PEOPLE’S COMMITTEE OF QUANG NGAI PROVINCE

PHAM VAN DONG UNIVERSITY



RESEARCH PROJECT ON
VIETNAMESE NATIONAL HEROES

Students full name : 1. TRƯƠNG BẢO NGÂN

2. LÊ TRẦN THANH MY
Class : DSA24B
Department : FOREIGN LANGUAGE
Subject : FUNDAMENTAL INFORMATICS

Quảng Ngãi, Tháng 10 năm 2024

1
1. Life and career
Origin and hometown
According to the genealogy of the
Nguyen family in Sen village , Kim
Lien commune, Nam
Dan district , Nghe An province:
Ho Chi Minh’s childhood name
was Nguyen Sinh Cung
(pronounced Coong in the local
dialect) . However, some documents
recorded his childhood name
as Nguyen Sinh Con. This was also
confirmed by him in his own
handwriting in an article
in 1954. Paternal hometown was Kim
Lien village ( Nom name is Sen
village). Nguyen Sinh Cung was born
in 1890 in his maternal hometown,
Hoang Tru village ( Nom name is Chua village), located about 2 km from Sen
village) and lived here until 1895. These two villages were originally located in
Chung Cu commune, Lam Thinh commune, Nam Dan district . His paternal
hometown, Kim Lien village was a poor village. Most of the people did not
have land, had to work as hired laborers, wore few pants and many loincloths,
so this village was also called Dai Kho village. During his lifetime, most of his
family was poor, making a living by working as hired laborers, and some also
participated in anti-French activities.
Nguyen Sinh Cung’s father was a Confucian scholar named Nguyen Sinh
Sac ( 1862 – 1929 ), who passed the Pho Bang exam . His mother was Hoang
Thi Loan ( 1868 – 1901 ). Nguyen Sinh Cung had an older sister, Nguyen Thi
Thanh (born in 1884 ), an older brother, Nguyen Sinh Khiem (born in 1888 ,
alias Tat Dat, also known as Ca Khiem) and a younger brother who died early,
Nguyen Sinh Nhuan ( 1900 – 1901 , name at birth was Xin).

Youth and career

In 1895, Nguyen Sinh Cung, his parents and older brother went to Hue for the
first time. After his mother passed away ( 1901 ), he returned to Nghe An to live
with his grandmother for a short time. Not long after, his father passed the Phó

2
bảng exam, and he followed his father back to his paternal hometown. At his
paternal hometown, his father held a “village entry ceremony” for his two sons
with new names “ Tất Đạt” for Nguyen Sinh Khiem and “ Tất Thành” for
Nguyen Sinh Cung. From here on, he began to use the name Nguyen Tat
Thanh . Tat Thanh studied with bachelor Hoang Pham Quynh and several other
teachers.
In 1906 , Nguyen Sinh Cung followed his father to Hue for the second time and
studied at the Franco-Vietnamese Dong Ba Primary School . Here, he
spent the 1906-1907 second grade and 1907-1908 first grade school years . In
the primaire exam (equivalent to primary school graduation) in 1908 , he was
one of the 10 best students of the Franco-Vietnamese Dong Ba School who
were admitted to the Thanh Chung system of Quoc Hoc School. According to
scholar William J. Duiker’s research, in September 1907 , Nguyen Sinh Cung
entered the second year of high school at the Hue National School , but was
expelled in late May 1908 for participating in the anti-tax movement in Central
Vietnam . His father was reprimanded by the court for “the behavior of his two
sons”. The two brothers Tất Đạt and Tất Thành were closely monitored. He
decided to go to the South to avoid the control of the court. However,
according to documents currently stored at the Overseas Archives Center
( Centre des archives d’Outre-mer or CAOM ) in France , Nguyen Sinh Cung
was admitted to the Hue National School on August 7 , 1908 . According to
historical researcher Vu Ngu Chieu, “there was no case of Nguyen Sinh Cung
being expelled from Quoc Hoc School for participating in the anti-tax protest
in Hue – the anti-tax protest took place from April 9 to 12, 1908 ; that is, nearly
4 months before Cung was admitted to Quoc Hoc School “.
In early 1910 , Nguyen Tat Thanh arrived in Phan Thiet . He taught physical
education and Quoc Ngu to third and fourth graders at Duc Thanh
School of Lien Thanh Association.
During this time, Nguyen Tat Thanh often met with some patriotic Confucian
scholars of the time, participated in secret work, accepted liaison work and had
the will to expel the French colonialists and liberate his compatriots . Although
he admired De Tham ( Hoang Hoa Tham ), Phan Chau Trinh , and Phan Boi
Chau , he did not completely agree with any of their ways of doing things. In his
opinion, Phan Chau Trinh only asked the French to carry out reforms, which
was no different from “asking the enemy for mercy”, while Phan Boi
Chau hoped that the Japanese Empire would help to fight the French , which
was as dangerous as “chasing the tiger out the front door and welcoming the
leopard in the back door”. Nguyen Tat Thanh clearly saw that he needed to
decide his own path.
Around February 1911 , he quit teaching and went to Saigon with the help of
the Lien Thanh Association. Here, Nguyen Tat Thanh attended Ba Nghe

