Restoration and repair of the cultural relic of Ong's tomb

The Nam Hai Mausoleum, located in Binh Thanh commune (Tuy Phong district), was recognized as a provincial-level historical and cultural relic according to Decision No. 1372/QD-UBND dated June 24, 2011, of the People's Committee of Binh Thuan province. Currently, many parts of the Nam Hai Mausoleum have deteriorated.

Local people are concerned about the lack of places for worship. Therefore, to preserve these material and spiritual cultural values and to provide a place for locals and tourists to worship and offer sacrifices annually, in August 2023, the Department of Planning and Investment approved a project to restore and renovate the Nam Hai Mausoleum in Binh Thanh commune. The project is managed by the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, with a total investment of 2,496.9 million VND from lottery funds. The scope of restoration and repair includes: the main hall with an area of 65.34 m²; the central mausoleum with an area of 52.65 m²; the worship hall with an area of 64.08 m²; the performance hall with an area of 63.84 m²; the screen with an area of 30.71 m²; as well as providing electricity, fire protection, and termite control for the entire structure. The investment in construction projects aims to restore and renovate the Ông Mausoleum cultural relic, making it a dignified and solemn place for people to come and offer incense and worship, and to attract tourists to visit and learn about it.

The Nam Hai Mausoleum, built during the reign of Emperor Minh Mang (1820-1840), is located at the foot of shifting sand dunes near the coast. Therefore, villagers regularly dredge the sand to prevent it from being buried. However, due to the fierce nature of the two wars against France and the United States, the people of Binh Thanh had to evacuate for a long period, leaving no one to look after or maintain the mausoleum. As a result, the Nam Hai Mausoleum was buried deep in sand for decades. It wasn't until 1991 that local people had the means to move thousands of cubic meters of sand and restore and repair the mausoleum. The restoration was on a large scale, including the main hall, the vestibule, and the performance hall. The structure spans an area of 1,500 square meters, with both the walls and the mausoleum walls constructed from various types of mountain stone and coral, reaching a thickness of 1.2 meters. The mausoleum does not house statues, only the remains of the deceased. The interior decoration of the mausoleum creates a solemn and magnificent atmosphere, with the color yellow symbolizing the earth as the origin of all things. The carvings feature embossed dragon motifs. Since its establishment, the Nam Hai Whale Mausoleum has received and buried dozens of whales that have washed ashore in the area in front of the mausoleum. After burial, for 2-3 years, local fishermen perform the ritual of placing the whale bones into the mausoleum for worship. Currently, the mausoleum still preserves the skeleton of the first whale that washed ashore in the late 19th century, which is also the largest whale. Every year, a major festival takes place at the Nam Hai Whale Mausoleum on the 15th and 16th of the 6th lunar month, called the main fishing festival or the Nam Hai Whale Festival. People attending the festival pray for calm seas, favorable weather, and abundant catches.

The Nam Hai Mausoleum in Binh Thanh District is located within an ancient architectural complex, attracting numerous domestic and international tourists daily who come to admire its beauty and learn about its unique cultural and historical values. Despite enduring many historical upheavals, the Nam Hai Mausoleum still retains many cultural values, most notably its unique palace-like architectural complex, a feature not found everywhere. The mausoleum expresses people's gratitude for the bounty of the sea and their admiration for the power of the Nam Hai deity.

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