Da Nang’s Dien Hai Citadel shows off special architectural and historical values, and it, therefore, is completely eligible to be recognised as a special national-level relic site in the coming years.

Members from the National Heritage Council visiting the remains of the citadel

The statement was officially made by some members from the National Heritage Council during their recent working visit to Da Nang.  These guests met with some representatives from the municipal governments to discuss effective measures to conserve and uphold the values of the Dien Hai Citadel and national treasures in the city.

Situated on the western side of the Han River, the Vauban-style Dien Hai Citadel had 2 gates, the main one facing south and the other facing east.  The citadel was one of the most important fortresses in Viet Nam in the 19^th century, and was recognised as a national historical relic on 16 November 1988 by the Ministry of Culture and Information.  The remains of the citadel are located at 24 Tran Phu Street, Thach Thang Ward, Hai Chau District, and the Museum of Da Nang incorporates the reconstructed walls of the citadel.

The Chairman of the Council, Professor Luu Tran Tieu, remarked that the Dien Hai Citadel relates to a historic event which marks an important change in the national history.  He explained that this 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.  Thanks this great historical value, the venue is basically eligible to be recognised as a special national-level relic site.

Fully concurring with Professor Tieu, Associate Professor Dinh Quang Hai, the Rector of the Viet Nam History Institute, also affirmed that, thanks to its strategic geographic position, the citadel plays a vital role in the defensive system at the gateway to Da Nang against both French and US invaders.

The entrance gate to the Museum of Da Nang incorporating the reconstructed walls of the citadel

Famous historian Duong Trung Quoc noted that the citadel boasts both tangible and intangible values. 
In terms of tangible values, the citadel is one of the Vauban-style fortresses to have been built in Viet Nam, especially after the reigns of emperors Gia Long and Minh Mang.  However, the citadel is amongst a few of its kind that have exited to date across the country.  It is the fact that, the Hue and Dien Hai citadels are the only two left in the central region. 

In the respect of intangible values, the Dien Hai Citadel clearly relates with Governor Nguyen Tri Phuong, and it is vivid evidence of the undaunted courage and indomitable fighting spirit of the Vietnamese soldiers and residents during their battles against the foreign invaders.

Mr Quoc also noted that the Dien Hai Citadel is indeed an ideal place to widely publicise the general values of Da Nang’s fortresses, and those in the country as a whole, to both locals and visitors.

During her recent meeting with the city’s leaders, Deputy Minister for Culture, Sports and Tourism Dang Thi Bich Lien, showed her agency’s willingness to assist Da Nang in completing all necessary documents for the recognition of the Dien Hai Citadel as a special national-level relic site.  An oral defense representation of these papers will be made in front of the National Heritage Council, and then, they will be submitted to the Prime Minister for approval.

Ms Lien also announced that, next year, 10 billion VND from the national budget will be spent on a project for restoring and embellishing the Dien Hai Citadel.

Municipal People’s Committee Vice Chairman Nguyen Ngoc Tuan vowed that the city authorities would complete the site clearance work on schedule, and ensure legal procedures for the deployment of the project. 

The local authorities will collect more constructive opinions from experts of the Council to make suitable adjustments to the city’s heritage preservation strategies in the years ahead.