3
School , which trained maritime workers and professional workers for the Ba
Son factory (now Cao Thang Technical College ), while selling newspapers in
the port area to earn a living and at the same time learn about the workers’
lives. Here, he studied for 3 months. After that, he decided to find a job on an
ocean liner to go abroad to learn the quintessence of the West.

The Latouche Treville, the ship that took the young patriot Nguyen Tat Thanh to find a
way to save the country. (Photo: Archive)

On June 3, 1911, he went abroad, worked in many jobs, participated in the

revolutionary movements of many countries, and at the same time constantly
fought for the independence and freedom of his nation. President Ho Chi Minh
was the first Vietnamese to support the great October Revolution in Russia and
found in Marxism-Leninism the path to liberation of the working class and
people of colonial countries. In 1920, he participated in the founding of the
French Communist Party at the Tours Congress. In 1921, he participated in the
founding of the Union of French Colonial Peoples; published the newspaper Les
Miserables in France (1922). In 1923, he was elected to the Executive
Committee of the Peasants’ International. In 1924, he attended the 5 th Congress
of the Communist International and was appointed as a permanent member of
the Eastern Department, directly in charge of the Southern Bureau. In 1925, he
participated in the founding of the Association of Oppressed Asian Peoples and
published two famous books: The Indictment of the French Colonial Regime
(1925) and The Revolutionary Path (1927).
In 1925, he founded the Vietnamese Revolutionary Youth Association in
Guangzhou (China) and organized the “Communist League” as the core of that
Association, training Communist cadres to lead the Association and spread
Marxism-Leninism in Vietnam.
On February 3, 1930, he chaired the Party Founding Conference held in
Kowloon (near Hong Kong). The conference approved the Brief Platform, Brief

4
Strategy, and Party Statutes drafted by him. He issued an appeal on the occasion
of the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam (later changed to the
Indochinese Communist Party, then the Vietnam Workers’ Party, and now the
Communist Party of Vietnam).
From 1930 to 1940, President Ho Chi Minh continued to work for the liberation
of the Vietnamese people and other oppressed peoples under extremely harsh
and difficult conditions.
In 1941, he returned to Vietnam, convened the 8 th Conference of the Central
Executive Committee of the Indochinese Communist Party, decided on the path
to save the country, established the Vietnam Independence League (Viet Minh),
organized armed liberation forces, base area policy, led people to revolt in parts
and prepare for a general uprising to seize power throughout the country.
After the victory of the August
Revolution (1945), on
September 2, 1945, at Ba Dinh
Square, President Ho Chi Minh
read the Declaration of
Independence declaring the
establishment of the
Democratic Republic of
Vietnam; organized free
general elections throughout the country, elected the National Assembly and
passed the first democratic Constitution of Vietnam. The first National
Assembly elected him as President of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam
(1946).
Together with the Party Central Committee, President Ho Chi Minh led the
entire Party, army, and people of Vietnam to destroy the imperialists’ plots and
maintain and consolidate the revolutionary government.
On December 19, 1946, he called on the whole country to resist the French
colonialists, protect the independence and freedom of the Fatherland, and
protect and develop the achievements of the August Revolution.
At the Second Party Congress (1951), he was elected Chairman of the Party
Central Committee. Under the leadership of the Party Central Committee,
headed by President Ho Chi Minh, the resistance war of the Vietnamese people
against the French colonialists achieved great victory, ending with the great
victory of Dien Bien Phu (1954).
After the North was completely liberated (1955), the Party Central Committee
and President Ho Chi Minh set out two strategic tasks for the Vietnamese
revolution: to carry out the socialist revolution and build socialism in the North,

