Vietnamese Women, vol. 2 chapter 3, part 3: landscapes 21 to 30

from: Bao Tang Phu Nu Nam Bo: The Vietnamese Women. Vestiges & Landscapes. The Cultural-Historic (Di Tich Thang Canh Lich Su Van Hoa. Phu nu Viet Nam); Nha Xuat Ban Phu Nu 1999; volume 2: remains of goddesses - lady ancestors of different professions - mothers of famous persons (Di tich ve nu than, mau, ba to cac nganh nghe va me cac danh nhan)

3.21 Lady CO HY (CÔ HY) temple

TUY PHONG DISTRICT - BINH THUAN PROVINCE

The temple is located at the foot of O Cam (Ô Cam) mountain beside a well known tourist spot: Ca Na (Cà Ná) beach.

[Story 1: adoptive girl with relationship with the adoptive father - anger of the God killing her and floating her down Dinh River arriving at Ô Cam Mountain]

According to the locals' narration, once upon a time, in a village of the other side of Dinh River, there was a man who fostered a girl baby as his adoptive daughter. Having grown up, she had an attractive looks which made her adoptive father broke out in evil intention and he was incestuous.

In that year, it happened a terrible calamity which destroyed houses and harvests in the region. The villages supposed as the girl had had an adulterous affair with her adoptive father, the God who was angry visited calamity on the region; thus, they punished her by putting her in basket and floating her down the river.

Having been killed innocently, the girl could not free her soul from suffering, her corpse had drifted down to the Dinh river into the Ca Na (Cà Ná) Sea and had been washed to the foot of Ô Cam mount where the people in the region buried her afterwards.

Since then, the girl turned out to be awe inspiringly [very] powerful, the villagers set up a small pagoda to worship her.

Under the Nguyên's reign, once Lê Van Duyêt's troops passed the small pagoda and had the sight of incense smoke spiraling up inside; they stopped to pray for their military operation to victory and promise a restoration of the small pagoda on their return. After that, their prayer was replied; Lê Van Duyêt asked King GIa Long for repairing the small pagoda and conferring on the goddess the title of Co Hy (Cô Hy) Lady.

[Story 2: princess Co Hy living in the temple]

Another story about Lady Co Hy was told that she used to be a princess who left the capital (in the 18th century) to live in here. She was extolled by the people. After she died, the villagers built a temple to worship her.

As a custom, before going to the open sea, the locals have come to Lady Co Hy temple to pray for their safe boat trip (p.240).

3.22 VINH HAO Spring [mineral water spring - honeymoon location]

BINH THUAN PROVINCE

Vinh Hao is a hot water spring locating at the kilometer of 276 of the National Highway Nº 1 in the middle of the way from Phan Rang to Phan Rí in Bình Thuân province.

Vinh Hao mineral water has been exploited for a long time and well known in over the country.

Legend told that, by the early 14th century (1306), King Champa Che Man (Chê Mân) (Jaya Sinhavanman III) after having married Princess Huyên Trân (Paramecvavi Empress) took her to this region for their honeymoon. Princess Huyên Trân was beloved very much by King Chê Mân. The Champa Vietnamese talent pretty couple took a trip to everywhere and they stopped at Vinh Hao spring beside the immense forest of apricot which blossoms all the year round. It was said that the name of Vinh Hao might be named by Princess Huyên Trân (p.242).

3.23 BAU BA (BÀU BÀ) [woman pond - and at the other side is a man pond]

WOMAN POND

HOA THANG VILLAGE - BAC BINH DISTRICT - BINH THUAN PROVINCE

Bau Ba (Woman Pond) one of the beautiful scenery of Binh Thuan province, is opposite to Bau Ong (Bàu Ông) (Man Pond). Both is separated by a 200 meter sand hill. formerly, they were called Bau Trang (Bàu Tráng) (White Pond) or Ho Ba Dong (Hô Ba Ɖông) (Ba Dong Lake, Ba Ɖông Lake) and they were supposed to communicate with each other and their water flowed underground into the sea.

