The “Khai Hạ – Cầu An” Festival at the Tomb of Lê Văn Duyệt has become HCM City’s latest National Intangible Cultural Heritage. — VNA/VNS Photo Thu Hương

HCM CITY — The “Khai Hạ – Cầu An” Festival at the Tomb of Lê Văn Duyệt, Marshal of the Nguyễn Dynasty Army's Left Division, has become HCM City’s latest National Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Praying for peace at the Tomb of Lê Văn Duyệt in Bình Thạnh District has been an important cultural heritage of the old Gia Định – Sài Gòn and the new HCM City.

Bình Thạnh District People's Committee has received the National Intangible Cultural Heritage Certificate for the Khai Hạ – Cầu An Festival at the Tomb of Lê Văn Duyệt, as recognised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The event took place on the occasion of the 190th anniversary of the death of the Marshal of the Nguyễn Dynasty Army's Left Division (1832-2022), with participation of Deputy Chairman of the HCM City People's Committee Phan Thị Thắng and Director of the City Department of Culture and Sports Trần Thế Thuận.

Khai Hạ – Cầu An at the Tomb of Lê Văn Duyệt is the third festival of HCM City approved by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage, Chairman of Bình Thạnh District People's Committee Đinh Khắc Huy said.

Thắng said the HCM City Department of Culture and Sports and the Department of Tourism will cooperate to preserve and promote the value of Khai Hạ – Cầu An Festival.

“The Tomb of Lê Văn Duyệt is an attractive destination that tourists should not miss when visiting HCM City,” she said.

Together with relevant authorities, artists from various cultural fields in HCM City also attended this ceremony.

"This event emphasises the diversity of Việt Nam’s intangible cultural heritage treasures,” Meritorious Artist Hữu Danh from HCM City's Bội Singing Theatre said.

Meritorious Artist Ngọc Khanh is proud to perform at the Tomb of Lê Văn Duyệt every year.

"We must join hands to preserve and further promote the value of this invaluable heritage,” she said.

The Tomb of Lê Văn Duyệt (also called Ông Bà Chiểu Temple) sits on a piece of land that is shaped like a turtle’s back and slightly higher than its surroundings. The temple’s location is considered supreme in feng shui terms.

It is located next to Bà Chiểu Market in Bình Thạnh District and is where hero and high-ranking mandarin of the Nguyễn Dynasty, Lê Văn Duyệt (1764-1832), is buried along with his wife Đỗ Thị Phận.

The temple has four gates named after the cardinal directions, with the Southern Gate now used as the main one.

According to the monument management board, 100-200 locals and foreigners visit every day. During Tết (Lunar New Year), 100,000 people visit to pay their respects. — VNS