About in the middle of 19th century, eighteen betel garden hamlets gathered at Hoc Mon area (now in Ho Chi Minh city).
Previously this was just a wild land with dense and thorny land. Around it, there used to be some hamlets founded. The betel seemed to adapt to climate and soil here, so they were grown a lots. Thus forming the name "Betel garden". The most famous might be Ba Diem hamlet. Ba Diem betel, Ba Diem area were extremely interested in. When this land has become prosperous, residents have concentrated here more and more crowded to build villages and markets. According to legend, this village was founded by the labour of two talented ancestors Mr Cao Due Lan and Mr Pham Van Quynh. Their home was Tan Thoi Nhat village, so. when arriving this land, they named it Tan Thoi Nhi means eighteen betel garden hamlets or Hoc Mon.
This is a traditional land which has been famous for its peasant rebellions from the feudal time of Nguyen reign. People in this region always unite and help to each others. In order to self defend and oppose fierce animals, all boys here are equiped superior military. Eighteen betel garden hamlet could be considered as one of typical regoing for immigrants' spirit coming here from the Middle and the North to break ground. This is the most heroic land of Sai Gon. The rebellion planed to occupy Hoc Mon, then, continued to occupy Sai Gon. If Sai Gon was released, all six provinces were also liberated. At the night of the 30th in the early morning of 1st of New Year holiday 1885, a thousand of righteous soldiers occupied Hoc Mon, killed the blood thirsty provincial chief Ca - a loyal lackey of French enemy who was detested by people. The leader of this rebellion was Phan Van Hon. After occuping Hoc Mon, the righteous army advanced towards Sai Gon. Arriving to Quan Tre, the troop was divided into two groups. One went straight towards Sai Gon. The other one got in touch with the city and lay in ambush outside to give strength when hearing command. When the first group came to Binh Hoa, they encountered the army of Franch and lost. The second one was dissolved by itself when knowing that. When military court judged this event, the enemy decided to sentence to death 14 persons in which including Pham Van Hon and Nguyen Van Qua. Two these persons were worshipped in their shrines built by people.
Beside the shrine worshipping Phan Van Hon and the temple of Nguyen Van Qua, in Hoc Mon, there is the communal house of Tan Thoi Nhi village which is quite magnificent in the architectural style of communal house in the Middle. Its roof was firstly paved with thatch. Later, it was restorated mightier. The communal house is for worshipping tutelary god with the nomination of the 5th Tu Due dynasties title. Every year, there are two times of sacrifice on 14th of 2nd and 14th of 12th lunar months. Dignitaries in the village take pigs and steamed glutinous rice to offer in the festival. Beside the communal house is the pagoda built by overseas Chinese. The pagoda is for worshipping Quan De divine being, not worship Buddha. This is as well a cultural vestige of eighteen betel garden hamlets.