5
while at the same time fighting to liberate the South, reunify the country, and
complete the people’s national democratic revolution throughout the country.
The Third Party Congress (1960) unanimously re-elected President Ho Chi
Minh as Chairman of the Central Executive Committee of the Vietnam
Workers’ Party. The Second and Third National Assemblies elected him as
President of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
Together with the Party Central Committee, President Ho Chi Minh led the
great resistance war of the Vietnamese people against the aggressive war of
American imperialism; led the cause of socialist transformation and socialist
construction in the North.
President Ho Chi Minh creatively applied Marxism-Leninism to the specific
conditions of Vietnam, setting out the correct path to lead the Vietnamese
revolution from one victory to another. He founded the Marxist-Leninist Party
in Vietnam, the Vietnam National United Front, the Vietnamese People’s
Armed Forces and the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, contributing to
strengthening international solidarity. He is a shining example of collective
spirit, organizational awareness and revolutionary ethics.
President Ho Chi Minh was a great teacher of the Vietnamese revolution, a
beloved leader of the working class and the entire Vietnamese nation, an
outstanding soldier, a prominent activist of the international communist
movement and the national liberation movement.
End of life
From around the second half of the 1960s , due to his declining health, Ho Chi
Minh gradually reduced his political activities , often going to China to visit,
rest and recuperate (especially in the last 3 years of his life when he was
continuously seriously ill). Starting from 1963 , Ho Chi Minh gradually handed
over his work to First Secretary Le Duan , whom Ho Chi Minh had urgently
called to Hanoi in 1957 to directly help him run the Party’s general affairs. Le
Duan had not worked closely with Ho Chi Minh since the 1940s like Pham Van
Dong , Vo Nguyen Giap or Truong Chinh , but when Vietnam was divided, the
best way to ensure that the Vietnam Workers’ Party would represent
all Vietnamese people was to bring a cadre from the South to lead the entire
Party. Ho Chi Minh’s decision to hand over the job to Le Duan , and his support
for Le Duan in the 1960 election , was a way to ensure national unity. Ho Chi
Minh gradually withdrew to take on the role of a symbol of the revolution,
spending much of his time visiting and encouraging cadres and compatriots, and
writing for newspapers. First Secretary Le Duan was the one who actively
promoted the process of national unification by intensifying the war against the
US in the South. However, with his great role and prestige, major decisions

6
(such as the Tet Offensive or the negotiations in Paris ) still needed Ho Chi
Minh’s participation in directing and approving.
During the period 1951 – 1969 , Ho Chi Minh held the position of Party
Chairman . This is the highest position in the history of the Communist Party of
Vietnam , even higher than the position of General Secretary (after President Ho
Chi Minh passed away in 1969 , the Politburo unanimously considered this the
highest honorary position reserved only for Ho Chi Minh, so it abolished the
possibility of others succeeding this position, so Ho Chi Minh is the only person
in history to hold the position of Chairman of the Communist Party of
Vietnam ).
During the preparation for the 1968 Tet Offensive , Ho Chi Minh was
in China for a long period of convalescence (he had been seriously ill
since 1966 and had to go to China for treatment many times. He spent most of
1967 in China for treatment ). Although he had to go for treatment, due to the
importance of the campaign, he still returned to Vietnam twice (in July and
December 1967 ) to direct the development and approval of the decision to
carry out the Tet Offensive .
By the end of December 1967 , the basic plan was completed, but
a Politburo meeting was needed to review the whole thing. On the morning of
December 21, 1967, the Central Office sent a telegram inviting him to return to
attend the Politburo meeting that would open on the morning of December 28,
1967. On the evening of December 23 , Ho Chi Minh flew back to Hanoi .
Leaders including Le Duan , Pham Van Dong , and Le Duc Tho welcomed him
at the airport, went home, and reported on the preparations. On December
28, 1967 , the Politburo held a special meeting right next to Ho Chi Minh’s stilt
house, and agreed with him for the last time on the plan for the General
Offensive and Uprising of Tet Mau Than.
On December 30, 1967 , President Ho Chi Minh attended another Politburo
meeting. On the morning of December 31, 1967, Ho Chi Minh went to the
Presidential Palace to
record a New Year’s
greeting poem
called “Toan thang thuoc
ve tai ta” (Total victory
is sure to be ours) ,
which was considered the
opening command for the
General Offensive. On
the afternoon of January
1, 1968, the Politburo
came to work, Ho Chi

