The tombs of Minister Lê Quang Định and his wife are located next to each other in Ngũ Tây.

On Sunday morning, June 30th, a ceremony of gratitude to the tombs took place at the Ngũ Tây burial mound (An Tây ward, Hue City), to the left of Thuyền Tôn pagoda. The ceremony was simple and unpretentious, like those of any other family. But the person resting beneath the tombs was no ordinary person; it was the late Minister Lê Quang Định and his wife, Mrs. Hoàng. Their tombs, separate and side-by-side, have stood for over two hundred years, and for a very long time, seemed to have been lost. Fortunately, in recent years, they were rediscovered and information was received. Their descendants and benefactors joined forces to find and restore them to their original state. And on that day, the ceremony was completed, a "thanksgiving to the Earth God," a solemn announcement to the spirits of the late Minister and his wife.

The ceremony was simple, without any grand announcements or invitations, but when we accidentally learned about it and came to pay our respects, we occasionally saw a few journalists, researchers, and villagers from Tien Non (Phu Mau, Phu Vang, now Hue City) - the hometown of the venerable Le - also coming to offer incense with a mixture of reverence, gratitude, and joy.

The tomb was in ruins before it was found.

So who was Le Quang Dinh that he was so admired by posterity? Le Quang Dinh (1759-1813), also known as Tri Chi, and with the pen name Tan Trai, followed his older brother to Gia Dinh as a child and studied under Vo Truong Toan. He passed the imperial examinations very early (1788) and was a talented writer, poet, and painter. Along with Trinh Hoai Duc (1765-1825) and Ngo Nhan Tinh (1761-1813), he was hailed as one of the "Three Scholars of Gia Dinh" of the old Gia Dinh region. His life story, even without considering his high-ranking official positions, is enough to immortalize his name through his work, simply being the author of the book "Hoang Viet Nhat Thong Du Dia Chi".

"Hoang Viet Nhat Thong Du Dia Chi" is considered the first geographical treatise of the Nguyen Dynasty. Educator Phan Dang, who translated and annotated "Hoang Viet Nhat Thong Du Dia Chi" (the only work awarded the A prize in the 5th National Book Awards - 2022), assessed: "This book is both an official document affirming the national territory and clearly demonstrates the independent spirit and cultural heritage of a self-reliant nation in the early 19th century. Looking at the imposing form and rich, serious content of the book, one can fully appreciate the determination and strategic, correct ideological understanding of King Gia Long; the intellect and meticulous work of the author Le Quang Dinh... The vast territory from South to North described in it is a testament to the power of Vietnam in the early 19th century."

(A comprehensive book by Minister Le Quang Dinh; Phan Dang; Nguoi Lao Dong newspaper, October 5, 2022).

The tomb of Mr. Le, a respected elder, is seen from the outside; fortunately, the ancient stele of both him and his wife remains intact, with the inscriptions still legible.

After many years of being lost, some even believed that he wasn't buried in Hue but might have been moved to the South, where he had established himself and become famous alongside the "Three Masters of Gia Dinh." Unexpectedly, he and his wife remained there, resting peacefully for two hundred years amidst the rustling pines and mountain winds, and the ancient temple bells of Thien Thai. Now, their descendants have been fortunate enough to discover that, despite the ruins and overgrown vegetation, the remains of their physical form and tombstones are still there. Then, in the joy of this "reunion," with heartfelt reverence, the two tombs have been restored and renovated, shining brightly and perfectly as they once were. While not yet a historical site or tourist attraction, it will certainly be a destination for those who love history and culture, and those who feel a deep sense of gratitude to their ancestors who contributed to the nation.

Dien Thong