Situated on the western side of the Han River, the Dien Hai Citadel was originally called Dien Hai Fortress.  It was originally built near Da Nang’s estuary in 1813 under the reign of Emperor Gia Long.  Then, in 1823, it was moved inland and rebuilt in brick on a hillock during the reign of Emperor Minh Mang.  It was renamed the Dien Hai Citadel in 1835.

In 1847, during Emperor Thieu Tri’s reign, the citadel’s perimeter was expanded to 556m, with a surrounding 3m-deep moat and a wall over 5m high.  The Vauban-style brick citadel had 2 gates, the main one facing south and the other facing east.  In the past, it consisted of Hanh Cung (the royal stop-over residence), Ky Dai (the flagpole), warehouses where food and ammunition were stockpiled, and 30 large cannon emplacements.

The Dien Hai Citadel in the past

Dien Hai Citadel under attack from French troops on 1 September 1858

The Dien Hai Citadel witnessed the victory of Viet Nam over the French-Spanish troops invading the country in 1858.  At that time, the Vietnamese army comprised more than 4,000 militants from Nam Ngai and Binh Phu provinces, under the leadership of Governor Nguyen Tri Phuong.  The citadel was an important military rampart at that time and played a vital role in defeating the attacks by the French invaders in the 1858 - 1860 period.  A majestic statue of Governor Nguyen Tri Phuong was later built on the site to commemorate the city’s glorious history.

The majestic statue of Governor Nguyen Tri Phuong

After nearly 200 years, most of the Dien Hai Citadel has now been destroyed by war and time, and only a few relics are left, including its walls on the west and east sides and two 19th century cannons from the Nguyen Dynasty.  The remains of the citadel are located at 24 Tran Phu Street, Thach Thang Ward, Hai Chau District.  The Museum of Da Nang incorporates the reconstructed walls of the citadel, and the site has been restored and is expected to become an attraction for both domestic and foreign visitors.

Part of the citadel walls

19th century cannons from the Nguyen Dynasty

The entrance gate to the Museum of Da Nang

Due to its cultural and historical value, the Dien Hai Citadel was recognised as a national historical relic on 16 November 1988 by the Ministry of Culture and Information.  A relic stele was erected at the site on 25 August 1998.

The more-than-a-century-old banyan tree

Visitors to this relic site will also be deeply impressed with a more-than-a-century-old magnificent banyan tree which provides shade to the mossy citadel walls and the entrance gate to the Museum of Da Nang.