Every year on the 22nd day of the tenth lunar month, Côn Đảo residents hold the death-anniversary ceremony for Prince Cải at Miếu Cậu in the Cỏ Ống area. This traditional folk religious observance is associated with the story of Prince Hội An and Lady Phi Yến. It expresses compassion for a child’s fate and respect for the bond between mother and child.
Who was Prince Cải?
Prince Cải, also known as Prince Hội An, is a figure in Côn Đảo folklore, said to have been the son of Lady Phi Yến and Lord Nguyễn Ánh.
According to the story passed down locally, while Nguyễn Ánh was taking refuge on Côn Đảo, Lady Phi Yến advised against seeking foreign assistance and was imprisoned. Learning that his mother would not accompany the fleet, Prince Cải cried and demanded to see her. In anger, his father threw him into the sea.
Prince Cải’s body is said to have washed ashore in Cỏ Ống. Moved by pity for the child, local people buried him and built a shrine, later known as Miếu Cậu or Thiếu Gia Miếu.
The story of Lady Phi Yến and Prince Cải is also recalled in a folk verse:
The wind carries Cải, the mustard plant, to heaven,
Răm, the Vietnamese coriander, remains to endure life’s bitterness.
These details belong to local legend and folk belief and should not be treated as fully verified historical events.
Prince Cải’s death anniversary on the 22nd day of the tenth lunar month
Each year, on the 22nd day of the tenth lunar month, Côn Đảo residents hold the ceremony for the young prince at the shrine in Cỏ Ống.
For the anniversary, people prepare incense, flowers, fruit, sweets and ceremonial trays according to local custom to remember Prince Cải.
The atmosphere at Miếu Cậu on this occasion is usually solemn yet welcoming, reflecting a religious tradition maintained over many generations.
For Côn Đảo residents, the anniversary is more than a commemoration of a legendary figure. It also conveys values of family affection, filial devotion and compassion.
The connection between the ceremonies for the prince and Lady Phi Yến
Prince Cải’s death-anniversary ceremony is closely connected with that of Lady Phi Yến, held annually on the 18th day of the tenth lunar month at An Sơn Shrine.
During Lady Phi Yến’s commemorations, the procession carrying Prince Cải’s spirit tablet from Miếu Cậu to An Sơn Shrine symbolizes the reunion of mother and son in local folk belief.
Following Lady Phi Yến’s anniversary, the 22nd day of the tenth lunar month gives local people another occasion to remember Prince Cải at Miếu Cậu.
The two observances help preserve the folk story of Lady Phi Yến and Prince Cải, part of the intangible cultural heritage of the Côn Đảo community.
Where is Miếu Cậu?
Miếu Cậu stands in the Cỏ Ống area, near Côn Đảo Airport and Đầm Trầu Beach.
The small shrine sits beneath leafy trees, with a peaceful setting and a worship area maintained by local people.
Visitors can combine a visit to Miếu Cậu with a trip to Đầm Trầu Beach, learning about local religious life and exploring the island’s cultural sites.
When visiting the shrine, dress respectfully, keep quiet, bring modest offerings and follow the instructions of the shrine’s caretakers.
Attending Prince Cải’s death-anniversary ceremony on Côn Đảo
Visitors interested in learning about Prince Cải’s anniversary can arrange their trip around the 22nd day of the tenth lunar month.
Because the observance follows the lunar calendar, its Gregorian date changes each year. The timing of individual rituals should also be confirmed through local announcements.
In addition to visiting Miếu Cậu, travelers can visit An Sơn Shrine, dedicated to Lady Phi Yến, to learn more about the folk story linking the two figures.
Prince Cải’s death anniversary on the 22nd day of the tenth lunar month is a cherished feature of religious life on Côn Đảo, where stories of maternal love, filial devotion and empathy are preserved across generations.
In the peaceful surroundings of Miếu Cậu, each stick of memorial incense expresses reverence and helps carry forward the island’s traditional cultural values.