VESTIGES OF BACH DANG GIANG

On March 22, 1988, on the occasion of the 700th anniversary of the victory of Bach Dang, the site was officially recognized as a historic site. Bach Dang is the river on which the Vietnamese defeated the conquerors from the North three times. In 939, General Ngô Quyên defeated the 20,000 Chinese naval troops from Canton; in 981, Le Hoan repulsed those of the Song. The most famous battle is related to the victory of general Trân Hung Dao over the Mongolian troops of Kubilai commanded by Omanhi, in 1288. In 1985, stakes were discovered in Bach Dang, witnesses of the tactics used by this general. At low tide, the Vietnamese had planted stakes at the bottom of the river. When the tide changed, the stakes, covered by the water, disemboweled the boats of the Mongolian troops that were entering the river. In one day, more than 300,000 enemies were killed or taken prisoner and more than 400 warships were destroyed. The Mable Garden is a garden with a pillar commemorating the victory. This archaeological site is not spectacular and the excursion will be of interest to history buffs. Several recently erected temples are also worth a visit, including those dedicated to the kings Ngo Nguyenn, Le Dai Hanh and Trang Hung Dao. The Victory Square was built on the river in homage to these three national heroes, whose statues proudly stand on this unusual floating square.