Vinh Ancient Citadel in the hearts of urban residents.
(Baonghean.vn) - When asked about a symbol of Vinh City, many people give the same answer: the ancient citadel. Through the vicissitudes of time and the changes of the times, the ancient citadel still retains its ancient, serene beauty in the heart of the city, in the hearts of all Vinh's urban residents.
Memories of the Ancient Citadel
“If Vinh Market is the ‘market’ element, then Nghe An Citadel is the ‘city’ and ‘fortress’ element among the three elements that make up Vinh city. Nghe An Citadel was the headquarters of the Southern Dynasty government in the province. At the same time, the citadel – literally meaning ramparts or fortifications – was also an important defensive structure to protect the government. Nghe An Citadel is a valuable heritage site in terms of history, culture, and architecture. Although not completely intact, it is one of the very few remaining heritage sites in Vinh to this day,” shared Mr. Pham Xuan Can, former Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology of Nghe An province, about the ancient Vinh Citadel gate.
According to research, in 1804, when the administrative center of Nghe An officially moved from Lam Thanh - Phu Thach to Vinh Yen, the Nghe An citadel was built of earth. In 1831, King Minh Mang ordered the citadel rebuilt with laterite stone in the Vauban style. The citadel has six sides, surrounded by a moat, and many lotus plants are grown beneath the moat. The Nghe An citadel has three gates: the Front Gate, the Left Gate, and the Right Gate. Above the Front Gate, there are still couplets by the renowned figure Dao Tan, who twice served as Governor-General of Nghe An. Throughout its more than 200 years of existence, the Nghe An citadel has witnessed many memorable historical events. Phan Boi Chau, at the beginning of his patriotic and revolutionary career, devised a plan to capture the Nghe An citadel.
In 1931, the Royal Palace inside the ancient citadel was where the French and the Southern government held a ceremony of surrender after suppressing the Nghe Tinh Soviet Uprising. In 1940, Nghe An citadel witnessed the sacrifice of Doi Cung and other patriotic resistance fighters.
On July 14, 1957, during his first visit to his hometown, President Ho Chi Minh spoke to officials and people of Nghe An at the stadium in the city… Not only does it hold historical value,Vinh Ancient CitadelIt is also remembered for its spiritual values. While researching information related to the Vinh Citadel, I accidentally came across many posts in the group "Vinh of Yesteryear..." - a forum with 41,800 members from all over the country, and even from many countries.
In the memories of member Nguyen Thien, the ancient citadel is closely associated with his childhood: “My family lived in Hamlet 6, Ward 2, Cua Tien flower garden, old Vinh. My childhood was closely tied to the Vinh ancient citadel. This was where we often went searching for wild pineapple bushes to catch grasshoppers. The moat surrounding the citadel was where we caught tilapia to raise and play fish fighting games, or fished for dragonflies.”
Member Nguyen Thuy Van shared her memories of the ancient citadel as if it were an old friend: “The housing complex for the children of construction workers like us was located behind the ancient citadel gate, nestled between two large bomb craters, as wide as two village ponds. Back then, the citadel gate stood isolated and desolate in Block 2, Cua Nam Ward. It stood there, watching the residents of the entire neighborhood struggle and hurry, trying to make a living during those economically difficult years. We were the same; I rarely admired the citadel, even though I passed by it countless times every day. I used to take shelter from the sun and rain inside the citadel. My mother even had a small drinks stall next to it. When it rained, she would move the stall inside…”
From the city gate, memories related to the Cua Nam flower garden, the Cua Tien cinema, the Vinh stadium… flooded back. Each shared memory is a piece of recollection, and many other nostalgic memories of Vinh Ancient Citadel have been, and are being, preserved and shared. These may be fragmented stories, faded photographs, spontaneous reflections… but ultimately, they are all imbued with love and pride for a historical landmark.
Preserve for the future.
As usual, on the first Sunday of the month – Green Sunday – the residents of Block 1, Cua Nam Ward, take their cleaning tools and clean the streets and alleys in their area. And as always, everyone focuses their time and effort on cleaning the Vinh Citadel Gate. For them, the Vinh Citadel Gate is an important structure, a historical symbol. Cleaning the gate is not just a job, a responsibility, but also an honor and a source of pride.
Living near the Vinh Citadel gate since 1975, Ms. Mai Thi Hien, head of Block 1, Cua Nam Ward, has witnessed the changes of this historical structure for nearly half a century. She confided: “After so many years, history has turned a new page, the landscape has changed, and we are now grandparents, but this structure still stands tall and majestic, irreplaceable, a symbol of Vinh Citadel forever etched in the minds of generations.”
According to Ms. Hien, the thorough and serious involvement of the government and the Department of Culture in conservation work has contributed to changing people's perceptions of the importance of this monument. “Not only on Green Sunday, but on any day, if people see the area around the city gate dirty, they will proactively pick up trash and clean it. If they see anyone doing something that affects the monument, they will immediately inform the neighborhood committee. From children to the elderly, everyone is conscious of preserving, cherishing, and loving this historical monument. These positive changes allow me to believe that this monument will last forever…” - Ms. Hien said.
Although his family doesn't live near Cua Nam area, and he currently works in Hanoi, Mr. Nguyen Van Dung (from Nghi Phu commune) still has a special affection for the ancient citadel. "Every time I return to Vinh, I visit the ancient citadel as a habit. I still vividly remember the event in 2021 when the Vinh ancient citadel was fitted with a night lighting system, and I took many pictures that night. Under the effect of the lights, the ancient citadel at night seemed even more beautiful and magical."
Regarding the conservation and restoration of Vinh Ancient Citadel, in March of this year, when the draft revised detailed construction plan at a scale of 1/500 was announced, 105 households living in the Vinh Ancient Citadel area expressed strong support. This consensus provides a basis for believing that Vinh Ancient Citadel will soon become a more attractive destination for tourists from all over the world.
Besides preserving and conserving the ancient citadel, the Vinh city authorities have also implemented many activities and initiatives to spread the value and image of Vinh Ancient Citadel. Most recently, this included the "First Vinh Ancient Citadel Half Marathon in 2023," with 135 athletes from various localities in the province competing.
Sharing his thoughts on the event, Mr. Dang Hieu Lam, Chairman of the People's Committee of Cua Nam Ward, said: “Although this is the first time we've organized it, the Vinh Ancient Citadel Half Marathon has received enthusiastic support from people from all over the country. The number of registrants exceeded initial expectations. Following the success of this event, we will propose to the city to continue organizing more marathon races in the future. This is a great opportunity to promote the image of Vinh Ancient Citadel to friends and tourists from near and far.”