Vietnamese Women, vol. 2 chapter 3, part 5: landscapes 41 to 51

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)

3.41 SAINT PAUL convent [in HCMC]

NO. 3 TON DUC THANG STREET - DISTRICT 1 - HO CHI MINH CITY

From 1860 to 1862, the convent was only a thatch house. In 1862, the construction of the convent had been begun according to Nguyên Truong Tô's design and under his building management. On July 18, 1864, the sisters of the sacred order of Saint Paul together with 150 orphans moved to this site. The convent includes: the residency area, the working place of the nun, a clinic, a school and a house for taking care of orphans (p.290).

3.42 BA DIEM Village (BÀ ƉIÊM Village)

HOC MON DISTRICT- HO CHI MINH CITY

With 8 hamlets and the population of 26,000 along the National highway 1, Ba Diem village is 20 km distant from HCMC in the North, the village has been famous for its good areca and betel long since.

At the same time, in more than a half of the century, Ba Diem used to be the typical revolutionary land of the city.

The reason why it bears the name Ba Diem was that formerly there was an old woman who opened the first stall of drinks in this region when it remained to be a dense and deserted forest area with the existence of several wild animal (p.292).

3.43 BA BAY Estuary (BÀ BÂY Estuary) [a river's mouth]

CAN LO VILLAGE - CAO LANH DISTRICT - DONG THAP PROVINCE

From the Can Lo River to Cao Lanh District, there is a rivulet mouth called Ba Bay estuary. This is the name of a contact woman of Thien Ho Duong volunteer troops (or Vo Duy Duong) at Dong Thap Muoi base during the French rule.

In order to enable the volunteers to move favorably and safely in Cao Lanh - Sa Dec region, Mrs. Bay opened secretly a waterway through the ditches separating two beds of areca in her own garden. This way from Cai Sao Thuong channel to Cao Lanh, not only could avoid the control of the French colonists, but it was also convenient because of its short distance.

The Can Lo river flowed swiftly into the secret waterway, in addition, the insurrectionists' boats went back and forth that made the waterway deep and wide to become an estuary. Soon after, the French colonists discovered this way through some informers and ambushed to arrest her.

They tortured her cruelly but she gave no information about the volunteers' identification. Having been furious, they took turns to violate her and eventually took her to Doi Me shooting ground to execute.

In commemoration of the woman who died for great justice, the people in the region called this estuary Vam Ba Bay and the place name remains so far (p.294).

3.44 TIEN CHAU Pagoda (TIÊN CHÂU Pagoda) [in Vinh Binh District]

AN BINH VILLAGE - LONG HO DISTRICT - VINH LONG PROVINCE

Tiên Châu pagoda is an ancient pagoda which is well-known for its scenic beauty. Its former name was Di Da. But the people called it Tien Chau because there was a legend that fairies used to descend and bathe in Bich Tran Islet or Tang Islet.

According to "Dai Nam Nhat Thong Chi" ("Ɖai Nam Nhât Thông Chi") in the chapter of Vinh Long province writes:

"Di Ɖà pagoda in Vinh Binh District was built by Most Ven. Huynh Ɖúc Hôi in front of Bich Trân beach and surrounded by waterways: the pagoda was quiet and named Tiên Châu."

The scenic beauty of the pagoda was described in "Gia Dinh Thanh Thong Chi" written by Trinh Hoài Ɖúc as follows:

"In the north of the citadel within the perimeter of 12 miles are the green of trees and the water reflection glistening."

Here, formerly, on both sides of the river were the houses of fishermen who hung out their fishing nets on the branches of trees. On the river were fishing boats where the songs were heard from under the moonlight.

Nowadays, the pagoda is about 20 meters wide, 46 meters long and has the total of 96 wooden pillars (p.297).

3.45 Gien TIEN (Giêng TIÊN) [the immortal well and the fairy well - with buffaloes]

Fairy well

PHUOC THUAN HAMLET - PHU TAN VILLAGE - MY TU DISTRICT - SOC TRANG PROVINCE

Vung Thom is a small village. From An Trach three-way junction to the 1,000 meters distance there is a big pond in the middle of the rice field. The pond is not deep with many ancient trees surrounding. That is "Giêng Tiên Ông" (Immortal well). Opposite of Giêng Tiên Ông, on the left of the country road is a smaller but deeper pond called "Giêng Tiên Bà" (Fairy well).

Thanks to these two ponds, the people of Vung Thom village have had good cultivation.

according to folk-legend, formerly, at Vung Thom village, there was no fresh water. Te people were so poor because the land was not fertile. They prayed the God day and night to give them a good fresh water source. Their prayers came to the God. While he was at the thought of the way to help human beings, Nam Tào (the deity manages human life and death) came in and reported:

"The immortals tending buffaloes and the fairies washed silk are arguing with one another. The immortals said that the fairies washed silk, made the stream water polluted so their buffaloes could not drink; and the fairies imputed dirty water in which they could not wash silk to the immortals who drove buffaloes down the stream."

