Produced by Yen Dangthingoc - Xuan Son secondary school’s co-ordinator teacher, Dong Trieu-Quang Ninh-Vietnam.

Bach Dang River is a river in northern Vietnam, located near Ha Long bay. It is 32 km long.It starts at Rung ferry – Hai Phong and ends at Nam Trieu door-Hai Phong. It flows through Yen Hung district of Quang Ninh province as well as the Thuy Nguyen district of Hai Phong.Bach Dang River has been the site of three important battles in Vietnamese history: in 938 resulting in Vietnamese independence, in 981, and in 1288, where General Tran Hung Dao employed tactics used in 938 to drive out Mongol invaders.

At the Battle of Bach Dang River in 938 the Vietnamese forces, led by Ngo Quyen, defeated the invading forces of the Southern Han of China and put an end to centuries of Chinese imperial domination in Vietnam. It took place at Bach Dang River, near Ha Long bay in northern Vietnam.

Battle of Bach Dang in 938

History of Bach Dang River

• The Battle of Bach Dang (981) was an important battle in the history of Vietnam's struggle against the domination of China to their north. It took place at the Bach Dang River, near Ha Long bay in northern

Vietnam.

For centuries China had treated Vietnam as a province of China In a preceding battle, the Battle of Bach Dang rivers (938), China had attacked Vietnam.The Vietnamese forces were led by Ngo Quyen. He embedded spikes in the river with iron tips that sank the enemy's boats, thus defeating China and first ending China's domination of Vietnam.

Bach Dang’s stake field

 

Bach Dang Stake - YardLocation: Located in the marshy zone of Yen Giang Commune, Yen Hung District, Quang Ninh Province, that borders the Chanh River.Characteristics: The stake-yard is the site where Tran Hung Dao, a national hero of the 13th century, is forever honoured.

• The Battle of Bach Dang, which took place at the Bach Dang River, near Ha Long Bay in present-day northern Vietnam, was a battle between Dai Viet and the invading army of the Yuan Dynasty. It's considered part of the Third Mongol Invasion(1287-88).

In the Battle of Bach Dang in 981 CE, the invasion troops of China's newly-founded ruling dynasty, the Song Dynasty, attacked Dai Co Viet with both a navy at Bach Dang River’s 's mouth and an infantry force at Chi Lang (Lang Son).Le Hoan arranged two ambushes at these sites.The first ambush in Bach Dang destroyed most of the Song navy and the second wiped out the remaining Song army and ended the invasion.

• In 1288 after the evacuation from the capital Thang Long (present-day Ha Noi), Dai Viet's Grand Commander Tran Hung Dao decided to launch an offensive against the Mongolians on the Bach dang river and immediately set to organize the battle.

• The Bach Dang River ran through Yen Hung district (in Quang Ninh province) and Thuy Nguyen (in Hai Phong) before reaching the sea. This is where the well-known battle of Ngo Quyen against the Southern Han(Nam Han) took place in 938 A.D. It was from March, Tran Hung Dao was already there to prepare the battlefield. He borrowed the same tactic that Ngo Quyen used against the Chinese in 938. He studied the tidal law, had beds of stakes planted under the water and arranged ambushes in a unified plan of campaign.

• As was foreseen, the Mongolians in Thang Long suffered an acute shortage of food. Without any news about the supply fleet, Prince Toghan found himself in a tight corner and had to order his army to retreat to Van Kiep. This was when Dai Viet's Army began the general offensive by recapturing a number of locations occupied by the Mongol invaders. Groups of partisans were given orders to harass the enemy in Van Kiep, putting them at a loss. Toghan had to split his army into two and retreat.

• In early April the supply fleet led by Omar and escorted by infantry fled home along the Bach Dang river. As bridges and roads were destroyed and attacks were launched by Dai Viet's troops, the Mongols reached Bach Dang. Dai Viet's small flotilla engaged in battle and pretended to retreat. The Mongols eagerly pursued Dai Viet troops and fell into their pre-arranged battlefield. Thousands of Dai Viet's small boats from both banks quickly appeared, fiercely launched the attack and broke the combat formation of the enemy. Inflicted with a sudden and strong attack, the Mongols tried to withdraw to the sea in panic. Hitting the stakes, their boats were halted, many of which were broken and sunk. At that time, a number of fire rafts quickly rushed toward them. Frightened, the Mongolian troops jumped down to get to the banks where they were dealt a heavy blow by a big army led by the Tran king and Tran Hung Dao.

• The Mongolian supply fleet was totally destroyed. Omar was captured.• At the same time, Dai Viet's Army made continuous attacks and smashed

to pieces Toghan’s army on its route of withdrawal through Lang Son. Toghan risked his life making a shortcut through forests to flee home.

 Located in the marshy zone of Yen Giang Commune, Yen Hung District, Quang Ninh Province, that borders the Chanh River, the stake-yard is the site where Tran Hung Dao, a national hero of the 13th century, is forever honored.It was officially recognized as one of Vietnam’s historic vestiges on March 22, 1988; the 700th anniversary of a great victory at Bach Dang against Mongol invaders.Bach Dang Victory in 1288 was a glorious victory, which marked in the Vietnamese history against the invaders, and the Stake – Yard in Yen Giang Lagoon was an evidence of the glorious feat of arms and force of 7,000,000kg rice food led by Truong Van Ho went to Thang Long by road and water way.The ruling Tran Court organized a plan of strategic withdrawal, and established guerrilla warfare to wear down their enemy. The invading forces dwindled, tried by both the climate and the constant attacks and were forced to withdraw. Tran Hung Dao had his men plant steel-tipped wooden stakes in the bed of the Bach Dang River to create a line of defense blocking the Mongol retreat.

Bach Dang victory historical site