Buzz
“Ancient battleground, Đống Đa's field
Scattered foes, buried bones yield a mound”
Gò Đống Đa, situated in the heart of Đống Đa district, stands as a monumental relic, a testament to the glorious victory of the heroic Quang Trung and the Vietnamese people.
The History of Gò Đống Đa
On the night of the 4th to the morning of the 5th day of the 1st month in the year of Kỷ Dậu 1789, the battle led by the righteous Tây Sơn forces under Admiral Đặng Tiến Đông shattered the Khương Thượng fortress of the Qing army, leading to the suicide of the Qing general Sầm Nghi Đống at the Đa Mountain fig tree (now near Bộc Pagoda). This battle paved the way for the forces of King Quang Trung from Ngọc Hồi to advance towards the imperial city Thăng Long. The defeated Qing soldiers were so numerous that Quang Trung ordered their bodies to be collected in 12 large pits for burial. However, the abundance of the enemy's corpses formed elevated mounds from Thịnh Quang to Nam Đồng. Over time, trees grew on these mounds, and our people named it Gò Đống Đa. In the fourth year of Tự Đức – 1851, an order was issued to open a road and market area adjacent to Thịnh Quang and Nam Đồng. During the excavation process, numerous skeletal remains were discovered, and they were collected and buried in a pit adjacent to the ancient Xưa Mountain, forming the 13th mound – the only one remaining to this day. In 1890, during the French colonial expansion of Hanoi, the original 12 mounds were leveled.
Reenactment of King Quang Trung's triumphant victory over the Qing army (Photo: Collected)
Additionally, there are various hypotheses suggesting that Gò Đống Đa is a natural mound formed approximately 4000 years ago.
Present-day Gò Đống Đa site (Photo: Collected)
Đống Đa Park and Historical Site
In 1989, commemorating the 200th anniversary of the Ngọc Hồi – Đống Đa victory, the Hanoi People's Committee decided to establish the Đống Đa Cultural Park on the grounds of Gò Đống Đa. The total area of the park is 21,745m2, consisting of two areas: the statue of King Quang Trung, exhibition house, and the old Gò Đống Đa area.
Area featuring the statue of King Quang Trung (Photo: Collected)
The statue area covers approximately 15,000m2 and features a monument of King Quang Trung made of reinforced concrete weighing 200 tons, standing at 14.65m tall, adorned with two reliefs depicting our forces in battle under the command of Quang Trung.
Monument of King Quang Trung (Photo: Collected)
Relief sculpture at Gò Đống Đa (Photo: Collected)
Behind the monument area is an exhibition house covering an area of 100m2. Outside the entrance, there is a model depicting two ancient artillery pieces used in the historical battle.
In front of the exhibition house (Photo: Collected)
The Gò Đống Đa area spans 6275m2, with the main entrance located on Tây Sơn Street. Previously, above the main gate leading to the mound, there was a Trung Liệt shrine dedicated to the souls who perished in the battle of the year Kỷ Dậu, but today, the shrine no longer exists.
Trung Liệt Shrine (Photo: Collected)
In 1990, an 8-ton stone tablet was erected on the mound's summit, engraved with the words of King Quang Trung: '…Fighting for the history to recognize the heroic ruler of the Southern country...' signifying that the heroic Southern nation has its rightful leader.
Stone tablet on the summit of Gò Đống Đa (Photo: Collected)
Gò Đống Đa Festival
The Gò Đống Đa Festival takes place on the 5th day of the Lunar New Year annually, commemorating the significant contributions of those who achieved the victory in the spring of the year Kỷ Dậu. People from all around gather here to offer incense, perform rituals, creating a joyous and lively atmosphere. The festival also features reenactments of King Quang Trung's triumphant march into Thăng Long, reviving the heroic spirit of the Tây Sơn era.
Gò Đống Đa Festival (Photo: Collected)
Through the twists and turns of time, Gò Đống Đa remains an enduring testament to a fierce battle of our nation, a source of pride for every Vietnamese citizen.
