Lang Song Minor Seminary – A Place Marking the Formation of the Vietnamese Alphabet

Bình Định Province is considered the place that bears the earliest traces of the Vietnamese alphabet, Chữ Quốc Ngữ, dating back to the early 17th century. The Lang Song Minor Seminary is where the first Lang Song Printing House was established in southern Vietnam. Today, it has become one of the most attractive destinations for tourists and local residents in Bình Định.

Located in Quảng Vân Hamlet, Phước Thuận Commune, Tuy Phước District, the Lang Song Minor Seminary lies about 20 kilometres northeast of Quy Nhơn City in Bình Định Province.

As Christmas approaches, the nuns at Lang Song Minor Seminary are busy cleaning, decorating Christmas trees, and preparing nativity scenes to celebrate the holiday. Inside the seminary, a group of nuns is rehearsing hymns; outside, some are crafting decorative lanterns from recycled plastic water bottles—creating a peaceful and serene atmosphere.

"Here on Christmas Eve, we hold a vigil where we reenact the nativity of Christ. It's not just a performance—we aim to convey the spiritual meaning of this holy night. All Christians should come together at church to celebrate this mystery," shared one of the nuns.

Built in the Gothic architectural style typical of European churches, the seminary features a main façade adorned with symmetrical frames, decorative floral patterns, and pointed arches—all characteristic elements of traditional church architecture. Surrounding the church is an expansive rice field stretching as far as the eye can see.

From the main entrance, two rows of sao trees (Hopea odorata) aged nearly 130 years lead visitors into the grounds. The seminary has preserved much of its original architecture. The Lang Song Printing House was first built around 1872 but was destroyed in 1885.

In 1904, Bishop Damien Grangeon Mẫn oversaw the reconstruction of the printing house and appointed Father Paul Maheu as director. Father Maheu, trained in printing techniques in Hong Kong, was well-versed in the trade and tasked with operating the Lang Song Printing House. Also known as the Eastern Cochinchina Printing House, it was one of the three largest printing houses of that era, alongside those in Northern Cochinchina and Western Cochinchina.

The Lang Song Printing House operated until around 1936, after which it was relocated to Quy Nhơn. Father Trương Đình Hiền, Vicar General of the Diocese of Quy Nhơn, shared:

“This is a monastery currently housing nuns from a newly established congregation within the diocese. The diocese intends for this place to serve as an open space for welcoming pilgrims, history researchers, and cultural visitors. We are always ready to receive and share the cultural legacy of this place.”

Father Doan Võ Đình Đệ, who manages the Quy Nhơn Diocese, stated that they have collected over 200 publications from the Lang Song Printing House, including educational materials such as reading primers, ABC spelling books, and collections of Annamese proverbs.

Today, the Quy Nhơn Diocese manages two historical sites related to the Vietnamese alphabet: Nước Mặn and Lang Song, both located in Tuy Phước District. The arrival and establishment of Jesuit missions in Nước Mặn (present-day Phước Quang Commune) is considered the beginning of the formation of Chữ Quốc Ngữ in the early 17th century. Over 200 years later, the Lang Song Printing House became one of Vietnam’s first three printing houses to produce materials in the Vietnamese alphabet.

Now, the Lang Song Minor Seminary and the Lang Song Printing House serve as cultural and historical research sites that attract visitors from both Vietnam and abroad. Father Doan Võ Đình Đệ noted that during Christmas, aside from religious celebrations, the diocese also organizes charitable activities to connect people across the community.

“Besides decorating the seminary and churches with nativity scenes, every parish and monastery also visits and gives gifts to families, children, and elderly individuals who are sick or living alone. It's a time for sharing and bringing joy to others.”