While out and about in Saigon, you might have noticed a common naming convention for geographical designations: ông or bà, plus proper name. According to local urban legends, six of Saigon’s markets might share a fascinating link — Ông Lãnh and his five wives, Bà Hạt, Bà Quẹo, Bà Hom, Bà Điểm and Bà Chiểu. Ông Lãnh is the honorific the people used to refer to Nguyễn Ngọc Thăng, better known as Lãnh Binh Thăng (1798–1866). He was a general under Emperor Tự Đức and one of the earliest leaders of t