7
Minh gave instructions on work before leaving for China to continue his
recovery. In addition to telephone contact, Vietnamese leaders still took turns
going to Beijing , directly reporting and asking for Ho Chi Minh’s opinion. On
the afternoon of January 20, 1968, Le Duc Tho went to report on work to Ho
Chi Minh. On the morning of January 25 , 1968 , it was General Vo Nguyen
Giap’s turn to come directly to report to President Ho about the preparations for
the General Offensive and Uprising of Tet Mau Than . The opening command
for the general offensive was Ho Chi Minh’s New Year poem broadcast
on Voice of Vietnam Radio
“Xuân này hơn hẳn mấy Xuân qua,
Thắng trận tin vui khắp nước nhà.
Nam Bắc thi đua đánh giặc Mỹ,
Tiến lên! Toàn thắng ắt về ta.”

Passed away
In his last years, due to his old
age, Ho Chi Minh suffered
from incurable heart failure . On
the afternoon of August 12, 1969,
Ho Chi Minh was still healthy, he
listened to Le Duc Tho report on
the situation of the Paris
Conference . That night, he had a
fever and cough , and in the
following days his illness became
worse. The doctor said his heart was too weak to be cured. After 2 weeks in bed,
on the night of September 1, he fell into a coma . At 6:00 a.m. on September 2,
1969, Ho Chi Minh stopped breathing, and doctors had to put him on a
ventilator. At 9:00 a.m. on September 2, 1969, Ho Chi Minh suffered a
severe heart failure , and doctors had to perform emergency treatment but to no
avail. According to the electrocardiogram , at 9:15 a.m., Ho Chi Minh’s heart
stopped beating.
Ho Chi Minh passed away at 9:47 a.m. on September 2, 1969 in Hanoi ,
to heart failure , at the age of 79. Due to wartime circumstances, to avoid
coinciding with National Day , the Party leadership announced his death date as
September 3, but it was not until 1989 that it was re-announced as September 2.
Hanoi received more than 22,000 telegrams of condolence from 121 countries
around the world . Many countries in the socialist bloc held their own memorial
services and paid tribute to him. An official statement from Moscow called Ho
Chi Minh a “great son of the heroic Vietnamese people , an outstanding leader
of the international Communist and national liberation movements, and a great
friend of the Soviet Union “. From Third World countries , people praised him

8
for his role as a defender of oppressed people. An article published
in India described him as the embodiment of “the people and the embodiment of
the people’s aspirations for freedom and for the people ‘s persistent
struggle “. Other articles praised his simple style and high morals. An editorial
in a Uruguayan newspaper said :
“ He had a heart as vast as the universe and a boundless love for children. He
was a model of simplicity in every way.”
The reaction from Western countries was more reserved. The White House and
senior US officials declined to comment. The Western press paid great attention
to Ho Chi Minh’s death. Newspapers supporting the anti-war movement tended
to portray him as a worthy opponent and defender of the oppressed. Even
newspapers that had been strongly opposed to the Hanoi government recognized
Ho Chi Minh as a man who devoted his life to the quest for independence and
unification of Vietnam , and as a prominent voice in defense of oppressed
peoples around the world.
The funeral was held on September 9 at Ba Dinh Square with more than
100,000 people attending, including delegations from socialist countries .
Millions of people across Vietnam cried . The eulogy for him, read by First
Secretary Le Duan, included the following lines:
“Hồ Chủ tịch kính yêu của chúng ta không còn nữa. Tổn thất này vô cùng lớn
lao. Đau thương này thật là vô hạn! Dân tộc ta, nhân dân ta, non sông đất nước
ta đã sinh ra Hồ Chủ tịch – Người anh trong dân tộc vĩ đại. Và chính Người đã
làm rạng rỡ dân tộc ta, nhân dân ta và non sông đất nước ta…”

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (source: bqllang.gov.vn)

9
Ho Chi Minh Square and Monument in Moscow ( source: baotanghochiminh.vn)

The Ho Chi Minh Monument in Havana, Cuba ( source: TTXVN)

10
Statue of President Ho Chi Minh and Ho Chi Minh Boulevard ( Ho Chi Minh Sarani) in
Kolkata, India. (source: qdnd.vn)

The Statue of Him next to a simple rattan table and chairs, behind and above is the
golden inscription “Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom” in
Spanish with His signature. Photo: baotanglichsuquocgia.vn