"The Dai Nam Nhat Thong Chi" ("Ɖai Nam Nhât Thông Chí") writes: "both the ponds are in the South West of Hoa Da (Hòa Ɖa). The perimeter of the upper pond (man pond) is 8 miles and of the lower one is 12 miles". The water in the ponds are clear and fresh during four seasons. On the bank used to exist a worshipping temple of Ba Chua Dong (Bà Chúa Ɖông) (Lady of the cave), but now it just remains "some ancient traces on the old site" that lies on the sand hill linking the two ponds.

Presently, Bàu Ông (Man Pond) is about 23.13 ha wide and 10 meters deep on average. Bàu Bà (Woman Pond) is much larger with the length of nearly 3 kilometers in which its largest place is 500 meters. Through the variation of time, Bàu Bà was transgressed by sand so currently, its place where is largest is nearly 300 meters.

Fish and lotus in Bàu Bà [Woman Pond] are always better than those in Bàu Ông [Man Pond]. This is be possibly that the ecological environment of Bàu Bà is better than that in Bàu Ông (p.244).

3.24 THAY THIM Palace (THÂY THÍM Palace) [a couple doing good deeds for the world]

The palace of the Master and Mistress

HAM TAN DISTRICT - BINH THUAN PROVINCE

Thay Thim Palace (Master and Mistress Palace) was built in 1879.

According to legend, under the Nguyên dynasty, there was a couple living in La Qua village, Diên Bàn district, Quang Nam province who constantly helped the poor. They were sentenced to death because they were accused of rebellion against the royal court. They fled to Tam Tân village (Tân Hai village, Hàm Tân district, Bình Thuân province of today) to get into safety.

Here, they made their living by wood cutting and cure profession. They were named respectfully "Thây and Thím" (Master and Mistress) by the people in the region because of their good deeds to the world.

In the 18th year of Thành Thái reign, the King had the former case reheard and gave them acquittal, he also conferred on them the deity title of "Chi Duc Tien Sinh va Chi Duc Nuong Nuong" (Chí Ɖüc Tiên Sinh và Chí Ɖúc Nuong Nuong) (Great Good Master and Great Good Lady" in addition.

Nowadays, Thây Thím Palace is a scenic vestige of the province which was recognized by the Decision Nº 1377 dated of September 1, 1993, granted by Bình Thuân province (p.246).

3.25 LANG BIANG Highland [2,169 meters - man Lang of Lat tribe and woman Biang of Chill tribe]

LAC DUONG DISTRICT - LAM DONG PROVINCE

Lang Biang Highland where there the famous tourist city of Da Lat (Ɖà Lat) exists were discovered in 1893 by Dr. Yersin (a nationalized Swiss in French).

From Da Lat (
Ɖà Lat), tourists can have the sight of Lang Biang mountain looking like the shape of naked woman's breast full of vitality who lies on her back to look at the blue sky.

This smooth land is called respectfully and admirably Lang Biang Mother or Lady Mountain.

Lang Biang Highland which the altitude of 2,169 meters used to mark a faithful love which has entered legend.

Once upon a time, in La Ngu Thuong village (or Da Lat of today), there lived a young man whose name was Lang; the Chief of Lat tribe, he loved a girl whose name was Biang, the daughter of Chill tribe's head. As the two tribes had been in hostility, Biang's father forbade her to get married with her lover.

Having been disappointed about their love separated, simultaneous, in order to awaken the two tribes to their hatred, Lang and Biang made a decision to die together for living up to their love.

After his daughter's death, the Chief of Chill tribe was very regretful, he undertook the unification of Lat and Chill clans in peaceful coexistence.

The ethnic people in La Ngu Thuong have selected two highest peaks in the region to name Lang Biang (p.248).

