Historic site: The Điện Hải Citadel located on Trần Phú Street in Đà Nẵng City. — VNS Photo Công Thành |
ĐÀ NẴNG — The Điện Hải Citadel in the central city has been recognised as a National Special Relic, one of 10 approved by the Prime Minister early this week.
Head of the cultural heritage department under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Nguyễn Thế Hùng confirmed to the Việt Nam News the decision was signed by the Prime Minister. The other nine relics recognised as National Special Relics in 2017 include the Cửa Ông temple in Quảng Ninh, the Mao Điền Literature Temple in Hải Dương, the historical and architectural relic of Đọi Sơn Pagoda and the Hương Sơn landscape complex (also known as the Hương Pagoda) in Hà Nội.
Hùng also said the PM granted 24 items, including stone sculptures, statues, paintings and lacquers, National Treasure status.
Old wall: A section of ancient Điện Hải Citadel in Đà Nẵng. It was recognised as a National Special Relic. — VNS Photo Công Thành |
According to the department, a total of 95 relics have been recognised as National Special relics, while 142 objects are recorded as National Treasures.
The Điện Hải citadel, which was listed as a national historical monument in 1988, was first constructed as a military outpost in the 12th year of King Gia Long’s reign (1813), near the mouth of the Hàn River, to control access to Đà Nẵng Port and serve as an important defensive position.
It was renamed the Điện Hải Citadel in 1835, the 15th year of King Minh Mạng’s reign, after it was moved inland and rebuilt on a high mountain in 1823, the fourth year of Minh Mạng’s reign.
Big gun: A cannon is preserved at the Điện Hải Citadel in Đà Nẵng City. — VNS Photo Công Thành |
The city has been seeking a full collection of iron cannons cast during the Nguyễn Dynasty between 1802 and 1860 to gain recognition of a National Treasure.
The museum of Đà Nẵng still preserves 11 iron cannons that were unearthed at the Điện Hải Citadel between 1979 and 2008.
The cannon collection and citadel are closely linked to Nguyễn Tri Phương (1800-73), a famous general who commanded an army and civilians in fighting against French-Spanish coalition forces in 1858-60.
Đà Nẵng has 50 historical sites and 18 national historical monuments included in the city’s restoration project for 2016-20. —VNS