Ao Vuong – Ao Ba Om Tra Vinh History and legend

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Ao Ba Om, also known as Ao Vuong, is located in Ward 8, Tra Vinh City, Tra Vinh Province. This is one of the famous national historical and cultural relics, closely associated with the spiritual and cultural life of the Khmer people in the South.

1. Location and landscape 

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The pond is about 300m x 500m wide, almost square in shape, so it is called Ao Vuong.

Surrounding the pond is a forest of star and oil trees hundreds of years old, providing shade all year round.

This is an important cultural and spiritual activity site, often hosting the Ok Om Bok festival (Moon Worship Ceremony) of the Khmer people.

2. Legend of Ao Ba Om

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According to Khmer folklore, in the past, men and women argued about who should marry whom in marriage. Men thought that women should marry men, while women thought the opposite. The two sides then organized a competition:

Men and women dug a pond together, whoever finished first would win, and from there it would be decided “who marries who”.

The men relied on their numbers and strength to dig a very large pond. The women were few but skillful and intelligent. Mrs. Om, a wise woman, came up with a plan: that night, they lit torches and hung them high on trees, the men thought it was morning so they stopped digging and went to rest. Thanks to that, the women finished the pond first.

The result: the women won, and from then on, according to custom, men had to marry women. The unfinished pond dug by men was called Ao Vuong, and the completed pond was called Ao Ba Om to commemorate the intelligence of Khmer women.

3. Historical and cultural value

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Ao Ba Om is not only a natural beauty spot but also a symbol of Khmer culture in Tra Vinh.

 This is where the largest Ok Om Bok festival in the Southern region takes place, attracting tens of thousands of people and tourists. 

With its ancient forest of starfruit and oil trees, Ao Ba Om is also considered the "green lung" of Tra Vinh city. 

4. Recognition of relics 

In 1994, Ao Ba Om was recognized as a national historical and cultural relic. 

Currently, Ao Ba Om is a famous tourist destination, often combined with Ang Pagoda and Tra Vinh Khmer Cultural Museum, forming a unique cultural and religious complex. 

Thus, Ao Vuong - Ao Ba Om is not only a natural beauty but also contains unique folk legends, reflecting the wisdom and role of Khmer women in ancient society. 

Ao Vuong - Ao Ba Om are two famous landmarks in the Southern region, closely associated with the cultural, historical and spiritual life of Khmer and Vietnamese people. 

Ao Ba Om (Tra Vinh)

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Location: Located in Ward 5, Tra Vinh City (locals often call Ao Ba Om in Tra Vinh, but there are also areas where people mistakenly call it Soc Trang).

Characteristics: Rectangular pond, area of about 39,000 m², surrounded by hundreds of years old ancient trees, especially many star trees and oil trees providing shade.

Legend: Associated with a pond digging competition between men and women to get water for daily use. Women won thanks to their intelligence, from then on the pond was named "Ao Ba Om", symbolizing the intelligence and ingenuity of Khmer women.

Value: This is a national scenic spot, associated with the Ok Om Bok festival (moon worship) of the Khmer people of Tra Vinh.

Summary:

Ao Ba Om: historical - cultural relic, spiritual and legendary (Tra Vinh).

Photo image @duongtuanphotograph

Photo image @duongtuanphotograph

Ao Vuong: an eco-tourism and economic destination associated with shrimp farming (Ca Mau).

Do you want me to write a travel introduction that combines these two destinations as a journey to explore the South, or do you need me to analyze it from a cultural and historical perspective? 

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