Bien Hoa – Dong Nai is known for many outstanding relics and scenic spots such as: Tran Bien Temple of Literature, Ong Pagoda, Buu Long scenic area… But it seems that there is a forgotten relic located right in the heart of the city. Located in Quang Vinh ward, Bien Hoa ancient citadel – a national historical relic over 200 years old containing valuable historical values - is being proposed as a square to serve the people..
History of Bien Hoa Citadel
Bien Hoa ancient citadel (also known as Ken Citadel) located on the Dong Nai river was built in 1816 with the name of Cuu Citadel, built with soil with a perimeter of 2,587 m.
Then, at the beginning of the Nguyen Dynasty, in 1834, Emperor Minh Mang rebuilt it with soil, bricks and laterite, in the shape of an arc, built a number of new items. In 1837, the emperor continued to expand the Citadel with laterite in the Vauban style, and renamed it Bien Hoa Citadel. After many historical changes, the ancient citadel of Bien Hoa has now been reduced to about one hectare, and most of the citadel walls have been damaged.
the old map of Bien Hoa Ancient Citadel (source: collected)
Bien Hoa Citadel was built as both a center for multi-faceted social activities and a military base with defensive significance for the Nguyen Dynasty’s local army at that time.
In 1944, the citadel fell under the control of Japanese fascists. After returning to Indochina for the second time, the French requisitioned this place as a barracks for their soldiers. During the period 1954-1975, the citadel did not change much in appearance, and the American imperialists reused all the structures left by the French colonialists. After 1975, Bien Hoa Citadel was taken over by the new government.
In 2013, the structure was recognized as a National Historical Relic by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Architecture of Bien Hoa Ancient Citadel
It can be seen that the remaining vestiges at the Bien Hoa Citadel relic today are prominently the citadel built with laterite. Inside the citadel grounds are two ancient French-style villas over 100 years old built in the early 20th century. This was the residence of the French and also the detention and interrogation facility for Vietnamese patriots.
The Northwest Villa, one of the remaining items of the ancient Bien Hoa Citadel architecture, consists of 1 ground floor and 2 upper floors built in French architectural style and used as a residence and workplace for French officers.
The villa has a solid architectural structure with load-bearing walls, tiled roofs, steel purlins combined with wooden trusses, tiled floors, and ventilation roofs, all of which are made with artistic aesthetics and technical ingenuity, ensuring good load-bearing capacity for the structure.
The Southeast Villa, with an area of about 200m², including 1 ground floor and 1 upper floor, was used as a residence and workplace for French officers at that time.
Many French items such as typewriters, oil lamps, televisions, clocks, electric lights… are displayed inside the ancient villa.
A typewriter in the ancient citadel.
Today, after the most recent restoration in 2014, the entire Bien Hoa Ancient Citadel relic has become spacious, becoming a tourist attraction for visitors.
Source: collected by An
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