3.26 THAN THO Lake [couple of handsome Hoàng Tàng man and beautiful girl Mai Nuong]

DA LAT CITY - LAM DONG PROVINCE

Than Tho lake, one of the most beautiful and poetic sceneries, is about 6 km distant from Da Lat city. Here exist many melancholy stories of thwarted love based on oral tradition.

Formerly, beside the smooth lake, under the rows of green pines wrestling, among rolling mountains and hills was the tryst [meeting] place of a couple of a handsome man and a beautiful girl. He was Hoàng Tàng and she was Mai Nuong. They both were born of noble families. Their parents could not bear the harshness [hardness] of their local authority so they moved to Da Lat (Ɖa Lat) for living.

One day, having responded favorably to Tây Son insurrection's appeal, Hoàng Tàng had said good bye to his lover to join up in fighting against aggression of the Qing before wedding ceremony.

The warrior had not returned yet, but his lover at home received the bad news that Hoàng Tùng had died on the battle field. In desperation, Mai Nuong drowned herself into the lake to keep the loyalty to her lover. She was buried beside the lake. Soon after, Hoàng Tàng returned in victory. Having known his lover had died for him, he swore not to get married [for] all [the rest of] his life.

After that, the Tây Son dynasty collapsed. Nguyên Ánh occupied Phu Xuân. Having suffered for his personal feelings, felt torment himself over the country's destiny, Hoàng Tàng came to the former tryst on the pine hill and drowned himself into the green water to be true to his love towards Mail Nuong.

From now on, the pine forest at the lake has risen a melancholy song as though moaning and praising the talent pretty couple who lived up to their motherland. Therefore, the people called the lake Ho Than Tho (Lake of whimper). (p.251)

3.27 XUAN HUONG Lake (XUÂN HUONG Lake) [Da Lat city - dams and reservoirs and bridges]

DA LAT CITY - LAM DONG PROVINCE

Xuân Huong lake is right in the center of Da Lat city on the altitude of 1,477 meters, with the circumference of 5,000 meters and the width of 4.5 ha. Xuân Huong lake has the graceful beauty with blue water reflecting the nobly and brilliantly pink peach trees. it is compared to a magical mirror which makes up the city to be more beautiful.

Formerly, the lake was originally a stream locating within the land where the clans of Chill and Lat dwelled. In 1919, on the innovative of Cunbac, the first minister resident of Da Lat and Public work engineer Labbé, a dam was built across the stream in order that the water flowed through a valley to make a lake called Grand Lac [Big Lake]. In 1923, another dam was built behind the previous one to come two lakes into existence.

In march 1932, both dams were broken because of a big storm. In 1934-1935, engineer Trân Ɖâng Khoa designed and constructed a big dam called Ông Ɖao (Mr. Ɖao) bridge (in front of the bridge was Mr. Ɖao Pham Khác Hòe's palace), In 1953, Mr. Nguyên Vy, the Chairman of the Administrative Council of Ɖà Lat changed the name into Xuân Huong lake going the name of a famous poetess in Nôm character of Viêt Nam in the 19th century.

Xuân Huong lake has been recognized as an A class landscape among 464 national ones (p.254).

3.28 GOUGAH Waterfall [one stream like egg yolk, other stream like egg white - Chu Ru Champa clans]

DUC TRONG DISTRICT - LAM DONG PROVINCE

Gougah waterfall is about 37 km distant from Da Lat, at the distance of about 200 meters on the left side of the National Highway Nº 20. From afar, tourists can see the waterfall coming down from the height of 20 meters and dividing into two streams in vertical, the one flows quietly with the water of landy [?] red which is lie the color of egg yolk, the other flows with the water of white like the color of egg white. Therefore the waterfall is also called Ô Gâ waterfall (chicken hole waterfall).

According to the old legend of Western Highland in the South, Gougah waterfall belonged to the management of the Chu Ru-Champa clans, because most of the Chu Ru were originally the Champa people who have come to settle in the Western Highland since many previous centuries.

