For nearly 330 years, Le Thanh Marquis Nguyen Huu Canh has always been respectfully commemorated by the people of Dong Nai and the Southern region for his great contributions to land reclamation, the establishment of administrative foundations, and the development of the southern land.

 

The annual death anniversary ceremony of Lord Nguyen Huu Canh in the land of Tran Bien - Dong Nai is not only an occasion to express gratitude for the immense contributions of predecessors, but also a journey of continuing history and educating younger generations about the tradition of remembering one’s roots.

Honoring the Merits of the Pioneer Who Opened the Southern Land

In the spring of the Year of the Tiger, 1698, Le Thanh Marquis Nguyen Huu Canh, under the order of Lord Nguyen Phuc Chu, went south to administer the land of Dang Trong. He took Dong Nai land to establish Gia Dinh Prefecture, consisting of two districts: Phuoc Long District, where Tran Bien Administrative Division was established, and Tan Binh District, where Phien Tran Administrative Division was established. Within a short period of time, Nguyen Huu Canh gathered and recruited more residents, reclaimed land, established administrative units, standardized taxation, and created population and land records. These efforts laid an important foundation for the formation and development of the former Dong Nai - Gia Dinh region, officially placing this land on the national map of Dai Viet.

The Nguyen Huu Canh Temple and Tomb Relic Site in Tran Bien Ward is the venue for the annual death anniversary ceremony of Lord Nguyen Huu Canh.

than three centuries have passed, yet the legacy left by Le Thanh Marquis Nguyen Huu Canh has not only been recorded in history books but also preserved in the cultural life of local communities. Every year, the death anniversary ceremony of Lord Nguyen Huu Canh at the Nguyen Huu Canh Temple and Tomb Relic Site in Tran Bien Ward is solemnly organized, becoming a traditional cultural activity where people express gratitude to their predecessor.

Mr. Nguyen Trung Cang, Head of the Ceremonial Committee of the Nguyen Huu Canh Temple and Tomb Relic Site, said that the annual death anniversary ceremony is not only an activity to commemorate and honor the predecessor who made great contributions to reclaiming and expanding the southern land, but also an occasion for the community to reflect on historical and cultural values passed down through generations. Traditional rituals are performed according to community customs, expressing respect, the moral principle of remembering one’s roots, and the aspiration to preserve, promote, and spread the cultural values of Dong Nai.

These days, preparations for the death anniversary ceremony of Lord Nguyen Huu Canh at the Nguyen Huu Canh Temple and Tomb Relic Site are being carried out urgently. From landscape improvement and site cleaning to the completion of tasks serving the rituals, all work is being carefully implemented by the Ceremonial Committee and supporting forces. In particular, the participation of students from Le Quy Don - Tan Mai High School in Tam Hiep Ward, together with youth union members in Tran Bien Ward, has helped spread a sense of responsibility and awareness of preserving cultural heritage among the younger generation.

La Ngoc Bao Tran, a student of Le Quy Don - Tan Mai High School, shared: “This is my first time participating in preparations for the death anniversary ceremony of Lord Nguyen Huu Canh at the relic site, so I feel very happy and find it meaningful. Through small tasks such as cleaning and rearranging the landscape, I have had more opportunities to learn about the history of the land where I live and better understand the values preserved across generations. I hope more young people will pay attention to and learn about relic sites so that the stories of our ancestors will continue to be shared.”

Promoting the Value of National Intangible Cultural Heritage

An important milestone in the journey of preserving cultural values came in 2025, when the death anniversary ceremony of Le Thanh Marquis Nguyen Huu Canh was included by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in the list of National Intangible Cultural Heritage. After being recognized, the ceremony has continued to receive local attention in terms of preservation, practice, and promotion in community life, associated with the introduction and dissemination of the historical and cultural values of Dong Nai in particular and the Southern region in general.

In addition to traditional rituals, this year’s death anniversary ceremony also features many meaningful cultural activities, such as exhibition spaces introducing images and documents about the life and career of Le Thanh Marquis Nguyen Huu Canh, as well as the process of practicing and maintaining the ceremony over the years. In addition, residents and visitors will have the opportunity to experience sunken carving and glazing on ceramics, and learn about Bien Hoa pottery under the guidance of artisans, thereby appreciating the convergence of cultural values formed in the land of Dong Nai.

To promote the value of this heritage, Dong Nai Museum has recently implemented various activities to bring the image of the death anniversary ceremony of Le Thanh Marquis Nguyen Huu Canh closer to the community. The application of digital technology in introducing the Nguyen Huu Canh Temple and Tomb Relic Site through QR codes, 360-degree virtual tours, and 3D publications has helped expand access to heritage, giving residents, students, and visitors more opportunities to learn about the life and career of the predecessor.

On June 29 and 30, the death anniversary ceremony of Le Thanh Marquis Nguyen Huu Canh will take place at the Nguyen Huu Canh Temple and Tomb Relic Site. The ceremony has gone beyond the scope of a conventional ritual to become a National Intangible Cultural Heritage, contributing to promoting and spreading the image of Dong Nai’s land and people to friends in the region and around the world.

Ms. Nguyen Ngoc Yen, Director of Dong Nai Museum, said that the Nguyen Huu Canh Temple and Tomb Relic Site is not only a place that preserves historical and cultural values associated with the formation of Dong Nai, but also a space for traditional education, helping younger generations better understand the contributions of predecessors in the journey of reclaiming, building, and developing the homeland. The museum has welcomed many delegations, students, and university students for visits, study, and experiential activities at the relic site. In 2026, the museum will continue to survey and assess the current condition of ranked relic sites and advise the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism on preservation, repair, and restoration work in accordance with regulations.

Currently, Dong Nai City has installed the nameplate of Nguyen Huu Canh Avenue for a 15.5-kilometer avenue passing through Long Hung Ward, Tam Phuoc Ward, and An Phuoc Commune. Many schools have also been named after Nguyen Huu Canh to remind people of the contributions of this predecessor. In particular, literary and artistic works created by Dong Nai artists about the life and career of Lord Nguyen Huu Canh have been widely introduced, contributing to enriching the cultural and spiritual life of people from all walks of life.

My Ny

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/