King\'s Well, located just on the edge of the ocean, is surrounded by legends of how it came about.
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| The legendary well consistently provides fresh water |
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| The well was built using large boulders |
Located just 5 metres from the ocean, the well has never dried up and never become salinized by the oceans water.
King’s Well has helped civilians of Ly Son Island, Quang Ngai Province have enough fresh water to endure many drought seasons.
From Ly Son Port, the well can be reached by going past the headquarters of the People’s Committee of Ly Son Island district and Ly Son Hospital, then turning right at the small pathway running between onion and garlic trees. The well’s position peaks out at the edge of the ocean.
King’s Well is over 1 metre in diametre and 6 metres deep. It was built with boulders and its water level is remarkably stable making it very easy to take water from the well.
According to locals, during rainy season, King’s Well’s water can spill over the top and run into the sea. There are another 3 or 4 water wells but in summer, they are often dried up or mixed with seawater. King’s Well is famous legendary among the local population and has helped maintain the lives of over 22,000 people.
Everyday, civilians come to the well and take fresh water from it to use yet its water has never dried up.
There are many folktales and beliefs about the history of the well. One such legend says that Gia Long King had built the well. The story goes that when the King visited the islands lying along the seashore of the central area, he came to Ly Son Island. By that time, locals were coping with a very severe drought. He conducted a rite asking for help from God. After the rite, he was told in a dream about the location where he should dig up a well. The next day, a well was dug up at the place in which he dreamt. After that, people named it “Gia Long well” or “Well from the King”.
Another legend says that during the time when Nguyen Anh (is the name of Gia Long King before he regained his throne) was pursued during the Tay Son revolt, he hid on Ly Son Island. During a very hot summer, food and fresh water was running out. He dug many wells but none of them had water. When the lives of Nguyen Anh and his warriors were hanging on the balance, he dreamt about the position where he should dig a well, leading him to dig in this location.
However, according to historical records, Nguyen Anh never ever came to Ly Son Island during the Tay Son revolt.
Many believe the most likely origin of this well is that it was dug up hundreds years ago by Cham people, a group of people who were living on Ly Son Island. Many central provinces have a “King‘s Well” like this one. They are often positioned near the sea and built with rocks or bricks by ancient people.
Cham people were very knowledgeable about the Chinese art of fengshui, which helped they find fresh water sources in the most unlikely locations.
Nevertheless, no matter how the well came about, its name, “King’s Well”, expresses the high appreciation of people who have used this fresh water source for hundreds of years.
