Quang Tri Citadel in Vietnam DMZ

Introduction

Quang Tri Citadel – an ancient citadel located on the Thach Han river in Quang Tri province, Vietnam. This place is known for the fierce 81-day battle to keep the citadel in the history of the Vietnam War.

Today, the ancient Citadel has become a must-see attraction when traveling to the demilitarized zone of Vietnam. It is considered a cemetery without graves. This is a common grave of Vietnamese soldiers who heroically sacrificed for the peace and reunification of the country.

In addition to the ancient citadel of Quang Tri, there are other relics such as Vinh Moc Tunnels, Hien Luong Bridge – Ben Hai River, Khe Sanh Combat Base, and so on. If you are a lover of war history, the Vietnam DMZ tour from Hue of Hoi An Private Taxi is a perfect choice. You can visit all the places in the demilitarized zone Vietnam.

Quang Tri Citadel’s History

Under the Nguyen feudal dynasty period

Quang Tri Ancient Citadel has an area of 25ha, located in the center of Quang Tri town. It was built under the Nguyen Dynasty during the reign of the Gia Long Emperor. Later on, the Minh Mang Emperor completed the construction, lasting nearly 28 years (1809-1837).

It includes palaces, flagpoles, agencies (Ty Phien, Tuan Phu Palace, jail), and so on. Plus, the Emperor gave a decree to construct some defensive works. For instance, fortresses, shooting walls, tunnels, fighting trenches, and so on.

Additionally, the citadel was initially built with soil, and in 1837, the Minh Mang emperor ordered it to be rebuilt with bricks. Thus, the Citadel is square with a perimeter of 2160m long, 3m high wall, 13.5m thick at the foot, 0.72m thick at the top.

Moreover, outside the citadel is a comprehensive moat system surrounding it. The four corners of the citadel are four tall fortresses that protrude out. Plus, the citadel has 4 gates: front, back, left, and right. They are built with a rolled arch, 3.4m wide, a gazebo, a curved roof, and a tiled roof.

All four gates are located in the middle of the 4 sides of the citadel and follow the East, the West, the South, and the North. In the years 1809-1945, the Nguyen Dynasty used it as a military stronghold and administrative headquarters.

During the Vietnam war years

Quang Tri ancient citadel under the French colony

During the period of French colonialism and domination, the French army chose Quang Tri Ancient Citadel as one of the important bases of the military fortress system.

Since 1929, France has built an additional prison system and expanded and solidified the jail. They used it as a place of detention for patriots and revolutionary soldiers in the province and region.

Quang Tri citadel in the American – Ngo Dinh Diem period

The Geneva Agreement was signed on July 20, 1954, according to the agreement on the 17th parallel as the temporary dividing boundary. Hence, a part of Quang Tri from the Ben Hai River back was liberated.  However, the districts from Gio Linh back to Hai Lang became a new type of American empire.

From 1954 to 1971, the construction of the Nguyen Dynasty in the citadel was severely damaged. After that, the Saigon government (Ngo Dinh Diem) turned this place into a barracks, a stadium, a prison, and built many bunkers.

America and the Saigon government turned the Quang Tri citadel into a military zone, a military treasure, and a command center for the entire province. At the same time, they opened more prisons to suppress the revolutionary movement.

The strategic offensive in 1972

The second battle of Quang Tri citadel is also called Operation Lam Sơn 72. This battle began on 28 June 1972 until 16 September 1972. Thus, this is a historic battle that lasted 81 days and nights. Plus, it was one of the fiercest battles of the 1972 Spring Summer Campaign in the Vietnam War.

After opening the Tri Thien Campaign in March 1972 and after two counter-attacks from March 30 to May 1, 1972. As the result, the South Vietnamese Liberation Army gained control of the entire Quang Tri province.

However, after losing Quang Tri, the enemy planned an attack to recapture Quang Tri town in July and the whole Quang Tri province in September 1972. On June 13, 1972, Nguyen Van Thieu decided to launch an operation codenamed “Lam Son 72”. The first and foremost goal was to capture the Quang Tri Ancient Citadel.

In the history of the Vietnam war, there has never been an operation that big scale ever. The main goal was to capture a citadel with a circumference of less than 2,000m, but the enemy mobilized a very powerful force like that. It was the support of the US fleet, a series of B52 bombers, a huge amount of bombs and bullets in the campaign to recapture Quang Tri ancient Citadel.

For 81 days and nights from June 28 to September 16, Quang Tri town is like a warehouse for bombs and bullets. On average, each day, the enemy mobilized 150-170 times of jet aircraft and 70-90 times of B52s to bomb the town and the ancient citadel of Quang Tri.

