Cemeteries and memorials to visit Vietnam

The memorial is in the form of a white obelisk surrounded by a low wall. It was erected on his own initiative and built by Rolf Rödel (1928-1999), former sergeant of the Foreign Legion, who fought in Diên Biên Phu as commander of the 10th Company Commando of the ^3rd Battalion of the ^3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment (REI). The memorial was inaugurated on 7 May 1994 on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Battle of Dien Bien Phu. The maintenance of the monument was the subject of an agreement between the authorities of the province of Diên Biên and the French Embassy in Hanoi.

This temple-tomb is located 3 km from the centre of Saigon, towards the north-east. Restored by the École française d'Extrême-Orient, grandiose in size and in the richness of the objects found there, it is dedicated to General Lê Van Duyêt (1763-1832), a great servant of Emperor Gia Long, founder of the Nguyên dynasty. Appointed governor of Gia Dinh (former name of Saigon), the general worked to develop the wasteland, transformed into rice fields and villages. A friend of the French, the general experienced a period of disgrace after 1975. On entering, one notices a plaque commemorating the restoration carried out by the French in 1937. This temple has often been degraded or looted. Today it is well maintained.

The adventures of General Lê Van Duyêt are very well known and, for the Têt festival, the Vietnamese come to pay homage to the general who rests in the temple next to his wife. In his time, the general helped the future emperor Gia Long in his fight against the Tây-Son. Favorable to the introduction of Western civilization, he refused to apply the royal edict of Minh Mang, successor of Gia Long, aiming at persecuting the missionaries and the Catholics. As the general was condemned posthumously, his tomb was destroyed by order of Emperor Minh Mang. His memory was rehabilitated by Emperor Thieu Tri (who reigned from 1841 to 1847) and the tomb restored in 1937. It is said that those who come to this pagoda on pilgrimage have all their wishes granted.