Mac Cuu Mausoleum Relic Area is located on Mac Cuu Street, right at the foot of Binh San Mountain, in Binh San Ward, Ha Tien City, Kien Giang Province. Mac Cuu Mausoleum is considered one of the most beautiful landscapes in Ha Tien. If you have the opportunity to come here, please take a moment to stop by and admire this relic.
Table of Contents
History
Mac Cuu Mausoleum Relic Area is the place to worship the Mac family. In which, the person who started out was Tong town Mac Cuu – who publicly discovered and developed Ha Tien land 300 years ago.
Mac Cuu Came from Guangzhou, China, because he could stand the Qing domination, he left the country to become a trader in Southeast Asian countries. After coming to Ha Tien in 1680, he stayed to build and develop this land. In 1708, Mac Cuu gave the land of Ha Tien to the Nguyen dynasty and was appointed Tong Tran of Ha Tien (Doge of Ha Tien).
Although he offered Ha Tien to the Nguyen Dynasty, he was still given autonomy by Lord Nguyen Phuc Chu in this land. Over the past 7 generations, the Mac family has made a lot of effort to turn from a small, primitive Ha Tien into a trading hub of ancient Dai Viet.
The statue of Mac Cuu.
Relic area structure
The way to Mac Cuu Mausoleum.
The gate to Mac Cuu Mausoleum Relic Area
This relic was built in 4 years from 1735 to 1739. The facade turns to the east, and the back leans against the cliff, having a solid arch shape. Mac Cuu Mausoleum Relic Area is divided into 2 parts including the Mac family temple and the tomb part. On the temple gate, there is a parallel sentence in Chinese Vietnamese bestowed by the Nguyen dynasty.
Mac family temple
The temple was built by Nguyen Dynasty at the foot of Binh San Mountain. The temple is the place to commemorate the merit of the Mac family that reclaimed the ancient Ha Tien land. In front of the temple, there are 2 large ponds planted with a lot of lotuses. According to local people, this is the place to get fresh water for people in the area to use during the dry season and was dug by the Mac Cuu family.
The lotus pond in front of the temple of Mac Cuu.
Deep inside, you will see a large yard with lots of green trees, providing a very quiet and calm space. To the right of the temple is the Tien Hien House, a place to worship those who came to Ha Tien before Mac Cuu. And on the left side is the Hau Hien House, in contrast to the Tien Hien House, this is the place to worship those who come after him. Mr. In Main House, there are Mac Cuu alter placed in the middle and his descendants on two sides.
The gate of Mac family temple.
The tablets of three generations of the Mac family.
Tomb part
The tomb part is located on Mount Binh San. Coming here, you’ll have to follow a terraced path up the mountain. There are more than 60 ancient tombs divided into 4 distinct areas:
– The tombs of the doges of Ha Tien
– The tombs of the ladies
– The tombs of the mandarins
– The tombs of other members of the Mac family
Compared with the graves here, the tomb of Mr. Mac Cuu is at the highest position, built of stone taken from Malaysia into a semicircle and cut deep into the mountain. The tomb is built according to the feng-shui technique with the back leaning on the mountain, the face facing the sea, and two statues of two generals made of large stone standing to guard.
Mac Cuu Mausoleum.
Mac Cuu Mausoleum.
The top of Mount Binh San is the place where the worshiping of heaven and earth of old and present Ha Tien takes place. Every year, on January 15 of the lunar year, there will be worshiping groups here, but the worshiping hours are different each year. On September 7 2008 at the square next to To Chau bridge – Ha Tien city, Kien Giang Provincial People’s Committee held the inauguration of the monument of Mac Cuu celebrity in recognition of his merit to Ha Tien.
Some hotels are near the relic area
For those who are far away when visiting the relic area of Mac Cuu mausoleum, refer to the following resting addresses.
– Sam My Hotel: 53 Nguyen Phuc Chu, Quarter 1, Phao Dai Ward, Ha Tien Town, Kien Giang. Room rate: 22 $ / night.
– Du Hung II Hotel: 83 Tran Hau, Phao Dai, Ha Tien, Kien Giang province. Room rate: 15 $ / night.
– Hai Phuong Hotel: 52 Dang Thuy Tram, Binh San, Ha Tien, Kien Giang Province.
– River Ha Tien Hotel: Tran Hau, Binh San, Tx. Ha Tien, Kien Giang province. Room rate: 32 $ / night.
– Kim Phat Hotel: 11-12 Hoang Van Thu, Trade Center, Fort, Ha Tien, Kien Giang province. Room rate: 14 $ / night.
