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Introduction to Madam Sau's Memorial
Madam Sau's memorial commemorates the heroic deeds of Vo Thi Sau, a brave young woman who sacrificed herself for the nation's independence and freedom at the age of 18. Every year, numerous visitors from far and wide come to pay respects at Madam Sau's grave in Con Dao, seeking prosperity, health, and peace. The locals believe that Madam Sau's grave holds sacred significance, as she continues to assist those with good intentions, guiding them towards success. Each resident of Con Dao pays homage to Madam Sau at home, holding memorial services for her on her anniversary. Some former prisoners from the mainland, such as Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho, and Soc Trang, visit Con Dao for both tourism and to offer prayers in remembrance of Madam Sau.
Madam Sau's Resting Place in Con Dao
How to Get to Madam Sau's Memorial
So, how can you reach Madam Sau's memorial, how long does it take to get there, and what are the expenses? All of these questions will be answered right below!
Address of Madam Sau's Memorial - the Female National Hero Vo Thi Sau
Madam Sau's grave is located in Hang Duong Cemetery, approximately 1km away from the center of Con Dao town. It's where over 2,000 fallen heroes are buried, close to Con Dao Prison. Finding Madam Sau's grave in this cemetery isn't difficult as it stands out prominently among others. After passing by several other graves of martyrs, you'll find Madam Sau's grave on the left side of the main entrance gate, in section B of the cemetery.
Address: Hang Duong Cemetery, Nguyen An Ninh, Con Dao, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Vietnam.
The location of the grave of the national hero of the armed forces Vo Thi Sau on the map.
Means of Transportation
When traveling to Con Dao, you can choose to travel by plane or passenger ship, both options are available. Currently, you can book a flight to Con Dao if you're in Ho Chi Minh City, as Vietnam Airlines is the only airline operating this route. However, starting from August 18, 2020, Bamboo Airways will operate flights from Hanoi to Con Dao. Before this date, if you're traveling to Con Dao from Hanoi, you can transit at Tan Son Nhat Airport to catch a connecting flight to Con Dao, or travel to Can Tho to catch a passenger ship. For the utmost convenience, you can book your flight tickets through Mytour for the best prices.
In Con Dao, there are electric car services, taxis, 16-seater vans, or motorbike rental services.
Passenger ships to Con Dao also offer motorbike transfer services to the island. So, if you prefer to travel with your own vehicle, you can rent this service for prices ranging from 200,000 VND to 300,000 VND depending on the type of vehicle.
The Con Dao Express high-speed ferry serves tourists traveling to Con Dao by boat.
How long does the journey take?
From the gas station in Con Dao, Pham Van Dong Street in the town center, regardless of the mode of transportation chosen, you just need to travel straight in the northeast direction, to Gao Luat Tuyet Street, then turn left and next turn left onto Nguyen An Ninh Street. The distance is about 1.8km, taking only 6 minutes to reach Hang Duong Cemetery, located on the left side of the road. If you're traveling from Chua Nui Mot (Van Son Tu Nui Mot), it will take longer, about 9 minutes.
Cost of transportation when visiting Madam Sau's grave
Taxi: Depending on your starting point and the distance shown on the meter, you can negotiate with the driver about the fare. If you're traveling from the town center, you will spend around 30,000 VND to 40,000 VND per trip.
Electric Car: This is the preferred mode of transportation for most tourists. During the day, it costs 3,000 VND per kilometer, and in the evening, the fare is charged per trip.
Motorbike Rental in Con Dao: With costs ranging from 100,000 VND to 120,000 VND, you can rent a motorbike to visit Madam Sau's grave or explore Con Dao. There are no parking fees on the island. Note: Remember to check the fuel level in the tank because there are only two gas stations on the island. Keep the owner's or the rental place's phone number handy in case of any issues.
