The epic on historical Bach Dang River

Deep in the subconsciousness of Vietnamese people, Bach Dang River has become a historical river and Bach Dang stakes have become a traditional symbol of the nation’s water-fighting art...

Bach Dang River, Quảng Yen Town

The echoing epic

In the history of national safeguarding, Bach Dang River three times witnessed our army and people’s victorious triumphs over strong invaders from the north with their wooden stakes falling into the riverbed. It was the Bach Dang victory in 938 of Ngo Quyen that defeated the Southern Han troops, opening the era of independence of the nation; In 981, Le Hoan beat invading Song forces and the peak of the military art of Dai Viet was the Bach Dang victory in 1288 under the command of military genius Tran Hung Dao (Tran Quoc Tuan).

Bach Dang River has become a legendary river, Bach Dang stakes have become a traditional symbol of the Vietnamese nation’s art of water fighting against foreign invaders. On the left bank of Bach Dang River (Quang Yen town), three large wooden stake yards have been discovered, including Yen Giang, Dong Van Muoi and Dong Ma Ngua. Dating back in the 13th century, they were remnants of the Battle of Bach Dang in 1288. Bach Dang River and its stake yards have become the historical landmarks associated with the national hero Tran Hung Dao (Tran Quoc Tuan). People of many generations in the land of Quang Yen honoured him as the village's tutelary deity and built temples, communal houses and shrines worshiping him and his courtiers who had merits in that fierce battle, forming a complex of Bach Dang Victory historical sites.

Keeping pride of the tradition of predecessors, people of the land on Bach Dang River who contributed to that historical victory, the Bach Dang Traditional Festival - one of the major festivals in Quang Ninh is held annually from the seventh to the ninth day of the third lunar month. The festival space stretches from the center of Tran Hung Dao Temple – Vua Ba Shrine, Yen Giang Communal House and Bach Dang Stake Yard to Trung Ban Communal House and Trung Coc Temple ... In particular, the procession of the statue of Saint Tran Hung Dao from his temple to Yen Giang Communal House and vice versa on the roads of Quang Yen town is a unique highlight of the festival, attracting crowds of locals and tourists. This is also a big festival with plentiful activities such as art performances, folk games such as tug of war, human chess, card game, cock fighting, and a traditional boat race on Bach Dang River.

Respecting the historical values of the nation, the relics of the Bach Dang relic complex have been named national relics (from 1988 to 2012). On September 27, 2012, the Prime Minister signed a decision recognizing the Bach Dang historical relic complex as a special national relic site. Places marking the glorious victories in the past (including 11 relic sites, temples, shrines and stake yards on Quang Yen and Uong Bi today) and areas protecting and promoting the relics have been included in the overall planning on preservation and promotion of the values of the Bach Dang historical relic complex, which was approved by the Prime Minister in early 2013.

Spreading heritage values in life

Over the past years, religious and spiritual works which are the original relics in the Bach Dang relic complex have been upgraded, such as Tran Hung Dao Temple – Vua Ba Shrine, ancient wharf, Trung Coc Temple, Trung Ban Communal House, Yen Giang Communal House, and Den Cong Communal House - Cu Linh Shrine. Most of Bach Dang relic sites are located in the province’s system of tourist routes.

Among them, the highlights are Tran Hung Dao Temple – Vua Ba Shrine, Yen Giang Communal House and Pagoda, Hang Pagoda, Bach Dang Stake Yard, Bach Dang Museum, Nam Hoa traditional fishing tool village and other relic sites such as Mo waterfall, Rung market and a safe vegetable growing model in Cong Hoa ward, Tien An. In addition, there are also the Tien Cong and Bach Dang traditional festivals, Xuong Dong festival and Cau Ngu (whale worshipping) festival. Visitors have chances to enjoy dishes in the "Quang Yen Old Quarter" and in restaurants in the areas of Chanh River and Ngu Wharf. All of these have attracted the influx of domestic tourists. Statistics show that the number of tourists to Quang Yen reached over 300,000 in 2017, bringing 145 billion VND to the locality, doubling that of the previous year, the highest ever so far.

In particular, to prepare for the 2018 National Tourism Year - Ha Long - Quang Ninh, Quang Yen town will organize many provincial-level events and programmes, including the Tien Cong Festival 2018 and a ceremony to receive a certificate recognizing the festival as a national intangible cultural heritage, and the celebration of the 1,080th and 730th anniversaries of the Bach Dang victories. A string of other cultural and sports events will also be held such as the Bach Dang traditional boat race, a contest entitled “the Bach Dang tradition with the education of history, patriotism and national pride among young generations”, a competition looking for the most excellent narrator of Quang Yen, artistic painting and photo exhibitions, the opening of the Chanh River and Ngu Wharf cuisine street, and the traditional Bach Dang Festival.

Article by Phan Hang