Quang Tri Citadel, a special national relic

Quang Tri Citadel is located in the center of Quang Tri town, about 2km from National Highway 1A. Ranked as a special national monument, Quang Tri Citadel is a historical symbol of the resistance war against America.

This place is associated with famous historical sites such as Hien Luong Bridge and Ben Hai River, marking the pain of the country’s division. The ancient citadel is also a witness to fierce wars, especially the 81-day and night battle in the campaign to retake Quang Tri in 1972.

In addition, Quang Tri is also famous for Ben Tat Suspension Bridge, Truong Son National Martyrs Cemetery, and the legendary Truong Son Road system, which are associated with the war to protect the Fatherland. Places such as Vinh Moc tunnels and Vinh Linh tunnel village are testament to the resilient spirit of the people of Central Vietnam throughout the resistance war.

Quang Tri Citadel is not only a historical relic, but also a part of the nation’s living memory, connecting the past and present, reminding today’s generation of the losses and sacrifices in the war to protect the country.

See more: Latest updated Quang Tri Travel Experience

About Quang Tri Ancient Citadel

Quang Tri Citadel is a military structure and the administrative headquarters of the Nguyen Dynasty in Quang Tri. It was also the provincial capital under the French and the Southern government. Standing out in the general offensive to liberate Quang Tri in 1972, the Citadel is a symbol of heroic feats and sacrifices in the war to protect Quang Tri town during 81 historic days and nights.

Geographical location

Quang Tri Citadel is located in the villages of Thach Han and Co Vu, surrounded by Thach Han River (to the West) and Vinh Dinh River (to the North). To the East and South is Trieu Hai Plain. The favorable location helps the Citadel become the political, economic, cultural, and social center of the region, connecting river, sea, and road routes.

Quang Tri ancient citadel architecture

Quang Tri Citadel is a square-shaped citadel in the Vauban style. The main architectural part that creates the general appearance of Quang Tri Citadel is the citadel structure. The inner citadel consists of structures with different functions related to an administrative center built and arranged according to general standards. Surrounding it is a moat system. Under the citadel there is a protective road. In front of each gate there is an arched bridge across the moat connecting the inside with the outside. The length of the citadel wall from the outer edge and at the four corners of the citadel is 1,040m.

From there, the entire perimeter of the citadel will be 2,160m (1040m + 1120m). The total area of ​​the entire Quang Tri citadel is 18.56ha. The citadel is 4.30m high. In the middle of the 4 sides of the citadel are gates: Front, Back, Left, Right built of bricks with arched architecture (3.4m wide), doors made of thick ironwood, above is a curved-roofed watchtower covered with yin-yang tiles.

Structure of buildings in the ancient citadel

The inner city has many architectural works built to directly serve the residence and work of the public offices of the administrative apparatus of Quang Tri province. The first important work to mention is the palace. Behind the palace are the public offices, the residence and work place of the officials of the administrative apparatus at the top of the province such as: the Governor’s Palace, the Judge’s Palace, the Governor’s Palace, the Military Commander’s Palace, the Inspectorate, the military barracks, the kitchen, the warehouse, the prison, and the prison. These works are all built according to the architectural model of the Nguyen Dynasty’s wooden houses with a load-bearing wooden frame, tiled roofs, and brick walls or wooden panels around them.

It can be said that the position of Quang Tri citadel under the Nguyen Dynasty and the following periods played the role of an administrative center rather than a military defense structure. Here, for more than 160 years under the monarchy, it was the brain of the local government apparatus representing the Hue court to exercise the rights of management and administration of the political, economic, cultural and social situation throughout the region. This is also the place where many notable historical events took place.

Hien Luong Bridge special historical relic

The truth about the battle of Quang Tri citadel

In the fierce fight against counterattacks to protect Quang Tri town for 81 days and nights of the liberation army soldiers against a large enemy force from June 28, 1972 to September 16, 1972. Quang Tri Ancient Citadel has entered history as a brilliant golden page before the admiration of the world’s people and the pride of our nation.

Quang Tri citadel battle

The 1972 spring strategic offensive of the main force of the liberation army in just over a month (March 30, 1972 – May 1, 1972) smashed the strongest strategic defense line of the US – puppet army, completely liberating Quang Tri province. This was the decisive victory at the Paris Conference. The fierce battle of Quang Tri citadel was called by the foreign press as the meat grinder of Quang Tri citadel.

To carry out the plan to retake Quang Tri province, first of all Quang Tri town, the US and puppet regime launched an operation called “Lam Son 1972” with the intention of basically completing the occupation from late May 1972 to mid-July 1972. In just 40 days, the enemy dropped 80,000 tons of bombs on Quang Tri town and its suburbs, equal to the number of bombs used in a peak month on the entire African battlefield during World War II.

81 days and nights of Quang Tri ancient citadel

After 81 days and nights of heroic fighting at Quang Tri Citadel, fighting against the enemy’s counterattacks at the Citadel/Quang Tri town, the army and people of Quang Tri overcame all difficulties, fought persistently, promoted revolutionary heroism to the highest degree, were brave, daring, courageous, and resourceful, and successively broke the enemy’s attacks. The feat at Quang Tri Citadel entered the history of the revolutionary struggle of the Vietnamese people as heroic pages filled with blood and fire. Thinking of the Citadel, we think of the fiery land of heroic feats and noble sacrifices of the heroic army and people of Quang Tri.

Due to having to endure a huge amount of bombs and bullets during the war, since the country’s liberation, the Citadel only has traces of a few sections of the wall riddled with bullet holes; the city gates have been destroyed; the works inside the citadel have been completely destroyed.

If you need more information, you can watch the video 81 days and nights of Quang Tri ancient citadel here.

Quang Tri Citadel Museum

The relic was ranked nationally by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism under Decision No. 235/QD-VH dated December 12, 1986 and is a relic on the list of national special importance.

Since February 1992, the Citadel has been invested in by the Ministry of Culture and Information to be renovated and turned into a memorial park including the following items: central memorial, restoration of the front gate, revitalization of the citadel moat system, planting coconut trees and shade trees to create a landscape.

Since 1997, the restoration and reconstruction of the Citadel has been pushed to a higher level. Up to now, the Citadel has basically completed the main items in the restoration program such as: the central memorial, the Citadel Museum and the 81-day and night battle, the memorial stele for students who sacrificed their lives at the Citadel…

The reconstruction areas in the form of outdoor museum exhibitions such as: the area marking the 81-day and night battle, the area restoring the original Citadel, the Museum exhibition area and the cultural park have been planned and built one after another. Currently, the Citadel relic is being well managed and protected and is being effectively promoted for tourism, contributing to enhancing the educational value of revolutionary traditions and passionate patriotism for many generations. Quang Tri Citadel of Blood and Flowers is a traditional meeting place for all generations of Vietnamese people.

See: Quang Tri 1 Day Tour

Student Achievement Stele

Built in 2002, located in the Northeast corner, inside the citadel, to remember and commemorate the student soldiers who died in the war.

Ancient Citadel Night Tour – new experience

With the lighting system installed at the citadel, tourism businesses in Quang Tri have built a Quang Tri night tour to explore the citadel. In the night tour program, visitors will hear stories from the tour guides at the site about the war and touching stories. In particular, visitors can release flower lanterns on the Thach Han River to pay tribute to the heroic martyrs and pray for happiness and peace.

After the movie Red Rain was released, many tourists learned more about Quang Tri Ancient Citadel. The number of tourists coming here to pay their respects and learn about the ancient citadel tourist destination has increased. Tourists can combine it with other tourist attractions in Quang Tri.

Some frequently asked questions about Quang Tri Citadel