Visiting Madam Sau's Grave
Hang Duong Cemetery is always open, even on weekends, so you can visit Madam Sau's grave at any time. However, locals often visit Madam Sau's grave between 9:00 PM and 11:55 PM because they believe this is a sacred time, and sincere prayers will become reality. Similar to temple visits, many people choose the beginning of the Lunar New Year to visit her grave for blessings. This is also the time when people hold memorial services for Madam Sau on January 23rd of the lunar calendar every year. Many also choose the seventh lunar month for ceremonies to redeem past wrongdoings and to show filial piety.
Procedure for Paying Respects at Madam Sau's Grave in Con Dao
Whether during the day or at night, the procedure for paying respects at Madam Sau's grave requires attention to the following:
Paying Respects at Madam Sau's Grave during the Day
This is the time when you should only pay respects to Madam Sau and offer incense to commemorate the martyrs at Hang Duong Cemetery, as the evening is the main time for visiting Madam Sau's grave. First, proceed to Hang Duong Cemetery to the highest column, the memorial podium, and perform the main ceremony for the martyrs. Then, pay respects to the graves of the martyrs, especially prominent ones such as Le Hong Phong and Nguyen An Ninh. Make sure to visit all sections from section A to section D of the cemetery. After completing the ceremonies for all sections, you can rest or explore other attractions in Con Dao such as Phi Yen Temple, Con Dao Prison, and Chua Nui Mot.
Paying Respects at Madam Sau's Grave in the Evening
After resting, when the sun sets, it's the time to continue the procedure of paying respects at Madam Sau's grave. If you have a lot of offerings, arrive early to prepare them because it gets crowded during this time. Another thing to note is to avoid pushing and shoving, be patient and wait for your turn. Before visiting Madam Sau's grave, you'll pass by the memorial podium once again, then proceed to her grave to pay respects. The evening at Madam Sau's grave or Hang Duong Cemetery is mystical due to the shimmering candlelights.
Visiting Madam Sau's grave in the evening brings the utmost solemnity.
Preparing and arranging offerings when visiting Madam Sau's grave
You can prepare offerings at home to bring for the visit or arrange them upon arrival in Con Dao as everything is available here. The complexity of Madam Sau's offerings depends on the experience of the visitors, but it's essential to ensure the following items:
Conical hat, stacks of gold and silver coins, a set of mirror and comb, stacks of gold bars, mineral water, incense sticks, candlesticks. And the indispensable special item is flowers, as Madam Sau prefers white flowers, so prepare white chrysanthemums or white roses. Regarding the five fruits, prepare a tray or a basket with lekima fruits. Some people prepare more elaborately such as a tray of sticky rice, roasted piglet, or genuine offerings like: tailored ao dai, cosmetics set,...
Notes:
- Place the conical hat upside down and arrange the offerings inside, then place the ceremonial set on Madam Sau's grave.
- You should also prepare offerings for the graves of the martyrs at Hang Duong Cemetery. All offerings will be kept by the Cemetery Management Board afterward.
- Seek assistance from fellow visitors to ensure completeness in preparing offerings!
Items to Prepare for Paying Respects at Madam Sau's Grave
Appropriate Attire for Paying Respects at Madam Sau's Grave
Madam Sau's grave or Hang Duong Cemetery is a spiritual destination, so it's important to choose formal and modest attire to maintain the sanctity of the place. Also, remind and advise those around you to dress appropriately when visiting Madam Sau's grave.
People dress formally when visiting Madam Sau's grave
Prohibitions during the process of visiting Madam Sau's grave
When paying respects at Madam Sau's grave, refrain from using vulgar language, cursing, joking, laughing loudly, or moving around vigorously. This is the resting place of the soldiers, where Madam Sau bravely sacrificed, so tread lightly, speak softly, and act gently to show respect and gratitude to the fallen soldiers and to uphold civilized behavior at this sacred place.
Hopefully, the information provided by Mytour here has somewhat helped with your visit to pay respects at Madam Sau's grave and your family. If you have any other Côn Đảo travel experiences to share, don't hesitate to tell Mytour. Also, remember that Mytour offers great-value package tours to Côn Đảo for you to choose from.
Author: Cuc Hoa
Image Source: Internet