Therefore, with an area of ​​​​less than 3 square kilometers, in 81 days and nights, the town and the ancient citadel suffered 328,000 tons of bombs and bullets. On average, each of Vietnam’s soldiers had to bear 100 tons of bombs, 200 bullets, and so on. It was equivalent to the destructive power of 7 atomic bombs that the American army dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, in 1945.

There was a day when the number of bombs dropped by the US in Quang Tri exceeded the number of bombs dropped by the US throughout the South in 1968-1969. The most intense was on July 25, when the town suffered 35,000 shells from the US, not to mention bombs from aircraft.

Consequently, after 81 days and nights, this whole town and citadel were razed. Only traces of some sections of the citadel remain, the prison, the front gate, the back gate…

Quang Tri Citadel Today

After the Vietnam War ended, they restored the system of trenches, bridges, culverts, some sections of the citadel and front gates. This work lasted from 1993 to 1995. Nowadays, Quang Tri ancient citadel is a must visit attraction in Vietnam DMZ. Quang Tri ancient citadel today has many relics as follow:

The memorial monument

The memorial monument in Quang Tri citadel is modeled as a common grave built in 1997. Furthermore, this mass grave is designed according to the concept of yin and yang philosophy. It has a deep meaning of freeing the souls of the dead.

At the foot of the tomb is covered in an octagonal shape representing the trigrams. In addition, the four steps going up represent the four statues, and the incense offering floor is the Luong Nghi (yin and yang) floor.

They believed that in this life, yin and yang always have close relationships. For example, between heaven and earth, between day and night, and between the living and the dead, which is the form of yin and yang.

Besides, yin and yang never work independently, but always in yin there is yang, and in yang, there is also yin. Thus, yin and yang always blend together. Along with that, there are 81 steps going up, symbolizing 81 days and nights of fighting in the ancient citadel of Quang Tri.

Most notably, in the negative half, people make a red lamp to represent the yang in the yin. This lamp has a height of 8.1m, representing 81 days and nights. Plus, it is likened to the “lamp of heaven’s destiny”. It has the sacred function of conveying the souls of liberation soldiers from the underworld to eternity.

On top of the lamp, there is a fire that means the glory of the 81-day and night-and-death battle for the country on the battlefield of Quang Tri. In the middle of the divine destiny tree, people make three clouds representing the three talents: Heaven – Earth – Human. It means being a bridge between heaven, earth and human.

According to the custom of Asians, we often offer rice to the deceased, so on the lamp, people put 3 bowls of rice to symbolize that meaning. Otherwise, the other half of the yang is paved with red brick, which is the color of life and proliferation. On the yang part, there is a round hole representing the yin in yang, the yin in the yang.

In the middle is the place to put the soldier’s luggage: A pair of rubber sandals, an AK gun, a backpack, and so on.  Besides, there are 81 reliefs which are 81 calendar papers recording day by day of the 81-day of Quang Tri Citadel battle. Those reliefs display the battle lasted from June 28 to September 16, 1972, following anticlockwise.

Quang Tri ancient citadel museum

The exhibition house (Quang Tri Citadel Museum) was built in 2002, located in the southeast corner of the citadel. It currently displays many images, documents, and artifacts. Those items are associated with the battle of Quang Tri Citadel in the 81 days and nights of the history of the “Red Summer of 1972.”

Bell tower of Quang Tri ancient citadel

The bell tower was inaugurated on April 29, 2007; bells are struck on holidays, full moon days… in remembrance of the souls of martyrs. What’s else? The bronze bell has a height of 3.9 meters, a diameter of 2.15 meters, and a weight of nearly 9 tons. They hung this bell on a tower with a height of nearly 10 meters.

Memorial house and Hoa Dang wharf

They built the memorial house and Hoa Dang wharf on the riverbank of the Thach Han river. This aim is to pay tribute to the soldiers who fought and sacrificed for the country.

Therefore, on Invalids and Martyrs’ Day (July 27) in Vietnam, the local government often holds a ceremony. They will drop lights and flowers on the Thach Han River to commemorate martyrs on both sides of the river.

In addition, Quang Tri ancient citadel also has other relics. For example, the bomb crater, which has an area of 24m2, 2.5m deep, is located north of the citadel, the Long Hung church, etc.

On the whole, Quang Tri ancient citadel is a crucial place to educate patriotic traditions for Vietnamese people. Also, it is an appealing attraction for domestic tourists and international friends. To better understand and intuitively come to the citadel, visitors will be guided to visit the museum here.

The museum displays keepsakes and recreates all the history of Quang Tri Citadel. From its construction to the day of reunification of the country of Vietnam. Hoi An Private Taxi hopes that the information we provide will be useful to you.