The God commanded: "To consider the right and the wrong. Immortals and Fairies, each side must dig a fresh water well within a full moon night at Vung Thom. The side who digs the deepest well with much more water, will win the case."

The Immortals and Fairies rode clouds down the earth and found their own place to dig the well.

The more it was far into the night, the more the immortals were impatient to know how the fairies' well was in the process of digging. They recommended one of them to spy. The first one intentionally looked at the fairies who took off their clothes for their convenience in work. He was so engrossed in gazing that forgot to come back. The others all in return were appointed to find out the happening did not come back.

Eventually, it was obvious that fairies won the case for their well was deeper with much more water while the well of the immortals was shallow with little water. That is the folk-tale of Giêng Tiên Ông and Giêng Tiên Bà at Vung Thom. Nowadays, the fairy's well was leveled to come the rice field (p.299).

3.46 Mrs. DOI OM Mountain (Mrs. ƉÔI OM Mountain) [seeking for water]

TINH BIEN DISTRICT - AN GIANG PROVINCE

On the way to That Son region, we see a mountain looking like the shape of a woman with a "ca om" (a jar of water made of burned soil) on her head. That is the mountain of Bâ Ɖôi Ôm (a woman carrying "Om" on her head).

It was told that, formerly, this land was always arid, lacked water and suffered from continuous wars. In the region, there was a woman who had to work hard to support her mother-in-law and her small child. In day-time, she had to hide her mother and child in a mountain cave. Every night, she had to carry jar by jar on her head to take water at the distance for her mother and child. One year, it was a scorcher year, the drought lasted, the stream dried up, the enemy occupied the village, her family suffered from thirst. Every day, she waited with impatience the night coming to be able to seek water.

Suddenly, one day a rainstorm came down fiercely. Happily she ran out of the cave, raised her hands with the jar to catch the rain water. When the jar was full of water, she put it on her head and was about to enter the cave, but she could not lift her legs, she tried to keep the jar on her head. She stood in such position on the top of the mountain and have come a stone so far (p.302).

3.47 Convent of QUANG PHÒNG (Lord Protector) Sacred Order [for old, orphans, disabled]

TAN MY VILLAGE - CHO MOI DISTRICT - AN GIANG PROVINCE

It was formed on January 12, 1876, by 6 French nuns who sent to Viet Nam by Arch Bishop Herrgott [God Lord]. The convent on Cu Lao Giêng (Giêng Islet) was built in 1875 and was renovated many times.

From 1876 to 1999, there have been about 1,200 nuns working here. Nowadays, it still remains about 460 nuns.

The guiding principle of the convent is the love for the old, orphans, the disabled (p.303).

4.48 BÀ OM Pond [7 km from Trà Vinh there is a pond]

(Lady OM pond)

TRA VINH TOWN - TRA VINH PROVINCE

About 7 km distant from Trà Vinh town on the right side on the route from Vinh Long to Trà Vinh, there is a pond which square so it has been called the square pond.

The reason why the pond was named Bà Om was due to a legend of the Khmer people living in Trà Vinh area.

It is said that, once upon a time, Prince Patunavong and in Pra Sat Palace which was 2 km distant from the princess' house in Âng pagoda. As he did not find any girl pleasing him in marriage, he made a decision to marry his sister. The princess rejected his offer and decided not to see him. She had the deep trenches dug around her house to prevent him from entering and she had a pond dug for her bath nearby. Her affairs were entrusted to four her maids. Those were Ms. Om, Ms. Inh, Ms. Sun, and Ms. Son. Ms. Om headed the group; thus, the pond was called after her name by the locals.

There was also another story which is more popular than the above tale. Once on the occasion of a marriage dispute between men and women in the region, the people held a competition of digging a pond for keeping fresh water for uses during the dry season. The women side dug a square pond in the East. They knew that they were less than their opponent in strength. There was a Ms. Om who thought up the ruse that she had a long bamboo cut and had it set up on the high earth mound in the East, then had a lantern hung up on the top of bamboo.

Inside the lantern was an oil lamp lighted to look like a brilliant star in the distance. The men side supposed subjectively that their female opponent could not dig as well as they did, so they took a rest at home. they did not know that they were deceived with the lantern by Mr. Om. The women side completely wrapped up in digging all night, and next morning, their pond was considered to be larger, deeper with much more water. The women side won the competition.

To acknowledge the merit of the clever and resourceful woman, the people named the pond Bà Om pond (pond of Ms. Om).

There was also another hypothesis of the name's of the pond that, previously, around the pond there were a lot of "mò om", a kind of fragrant herb, growing. Therefore, at first, it was called "mo om pond", then it was spoken not quite like to be "Ba Om pond" (p.305).