11
 In October 2011, the inauguration ceremony of the Statue of President Ho Chi Minh
took place at ASEAN Park in the old quarter of Intramuros - capital of Manila,
Philippines. Photo: baonghean.vn

Work

President Ho Chi Minh's Testament. (Source Cover page of Prison Diary, (source:
Tien Giang Youth) BTLSQG)

12
 Nguyen Ai Quoc and the Newspaper "The Poor". (Photo courtesy)

The work "Civil Mobilization" published in the Truth newspaper on October 15, 1949
(source: thanhchuong.nghean.gov.vn)

13
1. Biography Summary
Truong Dinh (1820 – 1864) or Truong
Cong Dinh or Truong Truong Dinh , was a
military officer of the Nguyen Dynasty ,
and the leader of the resistance against the
French during the period 1859 – 1864 ,
in Vietnamese history
He was born in Tu Cung village, Binh Son
district, Quang Ngai (now Tinh Khe
commune, Quang Ngai city, Quang Ngai
province ). His father was the military
leader Truong Cam , who was the Right
Water Guard Captain in Gia Dinh under
King Thieu Tri.
In 1844 , Truong Dinh followed his father
to the south . After his father passed away,
he took up residence right where his father
was stationed. Later, he married Mrs. Le
Thi Thuong, who was the daughter of a
wealthy man in Tan Hoa district, Gia Dinh province ( Go Cong Dong, Tien
Giang today) and then gave birth to a son named Truong Quyen.
In 1850 , responding to the land reclamation policy of General Nguyen Tri
Phuong , Truong Dinh spent money to recruit poor people to establish
plantations in Gia Thuan ( Go Cong ), therefore, he was appointed by the
Nguyen Dynasty as Quan Co, with the rank of 6th rank.

2. Become a leader against the French

 In December 1859, the French army attacked Gia Dinh citadel. Truong
Dinh led his troops to join the royal army to fight the enemy, often leading the
way and achieving many feats. One of the most famous feats was the ambush
that killed Captain Barbe.

 In December 1861, after the fall of Chi Hoa Fortress, Truong Dinh
brought his troops back to the old Tan Hoa Fortress and recruited more soldiers
to continue fighting the French. At this time, Truong Dinh's army had more

14
than 6,000 people, with the cooperation of many uprising leaders from the
surrounding areas.
 Truong Dinh's
army achieved many feats such
as punishing many French
lackeys (like landlord Huy in
Dong Son), attacking enemy
forts in Gia Thach, Rach Gam
and attacking Ky Hoa fort
many times.
 In March 1862, when the
French army retreated from Go Cong, Truong Dinh's army attacked, killed
many and recaptured Go Cong.
 On June 5, 1862, the Royal Court signed the Nham Tuat peace treaty,
handing over the three eastern provinces to France, ordering Truong Dinh to
withdraw troops and take up the position of Commander in Chief in An Giang.
At the request of the people and the patriots, Truong Dinh refused the Royal
Court's order and, using the title of Binh Tay Dai Nguyen Soai given by the
people, continued to lead the fight against the French.
 Truong Dinh led the
insurgents to many victories
such as attacking Rach Tra fort,
killing Captain Tu-Rut (1862),
raiding the Alarme boat,
attacking many enemy forts and
breaking up the large-scale
attack of the French on Go
Cong, killing many enemies
(January 1863).
 After withdrawing from
Tan Hoa, Truong Dinh
15
continued to establish a base in Ly Nhon and led the resistance. In February
1863, the French attacked Ly Nhon. Truong Dinh broke the siege and returned
to Go Cong to establish a base in Dam La Toi Troi (coastal Go Cong).
 On August 20, 1864, in an unequal battle, Truong Dinh was seriously
wounded. Not wanting to fall into the enemy's hands, Truong Dinh committed
suicide with a sword to preserve his heroic reputation - he was 44 years old at
that time.
 Hearing of his suicide, King Tu Duc posthumously awarded him a rank,
and in 1871 ordered the construction of a temple to worship him at Tu Cung
(Quang Ngai).
 Truong Dinh is a typical image of the people of Go Cong, of the
indomitable people of the South, determined to fight against the French
invasion in the 19th century. Poet Nguyen Dinh Chieu wrote 12 poems and
a funeral oration for him. Among them is:
“Trong Nam, tên họ nổi như cồn
Mấy trận Gò Công nức tiếng đồn
Đấu đạn hỡi rêm tàu bạch quỷ
Hơi gươm thêm rạng vẻ Hoàng Môn
Ngọn cờ ứng nghĩa trời chưa bẻ
Quả ấn Bình Tây đất vội chôn
Nỡ khiến anh hùng rơi giọt luỵ
Lâm dâm ba chữ điếu linh hồn.”
3. Famous statement

