The Memorial Festival of “Ba Lon Tuong” (the Great Lady General) Le Kim Dinh takes place annually on the 18th and 19th days of the eighth lunar month at Dinh Ba Ong Lang in Phu Quoc. This sacred event is dedicated to praying for peace, safe voyages, prosperity, and remembering the wife of national hero Nguyen Trung Truc—who lost her life amid the turmoil of resistance in Cua Can more than a century ago.
Each year, locals and visitors gather at Dinh Ba Ong Lang to offer incense, express gratitude, pray for calm seas and good fortune, and even seek blessings for love and family happiness. Beyond its spiritual significance, the festival is an opportunity for the community to reflect on the turbulent history of the anti-colonial resistance in the Rach Gia–Phu Quoc region.
A Festival Honoring a Woman Who Fell Amid the Flames of War
According to local memory and oral tradition, Lady Le Kim Dinh—known affectionately as “Ba Lon Tuong”—was the consort of Nguyen Trung Truc, one of the most revered anti-French heroes in southern Vietnam. She perished during the French military campaign that forced the resistance force to retreat toward Cua Can in the late 19th century.
Historical records note that during the chaotic withdrawal, the Lady had just given birth and was physically weakened. When caught in a heavy storm, she stopped at the shrine of Ba Kim Giao to borrow a ceremonial parasol for shelter. But the continued downpour and harsh winds caused her health to collapse, and she passed away along the route.
Historical Sources on the Life and Death of Lady Le Kim Dinh
Two major documents reference her story: Nam Phong Magazine (1927) and Hai Dao Phu Quoc (1974).
Nam Phong Magazine – Issue No. 124 (December 1927)
Scholar Đông Hồ, in his essay “Visiting Phu Quoc Island,” described the French pursuit of Nguyen Trung Truc’s forces. He recounted that Lady Le Kim Dinh—referred to as Co Dieu in oral tradition—was too weak after childbirth to withstand the storm:
“Weakened after giving birth, she borrowed a parasol at the shrine of Ba Kim Giao. On the way, she was struck by wind and rain and passed away… Her grave lies on the southern side of Cua Can, on the sandy shore, and is still there.”
He also mentioned Co Do, another consort of Nguyen Trung Truc, who was lost during the retreat and never found.
Hai Dao Phu Quoc (1974)
A publication by the Phu Quoc Middle School Library in 1974 confirmed that Lady Dieu and Lady Do were originally from Rach Gia and had joined the resistance before Nguyen Trung Truc relocated to Ha Tien. The document states that locals referred to Lady Dieu as “Ba Lon Tuong” because she was the wife of the commanding general.
The text also describes her burial: “Bà Dieu gave birth to a baby boy and passed away shortly after… The people believed her death occurred because she did not lower her parasol when passing the shrine—though this remains a matter of folklore.”
Her grave was originally covered with earth and wooden planks, maintained by philanthropist Nguyen Van Da (Ba Ho Da). In 1968, the community raised funds to rebuild the tomb in stone. The site was recorded as lying on the left bank of Cua Can creek, roughly ten meters inland from the shore.
Spiritual Significance of the Festival
For the people of Phu Quoc—especially those living in Cua Can—Ba Lon Tuong symbolizes protection, compassion and resilience. Fishermen stop by her shrine before every voyage, offering prayers for safe passage and calm seas.
To the broader community, the memorial festival represents:
- Gratitude to a woman who sacrificed her life during the fight for national independence
- Preservation of local history often absent from official chronicles
- Celebration of moral virtues deeply rooted in the culture of coastal communities
- A shared identity that connects generations of island residents
A Bridge Between Past and Present
The Memorial Festival of “Ba Lon Tuong” Le Kim Dinh is more than a spiritual tradition—it is a living narrative of courage, loyalty and cultural memory. Through incense, rituals and community gatherings, the people of Phu Quoc honor a woman whose life intertwined with heroism and tragedy, forever linking her story to the island’s identity.
For visitors, the festival offers a rare insight into the spiritual fabric of Phu Quoc—where the sea is both a home and a frontier, and where legends of sacrifice continue to echo through the generations.
