Quan Cong Temple

Quan Cong Temple, also called Chua Ong, is one of the oldest religious buildings in the Ancient Town and one of the two headline sites, alongside the Japanese Covered Bridge, that you can choose with the Hoi An Ancient Town ticket. It stands at 24 Tran Phu Street, towards the eastern end of the old town's main street.

According to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, the temple was built in 1653. It is dedicated to Quan Thanh De Quan, also known as Quan Van Truong or Quan Cong, a general of the Three Kingdoms period in China who is venerated for his loyalty to his king and his devotion to his parents. Statues of Quan Cong and of his companions Quan Binh and Chau Thuong stand inside, and they remain the focus of worship in the main hall.

The layout follows the shape of the Chinese character for country, with a series of connected houses under a shared roof structure. The roofs are covered with colourful glazed pipe-shaped tiles, and the decoration includes porcelain flowers, dragons and small lions, so it is worth looking up as well as at the altars. The temple has been restored many times, with recorded works in 1827, 1864, 1904 and 1966, and what you see today reflects those successive campaigns as much as the original 17th-century building.

For a first-time visitor, Quan Cong Temple makes a useful comparison with the Fujian Assembly Hall a short walk west at 46 Tran Phu. The assembly hall was built by a merchant guild for its own community, while the temple honours a single figure who represents loyalty and integrity, values that mattered to traders who relied on trust. Seeing both gives a good sense of the Chinese contribution to Hoi An's history.

Plan to combine the temple with the other sites on Tran Phu Street, including the Museum of Trade Ceramics at number 80 and the Japanese Covered Bridge at the far western end. Because it is one of the headline choices on the ticket, decide before you set out whether you want to use that option here or at the bridge, and keep the ticket stub, which is needed to enter and leave the old town. As the temple is an active place of worship, dress modestly and avoid standing in front of people who are praying.