16
Statement of Truong Dinh in reply to the surrender letter of French General
Bonard at the end of 1862 :

“Triều đình Huế không nhìn nhận chúng ta, nhưng chúng ta cứ bảo vệ Tổ quốc
chúng ta”
He answered Phan Thanh Gian about the cessation of hostilities against the
French: "If the court wants to negotiate peace, then negotiate peace, but Dinh's
work will be done by Dinh. Dinh would rather offend the court than sit and
watch this country sink..."
Declaration of Truong Dinh sent to the mandarins in Vinh Long, to express his
intention to secede from the Southern Dynasty ( because after the Nham Tuat
peace treaty, King Tu Duc ordered him to withdraw troops ) in February 1863 :
“Muốn trở lại y như xưa, dân chúng ba tỉnh yêu cầu chúng tôi đứng đầu khởi
nghĩa, chúng tôi không thể làm gì được khác. Chúng tôi chuẩn bị chiến đấu.
Chúng tôi sẽ đánh ngã bọn giặc cướp…”
“Chúng ta thề sẽ đánh mãi và đánh không ngừng, khi ta thiếu tất cả sẽ bẻ
nhánh cây làm cờ, lấy gậy gộc làm võ khí cho quân lính ta…”
Proclamation of Truong Dinh ( August 1864 ) :
“Lòng dân đã muốn ta lên làm nguyên nhung ba tỉnh, ta trông làm long dân
yêu thương không phai lạt của mọi người đối với ta. Thế là xong bất dung tha
giặc cướp.”
(According to WIKIPEDIA - OPEN ENCYCLOPEDIA)

4. Some pictures about Truong Dinh

17
 Truong Dinh Temple in Quang Ngai (source: baoquangngai.vn)

Truong Dinh Temple in Go Cong – Tien Giang (source: mientay.giadinhonline.vn)

18
 Truong Dinh Uprising by Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Phan Quang and Dr. Le
Huu Phuoc

1. Lifetime
Nguyen Trai was born in 1380,
with the name Uc Trai, from Chi
Ngai (Chi Linh, Hai Duong) and
later moved to Nhi Khe (Thuong
Tin, Ha Tay). His father was
Nguyen Phi Khanh, a poor but
good student who passed the
imperial examination (doctorate).
His mother was Tran Thi Thai,
daughter of Tran Nguyen Dan, a

19
nobleman of the Tran Dynasty.
At the age of six, his mother died, at the age of ten, his grandfather passed
away, he returned to Nhi Khe, where his father taught. At the age of twenty, in
1400, he passed the imperial examination and both father and son became
mandarins for the Ho Dynasty. In 1407, the Ming invaders invaded the country
and Nguyen Phi Khanh was taken to China. Nguyen Trai and a younger brother
followed to take care of him. Following his father's advice, he returned, but
was captured by the Ming army. After that, he followed Le Loi. During ten
years of fighting, he contributed greatly to the glorious victory of the nation.
In early 1428, after wiping out the enemy, he enthusiastically set about
rebuilding the country but was suddenly wrongly accused and imprisoned. He
was later released, but was no longer trusted as before. He was sad and asked
to return to Con Son. That was in the years 1438 - 1440. In 1440, Le Thai Tong
invited him back to work and assigned him many important tasks. While he
was enthusiastically helping the king, the king suddenly died in Trai Vai (Le
Chi Vien, Bac Ninh). Having long harbored hatred for Nguyen Trai, the evil
people at the court accused him of plotting to kill the king, forcing him to kill
all three of his relatives in 1442.

More than twenty years later, in 1464, Le Thanh Tong cleared up that terrible
injustice, then collected his poems and found his surviving son to become an
official. In general, in Nguyen Trai's life, the following two basic points
emerge: Nguyen Trai is a great national hero and a rare all-rounder in
Vietnamese history during the feudal era. In Nguyen Trai, there is a politician,
a military man, a diplomat, a cultural man, a writer, a poet of outstanding
stature. But Nguyen Trai is also a person who has suffered injustice.

