Discover the most beautiful cathedral in An Giang in Vietnam

In the middle of the peaceful river area of ​​An Giang province, Masjid Jamiul Azhar appears majestic with its blue and white dome, crescent moon symbol and sophisticated patterns.

The largest and oldest church in An Giang

In An Giang province, Cham churches are most concentrated in Chau Phong commune (formerly Tan Chau town, An Giang). Among them, Masjid Jamiul Azhar is considered one of the most beautiful churches in Vietnam.

Masjid Jamiul Azhar is located in Chau Phong commune, is one of the largest and oldest mosques in An Giang province.

PHOTO: DUY TAN

According to local people, around 1700, the mosque was built of wood and named Masjid Yahya. After many restorations with stone and cement, in 1959, the building was named Masjid Jamiul Azhar. The biggest restoration was in 2012 and 2 years later, the mosque was inaugurated with the majestic appearance it has today.

Masjid Jamiul Azhar Mosque is dominated by pure white, accented with turquoise and prominent gold letters.

PHOTO: DUY TAN

The Masjid Jamiul Azhar Mosque is dominated by pure white, accented with emerald green and prominent gold letters. The curved dome, garlic tower, crescent moon and five-pointed star symbols create a majestic, ancient and elegant look. From afar, the mosque looks like an architectural masterpiece with a strong Middle Eastern influence, standing out in the peaceful river scene of the Chau Doc - Tan Chau border area.

Masjid Jamiul Azhar with dome, crescent moon symbol

PHOTO: DUY TAN

Passing through the main gate, visitors can easily see the sophisticated patterns, typical religious symbols and stylized window frames. Under the blue sky, the cathedral appears elegant and impressive, both a sacred place of worship and a unique cultural highlight.

Masjid Jamiul Azhar is considered one of the most beautiful mosques in Vietnam.

PHOTO: DUY TAN

Attractive cultural and spiritual tourist destination

A special feature of Masjid Jamiul Azhar is the cemetery located right in front of the gate, with rows of stone tombstones arranged in a straight line. Mr. Mach Tot (63 years old, residing in Chau Giang hamlet, Chau Phong commune) said that this is the resting place of many Muslims in An Giang and neighboring areas. Each grave has a tombstone engraved with the name and date of death to commemorate.

Inside the cathedral

PHOTO: DUY TAN

Inside, the prayer space is delicately decorated. Believers perform the ritual five times a day at fixed times: dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset and night. The ritual is presided over by the Imam (a leading position in Islam - Editor's note) who recites the Koran.

The unique feature of the cathedral is that there is a cemetery in front of the door.

PHOTO: DUY TAN

In the mosque grounds, children play innocently, while women stand out in long dresses, tightly wrapped mat'ra scarves, and absolutely do not reveal their hair - one of the standards of Muslim women.

Cham women wear long dresses, cover their faces, wrap mat'ra scarves over their heads and, most importantly, are not allowed to reveal even a single strand of hair.

PHOTO: DUY TAN

Not only maintaining religious life, Cham people in An Giang also preserve the traditional brocade weaving craft. If in the past almost every house had a weaving loom, now although many people have switched to other professions, brocade is still present as a cultural symbol, proving the enduring vitality of the community.

Cham children playing in the church grounds

PHOTO: DUY TAN

On every festival occasion, colorful traditional Cham costumes gather at Masjid Jamiul Azhar, making this place even more splendid - like a vivid picture of the religious and cultural life of the Cham Islam people.

Today, Masjid Jamiul Azhar is not only a sacred place of worship, but also an attractive cultural and spiritual tourist destination, attracting many visitors from near and far to explore .

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/kham-pha-thanh-duong-o-an-giang-dep-bac-nhat-viet-nam-185250907091536242.htm