But according to the Champa unofficial history, the former Gougah was the treasure hiding place of Empress Nai Bia Ut, a Vietnamese princess was given to the Champa King in marriage. She was beloved very much by the King who had a palace built for her in a wild place out of his kingdom.

When the empress passed away, the King had her buried there together with her jewels in order that she would use in hades [kingdom of the dead].

The clans living in this region (the K'hor, the Champa of today) extolled her as their Empress (p.257).

3.29 PONGOUR Waterfall

DUC TRONG DISTRICT - LAM DONG PROVINCE

Pongour waterfall is in Duc Trong district, 50 km far from Da Lat city on the national road Nº 20 Da Lat - Sai Gon.

Pongour is also called seven storey waterfall or Thièn Thai falls with the beauty which is both grandiose, poetic and wild of Western Highland in the South.

There are two hypothesizes on the existence of the name of Pongour.

[The name of "Pongour"]

Firstly, Pongour was given the phonetic transcription from the K'hor language which means the landlord of white clay region because through the French geologic materials, in this region existed a lot of kaolin.

Secondly, Pongour originated from the K'hor dialect which means four rhinoceros's horns according to a legend of K'hor - Champa Churu with the following content:

[The legend about woman of Ka Nai with four rhinoceros - fight between native tribes - a "faithful Kingdom" with the horns of 4 rhinoceros]

Once upon a time, the land of Phu Hôi-Tan Hôi-Tan Ha of today used to be managed by Ka Nai, a young and beautiful woman tribal head who had the ability to tame wild animals. She was stronger than the brave men of K'hor-Chu Ru heroes. She often used four big rhinoceros to protect their village.

Once, some people of Ka Nai clan were caught and enforced for corvée [hard work] by the Prenn. Ka Nai called the other clans such as: Sré, Chill, Ma..... to uprise and fight against the Prenn. She rode a rhinoceros and led the Western Highland troops to attack the Prenn's kingdom. They occupied four Prenn ramparts [fortresses], saved hundreds of K'hor who were the Prenn's slaves.

But among the slaves, there were some K'hor and Ma people who did not want to come back their home town. Having flown into a passion, Ka Nai together with the four rhinoceros leveled the hills and mountains to make "faithful Kingdom" for the K'hor. Pongour has been the trace left by the four rhinoceros' horns that fixed in the ground in the forest and mountains of Western Highland.

[Festival day]

It is said that Ka Nai chose the first full moon day of the warm season as the "festival day" for her clan. Therefore, every year on the 15th day of the first lunar year, group by group of people crowdedly returned to make a pilgrimage to Pongour waterfall (p.260).

3.30 BA RA Mountain (BÀ RÁ Mountain) [in Binh Puoc province at son Giang village]

PHUOC LONG DISTRICT - BINH PHUOC PROVINCE

Bà Rá Mountain which has also another name Phuoc Son is the highest mountain of Binh Puoc province, about 733 m of height at Son Giang village, Phuoc Long district. In the East is Song Bé river flowing tortuously around the foot of the mountain and creating a beautiful and majestic waterfall called Mo waterfall, a scenery of Binh Phuoc.

The "Ba Ra" comes from the sound of B'Ra spoken by the S'tieng people, the most populous and long standing clan of the ethnic minority community who have existed in Binh Phuoc province. "B'Ra" means "grandparents".

[Legend about immortal Giang creating two mountains for two little sisters]

The S'tieng have a legend of Bà Rá mount. Once upon a time, there was an Immortal of S'tieng ethnic minority named Giang. He governed the territory from Tay Ninh to Phuoc Long, he created two mountains for his two little sisters; the one whose name was Gieng loved the quiet place so she was appointed to manage Bà Rá mount, the other [one] who wanted to go into retreat was nominated as the supervisor of Ba Den (Bà Ɖen) mount (Tay Ninh).

Apart from giving satisfaction to his sisters, the Immortal Giang wanted in addition to defend the S'tieng territory from the other clans' aggression. Therefore, he confided the two border areas to his both sisters' watching (p.262).

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