Fujian Assembly Hall – The Highlight of Hoi An

1. Fujian Assembly Hall Introduction

Fujian Assembly Hall or Phuc Kien Assembly Hall Hoi An is at 46 Tran Phu Street. As you know, it is one of the five renowned assembly halls, as well as a religious relic in Hoi An Ancient Town. If you happen to drop by this hall, you’ll be overwhelmed with a gorgeous structure featuring both delicate and classical beauty.

2. Assembly Hall of Fujian Chinese History

Fujian (known as Phước Kiến or Phúc Kiến) Assembly Hall was constructed in the 1690s and served the ethnic community from Fujian. It is a province on the southeast coast of mainland China, to associate together.

Originally, it was a temple dedicated to the deity called Thiên Hậu, known as the goddess of the sea who guards sailors against ocean accidents. As told by the preceding generations, the group of Chinese in Hoi An made up their minds to erect the temple to worship the statue of the deity, which was discovered on Hoi An Beach in 1697. Over the years, thanks to renovations, funded by Fujian ethnic community. The hall has become much roomier and superb. This contributes to the image of Hoi An a lot.

• You may be interested in our Hoi An City Tour, Hoi An street food Tour, Hoi An Basket boat tour, and Hoi An Cycling Tour.

3. What to see at Fujian Assembly Hall Hoi An?

3.1. Architecture

The architecture here is so magnificent and spacious, accommodating all the major characters in the structure of a typical Chinese Assembly Hall. That is such a unique, solemn, and superb structure with delicate and vivid carvings.

Actually, the architecture is based on the Chinese character “TAM” (which means three) stretching from Tran Phu Street to Phan Chu Trinh Street (120m deep) in the following order: gate- courtyard- lake- decorative plants- 2 east-west corridors- frontispiece- backyard- and backside.

3.2. Precincts

Approaching the gate, there is a beautiful apricot blossom aquarium with the decoration of “carp turning into dragon” rockery. After that, you’ll see such an expansive forecourt housing stunning ornamental plants, and three wonderful fish ponds, including a central round pond between the two rectangular ones.

3.3. Sanctuary

Inside the Fujian Assembly Hall, the sanctuary is the largest room, where they worship the Lady Buddha statue. On the right and left-hand sides are the guardians who have the holy ears and who have the holy eyes. They can see and listen to all the rescue wishes of the people in accidents on the Ocean. Right in the middle of the Sanctuary, they set up a solemn shrine to worship the Sea mother (Thien Hau), who will come to help and rescue the Chinese businessmen in accidents on the Ocean.  

On the left stands a model of a trader’s boat in distress from 1875. the special thing about the boat is the eyes on either side of the boat. According to locals, these eyes can see catastrophes and dangers at sea.

Keep going behind the main shrine, there are 3 altars to worship the 12 midwives, who will bless and help the babies. So some couples who couldn’t give birth, so they come here to offer offerings and wish for babies. The middle one is the altar to worship 6 powerful Gods in Heaven. The last one on the left is the altar to worship the God of Wealth. Who brings prosperity and richness to people.

Moreover, the Chinese believe that every 100 years, there is a Koi Carp that would jump over Heaven Gate to become a dragon, so there is a rockery in the shape of carp becoming a dragon with a Dragonball.

Besides, the assembly hall features a wide range of statues, bronze drums, bronze bells as well as the horizontal lacquered board engraved with Chinese characters. The perfect blend and arrangement of elements in the hall imply the Chinese philosophy of well-being.

3.4. Religious activities

Due to the varied sacred stories widespread throughout Hoi An, both local people and visitors want to worship at Fujian Assembly Hall and pray for joy and peace, or even for children.

The far busiest time is on holiday and the fifteenth day of each lunar month. Firstly is the Lantern Festival (the first full moon of the Lunar New Year). The second is the celebration of Lục Tánh (the 16th day of the second lunar month). Last but not least is the celebration of the deity Thiên Hậu (the 23rd day of the third lunar month) engross both domestic and foreign tourists.

Plus, the Chinese ethnic group in Hoi An Ancient Town also organizes the celebration of the Chinese Buddhist God of Wealth with plenty of offerings including joss paper, “tam sên” (crab –a symbol of water, boiled egg – a symbol of the sky, and boiled pork – a symbol of earth), and so on.

4. Some Travel Tips for Phuc Kien Assembly Hall

As you know, to enter Hoi An ancient town as well as visit the tourist attractions, you have to buy an entrance ticket. The entrance ticket has 5 pieces so when you enter each place, they will cut one piece of your ticket. In fact, a ticket for domestic visitors costs VND 80,000 for three historical sites. And the ticket for foreigners costs VND 120,000/ person for five historical attractions. To discover the Phuc Kien Assembly Hall to the fullest, you can book the Hoi An Walking Tour via Culture Pham Travel. So it should be your trip of a lifetime!

Fujian Assembly hall is open every day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Plus, It is advisable to dress respectfully because of the shrine inside the structure.

Culture Pham Travel