Nguyen Huu Canh

Lễ Thành Hầu Nguyễn Hữu Cảnh or Nguyễn Hữu Kính, Hán tự:阮有鏡, (1650–1700?) was a general of Lord Nguyễn Phúc Chu. He is considered the one who established territorial sovereignty for Vietnam in Saigon and Gia Dinh regions in 1698. From that time, these regions officially became part of Vietnam.

Nguyễn Hữu Cảnh was born in Lệ Thủy District, Quang Binh Province, Bac Trung Bo, Vietnam (then part of Dang Trong). In 1698, Canh was sent by Nguyen Phuc Chu to the south. He founded Gia Dinh garrison there. He called on people from many place in Central Vietnam to settle in these regions. He ordered the building of roads, canals, markets. Saigon was turned into a busy port city since then.