The memorial site of Hoàng Thị Loan’s burial place, the mother of President Ho Chi Minh, is a historical and commemorative site associated with the years when the Nguyễn Sinh Sắc family lived in Hue. It was the burial place of Hoàng Thị Loan for approximately 20 years, from 1901 to 1922, before her remains were reinterred in her native Nghệ An.
Located among pine trees on the western slope of Bân Mountain, the site is now a place for commemorating Hoàng Thị Loan and reflects the Vietnamese tradition of “uống nước nhớ nguồn,” or remembering and honoring one’s origins and those who came before.
The Final Years of Hoàng Thị Loan’s Life
At the end of 1900, while Nguyễn Sinh Sắc was appointed as a Đề lại, an official serving at the Huong examination in Thanh Hóa, Hoàng Thị Loan gave birth to her fourth child, Nguyễn Sinh Xin.
The family was living under difficult circumstances. After giving birth, Hoàng Thị Loan became seriously ill and had no one available to provide adequate care for her. She died at the age of 33 on February 10, 1901, corresponding to the 22nd day of the 12th lunar month in the Year of the Canh Tý.
Her death occurred just before the Lunar New Year, when regulations governing funerals for ordinary people living within the Imperial City were particularly strict. According to the historical materials about the site, such funerals could not be taken through the city gates, and mourners were specifically forbidden to cry aloud.
In these circumstances, local residents quietly transported her remains by boat through Thanh Long culvert, along the Đông Ba River and into the Perfume River. They then traveled upstream toward the An Cựu River. Near the Giàng Xay junction, her remains were carried overland along the Ngự Bình route to Bân Mountain, also known as Tam Tầng Mountain, where she was buried.
The Burial Place on Bân Mountain
From 1901 to 1922, Hoàng Thị Loan’s grave was located on the slope of Bân Mountain. According to the historical materials about the site, the grave rested with its head toward the summit of Bân Mountain and faced west.
For more than 20 years, this place became part of the historical memory associated with President Ho Chi Minh’s mother in Hue. Although her remains were later reinterred in her native Nghệ An, the site has been preserved as an important historical trace associated with the Nguyễn Sinh Sắc family and their years in Hue.
Reinterment of Her Remains in Nghệ An
In 1922, Nguyễn Thị Thanh, the elder sister of President Ho Chi Minh, moved her mother’s remains back to their native Nghệ An while she was under house arrest in Hue.
Although Hoàng Thị Loan’s remains were subsequently reinterred, the former burial site where she had rested for approximately 20 years has continued to be preserved as a place of remembrance. According to the historical materials about the site, her years in Hue and her burial there left a profound mark on the historical landscape of the city.
The Memorial Stele House
To commemorate Hoàng Thị Loan, the mother who gave birth to and raised President Ho Chi Minh, and to express the Vietnamese tradition of remembering and honoring one’s roots, a memorial stele house was built at the former burial site in 1990, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh’s birth.
The memorial was built by the Party organization, local authorities and people of Hue City at the location where Hoàng Thị Loan had previously been buried.
Today, the memorial serves as a place to honor the mother of President Ho Chi Minh and provides a destination for visitors wishing to learn about the historical sites associated with his family in Hue.
A Memorial Space among the Pine Forests of Bân Mountain
The memorial site is surrounded by pine trees on the western slope of Bân Mountain. The sound of the wind moving through the pine forest creates a quiet and contemplative setting appropriate for remembrance.
Today, the site of Hoàng Thị Loan’s former burial place has become a destination for commemoration, visits and remembrance for local residents and travelers exploring Hue. Together with other sites associated with President Ho Chi Minh and his family in Hue, it contributes to the historical story of his family and the life of Hoàng Thị Loan.
The memorial site of Hoàng Thị Loan’s burial place was recognized as a provincial-level historical relic by the People’s Committee of Thua Thien Hue Province, now Hue City, under Decision No. 2461/QĐ-UBND dated October 28, 2008.
Quick Information
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Memorial Site of Hoàng Thị Loan’s Burial Place |
| Historical figure | Hoàng Thị Loan, mother of President Ho Chi Minh |
| Period of burial in Hue | 1901-1922 |
| Former burial location | Western slope of Bân Mountain, also known as Tam Tầng Mountain |
| Memorial stele house | Built in 1990 |
| Recognition | Provincial-level historical relic |
| Recognition decision | Decision No. 2461/QĐ-UBND dated October 28, 2008 |
| Address | Western slope of Bân Mountain, An Cựu Ward, Hue City |
Location: Western slope of Bân Mountain, An Cựu Ward, Hue City, Viet Nam.
