A ceremony to celebrate the 194^th death anniversary of the talented Vietnamese General Nguyen Van Thoai, also known as Thoai Ngoc Hau, took place at the namesake temple in Da Nang’s Son Tra District on Sunday morning.

Municipal Fatherland Front Committee Chairman Ngo Xuan Thang (left) and Head of the municipal Party Committee's Mass Mobilisation Board Le Van Trung (right) offering incense in memory of mandarin Thoai Ngoc Hau on his 194th death anniversary

In attendance at the event were municipal Fatherland Front Committee Chairman Ngo Xuan Thang and Head of the municipal Party Committee's Mass Mobilisation Board Le Van Trung, along with representatives from district-based departments and agencies, and localities that have set up twin ties with Son Tra District.

Speaking at the event, Vice Chairman of Son Tra District People's Committee Huynh Van Hung briefed the attendees on the meritorious official’s great merits and devotion to the cause of homeland construction and defence.

Thoai Ngoc Hau’s real name is Nguyen Van Thoai. He was born on 26 November 1761 in An Hai Village, Dien Ban District, Quang Nam Province (now called An Hai Tay Ward, Son Tra District, Da Nang). He has always been highly praised and respected for his creativeness in reclaiming land, founding villages, and promoting economic development and border protection.

The legendary mandarin was one of the meritorious officials during the reign of Emperor Gia Long of the Nguyen Dynasty.

In 1777, he and his mother moved to the South. Then, he joined the army under Lord Nguyen Anh, and was awarded the title of Thoai Ngoc Hau. In 1818, he directed militiamen to dig Thoai Ha Canal in Long Xuyen (currently known as An Giang Province) - the first flood drainage work in the Mekong Delta.

Between 1819 and 1824, following the direction from King Minh Mang, he digged a canal connecting Chau Doc with Ha Tien, bringing great efficiency in the irrigation and border defence work for not only Hau Giang but also the whole country.

Nguyen Van Thoai died on June 6, 1829, and was buried in Chau Doc, An Giang Province.

An Hai villagers honoured Nguyen Van Thoai as the post-sage of the village in order to commemorate his great devotion to their homeland.

The temple in honour of the ancestors of An Hai Villager and Thoai Ngoc Hau based in Son Tra District is seen from above

Every year, residents of Son Tra District held a ceremony to celebrate his death in order to honour his merits, and arouse the source of national cultural traditions and the pride of the next generations for the ancestors.

On July 22 and 23, the Son Tra District authorities held solemn rituals to commemorate the ancestors and heroes for their great devotion to their homeland.

Most recently, at its 12^th session in its 10^th tenure for the 2021 - 2026 term, the Da Nang People’s Council has agreed to invest around VND 71 billion from the city budget in a project on building a public park west of the Thoai Ngoc Hau Temple in An Hai Tay Ward, Son Tra District.

Reporting by X.DUNG - Translating by M.DUNG