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| The Quang Tri Ancient Citadel, a special national relic, is located in the center of Quang Tri ward, Quang Tri province__Photo: Hoang Hieu/VNA |
Nestled in the heart of Quang Tri ward, Quang Tri province, the Quang Tri Ancient Citadel dates back centuries and has witnessed the rise and fall of the country, in times of war and peace.
The Citadel has been renowned for the 81-day-and-night battle in 1972 (from June 28 to September 16), one of the fiercest battles during the country’s resistance war against the U.S., which turned the Citadel into a symbol of patriotism and indomitable will. On December 9, 2013, it was officially recognized as a special national relic, honoring its profound significance in the nation’s arduous yet heroic journey toward independence and freedom.
Initial architecture
According to historical documents, the Citadel was originally built in the area which is now Trieu Phong 1 commune, during the reign of King Gia Long. In 1809, King Gia Long ordered the Citadel to be relocated to the-now Quang Tri ward. Initially, the Citadel was made of earth and rebuilt once with bricks in 1837 under the reign of King Minh Mang.
The Citadel was of the Vauban architectural style, a type of military fortress popular in the 17th-century Europe, developed by military engineer Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban. This architectural style is characterized by a square shape, four corner bastions, thick walls, and surrounding moats to enhance defense capabilities.
The Citadel stands over 4 meters high with a perimeter of more than 2,000 meters. It is protected by a surrounding moat system, with each corner reinforced by a protruding bastion, forming a solid defense structure. However, the structure also bears the hallmarks of traditional Vietnamese architecture, reflected in its brick and stone materials, solid gates with curved arch roofs. This blend creates a strong yet harmonious construction, well-suited to Vietnam’s military needs and climate conditions.
Located in a strategic position on the bank of Thach Han river, a key waterway in Central Vietnam, the Citadel was not only a workplace for feudal officials but also served as a strategic defense post in northern Central Vietnam.
The 81-day-and-night historic event
The Quang Tri Ancient Citadel is closely associated with the heroic 81-day-and-night battle of the nation. It is regarded as a “cemetery without graves” for the heroic martyrs who laid down their lives for the independence of the Fatherland.
Looking back at the history, after the Dien Bien Phu victory in 1954, the Geneva Accords negotiated in the same year divided the country into North and South by the 17th parallel in Quang Tri province as the dividing line. In early 1972, the Liberation Army of South Vietnam launched the Spring-Summer Offensive, carrying out a strategic attack across the South, in which the Tri-Thien battlefield (covering Quang Tri and Thua Thien provinces) was the primary direction of the attack. In May 1972, the Liberation Army of South Vietnam seized control of the entire Quang Tri province. In mid-June 1972, the Republic of Vietnam Army launched a counter-offensive to regain Quang Tri in order to take advantages of negotiation in the Paris Agreement, with the Citadel being a strategically important target. This was the fiercest battle dubbed “the summer of red fire”, involving an unprecedented concentration of firepower.
During the 81-day-and-night period, the US and Republic of Vietnam Army forces dropped more than 328,000 tons of bombs and shells on the Citadel. To defend the Citadel, more than 4,000 soldiers courageously fought and fell, offering their youth and dreams to the Fatherland’s soil.
After the battle, the Citadel was almost completely destroyed, with only the shape of the rampant system and some sections of brick walls bearing traces of bullets marks remaining.
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| The memorial monument for incense offering stands at the heart of the Citadel__Photo: Thanh Trung/VLLF |
Recognition as special national relic
On December 9, 2013, the Quang Tri Ancient Citadel was recognized as a special national relic, and has since undergone restoration to honor fallen soldiers and promote patriotic education.
At the heart of the Citadel lies the memorial monument, a place for people from all corners of the country to offer incense and flowers in remembrance of the heroes and martyrs who gave their lives and remain forever in this land.
The monument was built in the form of a mass grave, designed according to the yin–yang philosophical concept. Its base has an octagonal shape, symbolizing the eight trigrams, with 81 steps leading upward, symbolizing the 81 days and nights of the battle.
Above the monument is a stylized Vietnamese communal roof, with a red lamp as a symbol of destiny, a bridge between heaven and earth to guide the souls of heroes and martyrs to eternity.
Another unmissable stop is the Quang Tri Citadel Museum. Though modest in size, the artifacts inside speak volumes about the ferocity of the battle.
Today, the Citadel is not only a site of commemoration but also a place for educating patriotic traditions, helping younger generations better understand the nation’s heroic past. Its solemn atmosphere and system of memorial steles create a sacred and deeply meaningful space.
To better preserve and promote the values of historical sites and landscapes associated with the 81-day-and-night battle of 1972 in general, and the Quang Tri Ancient Citadel in particular, Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh on April 29 signed Decision 861/QD-TTg, approving the task of formulating a master plan for the preservation, renovation and restoration of these sites and related memorial locations.
According to the master plan, the preservation of the Quang Tri Ancient Citadel must prioritize historical integrity, ensuring the protection of the site’s original values, in which severely damaged and deteriorated work items will be prioritized for repair and restoration according to a defined order of urgency. In addition, visiting tours will be developed to create favorable conditions for research, learning and promotion of patriotic education, while contributing to the local socio-economic growth.- (VLLF)
