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Location: An Son Temple is situated in Con
Son Island, Con Dao Island District.
Characteristics: An Son Temple is an ancient temple. It was built in 1785
in honor of Lady Phi Yen, wife of Lord Nguyen Anh who later became King Gia
Long.
In 1783, Nguyen Anh was defeated by Tay Son and ran away to Con Dao Island.
Together with fishermen, Lord Nguyen Anh founded three villages: An Hai, An Hoi,
and Co Ong. Nguyen Anh sent Prince Canh followed by Ba Da Loc to France to ask
for reinforcements to fight against the Tay Son troops. Lady Phi Yen, the second
wife of Nguyen Anh, advised him not to do so. Nguyen Anh got angry with her and
thought that his wife might have been dealing with Tay Son troops. He intended
to kill her. Just before Tay Son troops attacked the island, Nguyen Anh put his
wife in prison and went to sea. Prince Cai, who was then four years old, wanted
his mother to come with them. Nguyen Anh got angry and threw his son into the
sea. The body of Prince Cai drifted onto Co Ong Beach where it was buried by
villagers. According to the legend, Lady Phi Yen was rescued from the stone
prison by a tiger and an ape. She lived with the villagers, taking care of
Prince Cai’s grave. After an unfortunate encounter with a man, she killed
herself to keep her pride. The villagers mourned her and built a temple in her
honor. In 1861, the French colonialists occupied the island and destroyed the
temple. In 1958, the temple was rebuilt on its present location.
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