Ho Chi Minh City: Tan Dinh Ward strives to preserve urban memory space

Tourists visit the Saigon-Gia Dinh Special Forces Museum. (Photo: Linh Bao)

During the resistance war against the US, house number 113A Dang Dung street, Tan Dinh ward, also known as Do Phu Coffee Shop, Dai Han broken rice was a perfect cover that helped hide revolutionary activities for many years.

The name "Do Phu" was given by Mr. Do Mien, the owner of the restaurant, with a simple meaning: "Do" is taken from his last name, and "Phu" means big house, implying that this is "the mansion of the owner of the Do family". The restaurant is famous for its typical Saigon broken rice dish, combined with kimchi - a side dish learned from Korean engineers, creating a unique cultural fusion.

This combination not only attracts diners but also helps the restaurant become a place to listen to news from Korean mercenaries, who often visit because they miss the taste of home.

According to Mr. Tran Vu Binh, son of Labor Hero Tran Van Lai, who later owned the house at 113A Dang Dung Street, this cover contributed significantly to protecting the location's secrecy, demonstrating the ingenuity of revolutionary soldiers in exploiting cultural factors to deceive the enemy.

According to comrade Nguyen Chi Minh, Party Building Committee, Tan Dinh Ward Party Committee, house number 113A has been preserved almost intact from architecture to artifacts, and has been open to serve tourists to visit and learn since 2017 until now, with thousands of visitors each year.

In June 2023, the Saigon-Gia Dinh Special Forces Museum was officially licensed by the Department of Culture and Sports of Ho Chi Minh City. This is a very special and effective museum model associated with the Saigon Special Forces relic chain.

City People's Council delegates visit house 113A Dang Dung street.

Not only that, Tan Dinh ward also has many historical and cultural relics, places associated with the development of the land of Saigon-Gia Dinh- Ho Chi Minh City. That is Ngoc Hoang Pagoda, a national architectural and artistic relic. This is one of the most sacred and ancient pagodas in Saigon, with unique religious architecture.

Tan Dinh also has Nam Chon communal house, a traditional cultural space with vibrant folk festivals, where the community connects and preserves local customs through rituals and lion dances; Tran Thanh Temple - a place to commemorate national hero Tran Hung Dao, preserving patriotism through traditional rituals and annual festivals; Tran Quang Khai stele; Xom Chua memorial stele, a place to mark the sacrifices of the people in the resistance war, evoking national pride through memorial services.

Foreign tourists visit house 113A Dang Dung street.

In particular, Tan Dinh market, one of the oldest markets in the Saigon-Ho Chi Minh City area, built in 1926, is not only a bustling shopping place but also associated with urban memories for nearly a century. With a strong French architectural imprint with three prominent bell towers - one in the middle, two side towers, Tan Dinh market impresses with its ancient look in the heart of the modern city.

Coming here, visitors can not only immerse themselves in the bustling atmosphere of market life, but can also find local specialties, famous fabrics, and popular culinary flavors imbued with the old Saigon style. In addition, visitors can explore the traditional industry of “handmade clogs”.

According to Mr. Nguyen Chi Minh, Party Building Committee, Tan Dinh Ward Party Committee, Tan Dinh Ward has organized many activities aimed at preserving relics, typically the model "Tan Dinh past and present", a program to visit and explore typical historical and cultural sites and relics in the ward.

“During the trip, tourists not only visit but also listen to historical stories from living witnesses, explore unique architecture and the spiritual life of people through many historical periods,” Mr. Nguyen Chi Minh added.

Currently, the model "Tan Dinh past and present" has been widely deployed and spread to many units and people with more than 10,000 participants, including domestic and foreign tourists. This is a typical mark for preserving and promoting traditional values, conserving historical values in the ward.

People visit Ngoc Hoang Pagoda, Tan Dinh Ward. (Photo: Chi Hung)

In the near future, Vietluxtour Travel will launch a tour to explore the city center in the dynamic Tan Binh ward. With this half-day tour, visitors will travel by vintage vespa to explore the unique structures, relics, and cultural features in Tan Dinh such as: Ngoc Hoang Pagoda, Duc Thanh Tran Hung Dao Temple, Bat Trang Ceramic Space, Tan Dinh Market. Guests will have lunch with the local specialty, Dinh Cong Trang pancake, which was honored by Michelin Guide in the Bib Gourmand category.

At the recent 1st Congress of Tan Dinh Ward Party Committee, term 2025-2030, Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Nguyen Van Duoc said that the city is facing many opportunities and advantages but also many challenges in realizing the aspiration of developing together with the nation, becoming an international megacity with green, smart, creative development, typical not only of economic strength but also of richness in culture, art, sports, entertainment and modern, dynamic lifestyle.

Therefore, Tan Dinh ward is the central locality of civilized, modern, and affectionate Ho Chi Minh City and needs to organize a more civilized, modern, and high-quality trade, service, and tourism system.

Tan Dinh promotes the value of cultural institutions in the area, turning them into resources for tourism development and economic development, contributing to creating a mark and identity for the city center in the new development stage.

LINH BAO

Source: https://nhandan.vn/thanh-pho-ho-chi-minh-phuong-tan-dinh-no-luc-gin-giu-khong-gian-ky-uc-do-thi-post923443.html