Traditional festival commemorating the 290th anniversary of the death of the founding leader Mac Cuu.

The traditional festival commemorating the 290th anniversary of the death of Governor Mac Cuu (1735-2025) is an opportunity for the people of Ha Tien city and tourists from inside and outside the province to express their deep gratitude, remember and recall the biography and merits of the Governor of Ha Tien in particular and the Mac family in general, demonstrating the principle of remembering the source of one's blessings towards the ancestors who contributed to the founding and development of the ancient Ha Tien town.

The opening art program of the festival, themed "The Merits of Our Ancestors," commemorating the 290th anniversary of the death of the founder of Ha Tien, Mac Cuu, will recreate the land of Ha Tien with its beautiful natural landscape, distinctive cultural characteristics, and glorious historical traditions, aiming to portray the great contributions of Mac Cuu in the process of reclaiming this land.

Over three centuries have passed, and many historical and cultural events have taken place in the land of Ha Tien. However, the contributions of our ancestors, those who played a key role in developing this land, will forever be cherished and honored by generations. These historical and cultural values are also an important foundation for Ha Tien to reach new heights, as envisioned by our ancestors in the name of this beloved land.

Ha Tien, a land at the southwesternmost tip of Vietnam, has always been closely associated with the life and career of Mr. Mac Cuu. His name is always linked to the history of the formation and development of the Ha Tien region. He was born in 1655 and died in 1735; he was of Chinese origin. His hometown was Leizhou Prefecture, Guangdong Province, China.

In 1680, he led a group of Chinese migrants by boat to the far south to find a place to settle. Mac Cuu arrived in the Ha Tien region. In August 1708, Mac Cuu sent someone to prepare offerings and dispatched his subordinates to Thuan Hoa to present gifts, pledge allegiance, and request to be appointed as the governor of Ha Tien, offering the land to Dai Viet. Lord Nguyen Phuc Chu approved and appointed Mac Cuu as the General Commander of Ha Tien, with the title of Cu Ngoc Hau; officially renaming the region Ha Tien.

In 1735, Mac Cuu fell ill and passed away, and was posthumously awarded the title "Founder of the State - Grand General Vu Nghi Cong" by Lord Nguyen. From then on, Mac Thien Tich, Mac Cuu's eldest son, was allowed by Lord Nguyen to inherit his father's legacy, holding the position of Grand Commander-in-Chief of Ha Tien.

On this occasion, the Chairman of the People's Committee of Kien Giang province presented the decision approving the urban development program for Ha Tien city and the Ha Tien Border Gate Economic Zone until 2040. The Chairman of the People's Committee of Ha Tien city awarded certificates of merit to two collectives for their outstanding achievements in advising on the city's urban development program.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/van-hoa/le-hoi-truyen-thong-ky-niem-290-nam-ngay-mat-duc-khai-tran-mac-cuu-144902.html