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Saigon, a magnificent city, holds within it many ancient structures still preserved to this day. Among them is the Ancient Shrine of Mr. and Mrs. Chiều.
The venerable Ancient Shrine of Mr. and Mrs. Chiều
1. Address
The Ancient Shrine of Mr. and Mrs. Chiều, also known as Thượng Công Temple, is the temple and tomb of Tả quân Lê Văn Duyệt at 1 Vũ Tùng Street, Ward 1, Bình Thạnh District, Ho Chi Minh City.
This place is easily accessible as it is surrounded by Đinh Tiên Hoàng, Phan Đăng Lưu, Vũ Tùng, Trịnh Hoài Đức streets, and is located near Bà Chiểu Market.
The ancient scenery here (Photo by ST)
2. Exploring the Ancient Shrine of Mr. and Mrs. Chiều
The tomb of Mr. and Mrs. Chiều is a complex of shrines and tombs of Tả Quân Lê Văn Duyệt – the prefect of Gia Định in the past and his wife, Mrs. Đỗ Thị Phận. There are also the graves of two maids outside the tomb area. Everything lies within an area of 18,500m2 of land.
Many people mistakenly believe that this is the tomb of Mr. and Mrs. Chiều, but that is not the case. Because the tomb is located on Bà Chiều market and due to naming taboos, no one knows since when people have disliked the words 'Lăng ông' and 'bà Chiều' to refer to this location.
The tomb of Tả Quân Lê Văn Duyệt was built in 1948 and is one of the sacred and ancient places of Saigon. The tomb is surrounded by a 500m long wall, 1.2m high and has four gates facing four directions. Visitors can take impressive photos at these walls with their classic features.
Inside the Tomb, there is ancient architecture with a main axis road. From the Three Entrances Gate, there is a scenic garden area and memorial houses, tombs, and shrines. The memorial house of the Tomb is built like a small palace, with brick walls and tiled roofs. Inside, there is a stone slab inscribed with Han script 'Lê công miếu bi,' written by Ambassador Hoàng Cao Khải in 1894, praising the merit of Lê Văn Duyệt to the court and the people.
Regarding the graves, there are the tombs of Tả Quân and his wife, Mrs. Đỗ Thị Phận, placed side by side. Surrounding the tombs is a thick rectangular stone wall leading to the incense-burning courtyard.
The construction bears the hallmark of Nguyen dynasty ancestral worship architecture with exquisite wood and stone carvings, retaining its beauty to this day. The ancestral worship area, dominated by red and gold colors, is a popular backdrop for young people to take photos on festive days.
On festive days here
Every year, on the 29th, 30th of July, and the 1st, 2nd of August lunar calendar, the ceremony honoring Lê Văn Duyệt attracts many local people and tourists from all over. People come here to pray for peace, health, and love for their families.
Note that if young people come here to take photos on festive days, they should pay attention because this is a spiritual place, so maintain order, general hygiene, and do not litter here.