3.49 BA TUONG Swamp (BÀ TUÒNG Swamp) [The Water World with a King tiger and a Princess]

CA MAU PROVINCE

Bà Tuòng swamp or Thi Tuòng swamp is a big one for aquaculture and also a handsome scenery of Cà Mau province. It locates adjacent to Bà Keo canal and the My Binh river (the river which flows into the sea through Ông Ɖôc river mouth).

The legend of Bà Tuòng swamp was told by the Ca Mau people that: Previously, in the first group of pioneers clearing land to Ca Mau, there was a woman whose name was Tuong.

At that time, it was said that, this region was the place for Water World king to walk around and U Minh forest was abundant wild animals of which there was a King tiger who had many magical powers. One day, the tiger unintentionally met the Princess - the daughter of Water World king who was having a bath on the beach; he ordered crocodiles to bring gifts to the water kingdom to ask for her hand, but he was refused by the king.

The forest King was angry, he ordered birds to bring stones from Ta Lon Mountain to fill the sea. The filling place still has remains as Hon Nhan, Hon Da Bac, Hon Khoai... of today, except a place which was not filled by stones thanks to Ms. Tuong who bravely all day and night, chased the birds to other places, so it became a swamp. She kept a large swamp to raise fish and shrimp for the living of the people. From that time, the swamp has borne her name until today.

If it is well exploited, Bà Tuong swamp will be an attractive tourist spot (p.308).

3.50 HA TIEN Sceneries (HÀ TIÊN Sceneries) [cultural town at the south western border]

HA TIEN TOWN - KIEN GIANG PROVINCE

Hà Tiên is a town in the south western border, a beautiful and poetic landscape of Kiên Giang province. Hà Tiên has numerous sceneries, famous historical and cultural relics where tourists can pay a visit of the mac clan's mausoleum, Binh San Mountain, Mac Cuu pagoda, Phù Dung pagoda, Tam Bào pagoda, Ngoc Hô pagoda, Thach Grotto, Phu Tu Islet, Nai cape, Tô Châu Mountain, Thuy Ta house - the remains of former Chiêu Anh Các literacy group...

Hà Tiên land was reclaimed and built with 7 villages by Mac Cuu. Its former name was Mang Kham. It was named Hà Tiên by Mac Cuu. In an afternoon, he rowed a boat on the Giang Thành river (or Dong Ho, Ɖông Hô), at the estuary into Kim Du Sea. While admiring the poetic water landscape which was the likeness of a painting, he saw a group of fairies amusing themselves on the river; now they hid and then they appeared; Mac Cuu supposed that it was a good omen, so he chose this land to settle and called it Hà Tiên which means the river (p.311)

of fairy or the place for fairies coming to amuse on the water.

To praise the divine beauty of Ha Tien land, the Chiêu Ánh Cac literacy group founded by Mac Cuu's son, Mac Thiên Tich wrote:

Dong Ho moon and wind
Nam Pho sea and sky
Binh San flower and grass
Thach Dong rocks and trees
Kim Du water and clouds
Chau Nham birds and herons
Tiêu pagoda hell in dawn
Giang Thu late moon
At Lu quay fishing freely
In Loc forest drinking wine leisurely (p.312).

3.51 PHU DUNG Pagoda (PHÙ DUNG Pagoda) [Mac Thiên Tich's concubine - angry wife - concubine changing to a religious life]

HA TIEN TOWN - KIEN GIANG PROVINCE

It is called Phu Cu pagoda, located at the foot of Binh Son Mountain, Ha Tien (Hà Tiên) town, Kiên Giang province.

The pagoda was founded in the mid-18th century by Hà Tiên country chief Mac Thiên Tich for his concubine, Nguyên Thi Trâm (1720-1764), to practice Buddhism.

It is said that Mac Thiên Tich's concubine was a beautiful girl and was skillful at music, chess, poetry and drawing. She was born in a rather influential family in Hà Tiên. Mac Thiên Tich married her for he loved her beauty and talent.

Since his concubine's presence by him, the county chief was only interested in composing extempore [improvised] poems together with her and he neglected his military duty; so his main wife, an able woman who concerned deeply with her assistance to her husband in conscientious discharge of his duties as a divisional commander who defended the remote border area, got angry.

One day, having taken the opportunity that Mac Thiên Tich went away to inspect his troops, she scolded [insulted] severely her husband's concubine and punished her by confining her in a big turned-over basin. Fortunately, it began to rain, at the same time, the county chief suddenly returned so his concubine escaped from death. The concubine both felt ashamed and repented of her innocence which almost put her husband in peril, so she asked his permission to lead a religious life in order that he did not become entangled in his wives and children, would be guilty towards the people and the royal court (p.316).

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