STRONGHOLD OF HIS TÂY
This citadel in downtown Son Tây was built in 1822 during the reign of Minh Mang (Nguyên dynasty).
In the centre of the small town of Son Tây, the citadel was built in 1822 during the reign of Minh Mang (Nguyên dynasty). South of the Red River, it formed a lock on the western flank of Thang Long. Built according to Vauban's fortification principles, its enclosure is drawn in a "broken line", but the whole is square in shape and covers some 1.6 ha, with sides of 400 m, and a height of around 5 m. Surrounded by a ditch preceded by a glacis, the structure is built of laterite bricks(da ong), an extremely hard stone found in local dwellings, for example in the village of Duong Lâm. Originally, the citadel was surrounded by a network of complementary fortifications: earthen levees and bamboo hedges. At the south-western corner, the moat communicates with the Tich Giang River. Defended by the Black Flags (former Taiping rebels who were expelled from China and became mercenaries for the court of Hué) of General Luu Vinh Phuoc, who put up strong resistance, the citadel fell in December 1883 before the assault of Admiral Courbet's troops. In 1924, Martial Merlin, the French governor of Indochina, decided to classify the citadel of Son Tây as a historical heritage site. In 1984, it was recognized as a "national historic site" by the Vietnamese authorities. The citadel has been restored several times. The flagpole has remained intact, as well as the side gates. A pleasant garden now makes a visit to the citadel a pleasant experience.
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