Nguyen Sinh Sac (Vietnamese: Nguyễn Sinh Sắc) was the father of President Ho Chi Minh. He was a magistrate until he was demoted for abuse of power after a landlord whom he had ordered to be beaten died shortly after receiving a caning. After being dismissed, he went to the South and lived in Hoa An village in Dong Thap province to teach, prepare medicine to help the poor, and lived here until his death. To commemorate his merits, the local people in the Mekong Delta River and Dong Thap build a mausoleum dedicated to him. After many years have passed and been edited and rebuilt many times, the Nguyen Sinh Sac tomb has become a relic site preserving the historical and cultural values of Dong Thap in particular and the Mekong Delta.
Entrance of the relic site
Typical architectural works at the Nguyen Sinh Sac relic site
The Nguyen Sinh Sac relic area, covering 4 hectares, is a harmonious architectural complex that reflects Dong Thap culture. This place is organized into four main areas: the mausoleum, temple, and house that display the career and life of Mr. Nguyen Sinh Sac; Uncle Ho’s stilt house and fish pond garden; the space simulates the ancient Hoa An village; and finally, there is an area for organizing folk games and entertainment. Each location has its own typical work.
The mausoleum of Mr. Nguyen Sinh Sac
The main structure of the tomb has a roof facing east. It evokes a stylized lotus petal or a palm turning downward. Above the grave are 9 dragons imbued with forked-art features, reaching out into 9 gables. The grave is covered with marble with an ash-grey rectangular shape.
There is a lotus pond looking like a five-petal star, 25m to the front, in the middle of the lake is a stylized lotus-shaped white tower 6.5 m high (from the surface of the lake) symbolizing the pure and modest life of Mr. Nguyen Sinh Sac and his homeland of Kim Lien – Dong Thap as engraved on the mind of the Vietnamese people.
The mausoleum campus has many kinds of ornamental plants and fruits that people around the country bring to plant as souvenirs, especially the nearly 300-year-old star fruit tree on the left side of the grave and the 300-year-old pomelo tree on the right side of the grave.
The house exhibits the life and career of Mr. Sac
There is a memorial house that displays many artefacts and documents related to the life and career of Nguyen Sinh Sac, especially his time in Cao Lanh.
Here, each stage is associated the life of Mr. Sac from his hometown and family, the years of hard work to become talented, from the official position to the time of his resignation to the South, Mr. Sac’s feelings for local people and in return.
The scene depicts Mr. Sac teaching.
Model of Uncle Ho’s stilt house and fish pond
Visiting the Nguyen Sinh Sac relic site, you can explore the restored prototype of Uncle Ho’s stilt house from his hometown in Nghe An.
The artefacts are reconstructed and arranged realistically to help each visitor to feel and visualize the frugal life of the president, from working to resting. From the arrangement and artifacts inside to the space with gardens and fish ponds outside, all help visitors feel and visualize Uncle Ho’s frugal life.
This is also a way for Southerners who cannot afford to visit the hometown of Uncle Ho to still see and visit the stilt house of the father of the nation.
A corner of the ancient Hoa An village at the Mr. Sac relic site
The relic site also recreates Hoa An village in the early twentieth century, on an area of over 22,000m² with traditional houses, canals, orchards, coconut trees, a monkey bridge, a winding village road…
Images of cultural activities, entertainment, and production … depict aspects of village life, making the Nguyen Sinh Sac Relic Site a tourist attraction in Dong Thap.
Inside these houses, which are also divided into primary and secondary spaces, are the living, dining, and ancestor worshiping habits of the ancient Hoa An villagers. Along with that are serveral models of the working life of this land, recreating the profession of growing and cutting medicinal leaves, roofing leaves, carpentry, weaving, blacksmithing…
Death anniversary of Mr. Nguyen Sinh Sac
Every year, on October 27 of the lunar calendar, people from surrounding areas gather at the relic site to attend the death anniversary of Mr. Nguyen Sinh Sac. This event is held in a solemn atmosphere, rich in cultural identity, and truly represents the nation’s tradition of “Drinking water, remember its source“. This action is considered a festival that reflects Vietnam’s national identity.
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Useful information
- Address: 1 Pham Huu Lau, Cao Lanh Ward, Dong Thap Province.
- Best for Family, couple, solo
- Entrance: Free
- Opening Hours: Daily 08:00 – 17:00
- Other tourist spots nearby: Xẻo Quyét Relic Area, Gáo Giồng eco-tourism area, Kien An Cung Pagoda, Huynh Thuy Le ancient house, Tràm Chim National Park, Gò Tháp relic site…
Source: collected by An
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