Nguyen Huu Canh Temple

Nguyen Huu Canh Temple is a historic memorial temple located on Cu Lao Pho in Hiep Hoa Ward, Bien Hoa City, Dong Nai Province, Vietnam. Dedicated to General Nguyen Huu Canh (1650-1700), who established administrative control over Dong Nai in 1698, the temple is recognized as a National Historical and Cultural Relic. The complex features traditional Vietnamese architecture, an incense hall, statues and steles, and serves as a center for commemoration and cultural education.

Visitors can expect a tranquil temple complex on Hiep Hoa island (Cu Lao Pho) surrounded by residential area and near the Dong Nai River. The site includes a main worship hall with altar and statue of Nguyen Huu Canh, incense courtyard, steles and exhibition panels about his life, traditional tiled roofs and wooden columns, and a quiet garden area. The atmosphere is solemn and commemorative, with space for offering incense, photography of architecture, and learning about local history.

The temple commemorates General Nguyen Huu Canh (1650-1700), a military commander of the Nguyen Lords who in 1698 established Phu Tran Bien and organized administration over Dong Nai region, marking the formal incorporation of the area into the Dang Trong administration. The site is associated with Cu Lao Pho, an early settlement and trading center. The temple has been recognized as a National Historical and Cultural Relic of Vietnam.

The temple is a place of ancestor veneration and community commemoration for the founder of Dong Nai. It hosts annual memorial ceremonies and the Nguyen Huu Canh Festival on the 16th day of the 5th lunar month, with incense offerings, processions and cultural activities that reflect local traditions of honoring historical figures.