastal Road project, Phase IIb, has a total length of 16,245 km and a total investment of 900 billion VND.