2. Poetry career
Great writer and poet: as a national hero, Nguyen Trai was also a great writer
and poet. He also left behind many valuable works. "Quan trung tu menh tap"
are letters sent to enemy generals and documents communicating with the
Ming Dynasty court, aiming to carry out the plan of "attacking the heart",
today called enemy
propaganda. "Binh Ngo dai
cao" uses Le Loi's words to
summarize 10 years of fighting
the enemy, declaring to the
people about the national and
ethnic justice, about the
arduous fighting process to
reach the final great victory to
regain peace for the country.

20
"Lam Son thuc luc" is a history book about the Lam Son uprising. "Du dia chi"
is about the historical geography of our country. "Chi Linh son phu" talks
about the arduous and heroic fight against the Ming invaders. These works are
all written in Chinese characters. Regarding poetry, there are two collections:
"Uc Trai Thi Tap" in Chinese characters, "Quoc Am Thi Tap" in Nom
characters, that is Vietnamese characters, which are poems of a lifetime, from
youth to old age, at most about 10 years of searching for the way and the time
of retirement in Con Son. The content clearly seen in it is the feelings for the
homeland, family, country, people, with the many hardships in life...

Love for homeland and family: The content of his poetry and literature is very
rich. Here I will briefly
mention a few aspects. The
first feature is the passion for
nature in the homeland.
Starting with small things,
seemingly nowhere, but full of
affection. Water spinach,
Malabar spinach, hibiscus,
banana tree, banyan tree,
sugarcane... all form rhymes.
Peach blossom, willow, pine,
bamboo stand next to rustic
water spinach and Malabar
spinach naturally. There is no
distinction between noble and
humble. All are affectionately received by him. He spoke solemnly: "Picking
chrysanthemums, growing orchids, the fragrance sticks to the clothes, Finding
apricot blossoms, riding the moon, snow in the scarf", but also joyfully and
simply: "Dry pond, scoop duckweed to plant morning glory, Pond green, cut
grass to grow lotus". He discovered a very unexpected simple beauty: On a
moonlit night, he carried water and also carried the moon to bring back ("The
fairy tea, water, and moon carry back"). The cloudless sky, a clear blue color,
he saw it as a frozen jade gourd ("The world is frozen, so there is a jade
gourd"). Boats crowded together on the beach, he saw it as a swarm of
silkworms ("Silkworms swarm on the boat at the beach"). He considered the
turtle, the crane, the mountain, the bird, the cloud, the moon as children,
neighbors, brothers: "The turtle lies, the crane hides, they become friends,
Incubate with me as a child...", "The mountain is a neighbor, the bird is a
friend, The cloud is a guest, the moon is a brother". At times, he seemed to
dissolve himself into nature to the point that the stream, the moss-covered rock,
the pine canopy and the bamboo canopy seemed to merge with him: "Con Son
has a murmuring stream. I hear it like the sound of a zither by my ear. Con Son

21
has moss-covered rocks. I sit on the rocks like sitting on a soft mat. In the pine
mounds growing like wedges, I can freely use thousands of parasols to find a
place to lie down. In the forest there is the shade of bamboo. In the cool green I
leisurely recite poetry"... (Con Son song - translation). Next is the longing for
relatives in his hometown. During the Ming invaders, for many years he had to
hide everywhere, far from home, far from his hometown, far from his relatives
with so much sadness. On an autumn night, far from home, by the late night
lamp, he was tormented: : The autumn wind has come, the leaves have fallen. I
am still wandering in a foreign land, Rainy night, beside the flickering lamp,
my soul and dream still wander in a foreign land" (Autumn night in a foreign
land - translation). When the Qingming Festival comes, according to custom,
children and grandchildren must return to visit their grandparents' graves,
repair, build, and burn incense in memory, to be a true son or daughter, but for
many years he has not been able to return. He only feels sad: "My body is
thousands of miles away, my grandparents' graves are in the homeland, I
cannot weed and burn incense, Ten years have passed, my blood relatives and
old acquaintances are no longer there, I can only borrow a cup of wine to force
myself to drink, not allowing my heart to be filled with the pain of missing my
homeland day and night" (Qingming - translation).

He lost his mother when he was only six years old. His love for his mother
grew stronger. His maternal grandparents, uncles, and aunts all lived in Con
Son. His paternal hometown had also lived there for many generations. Once,
taking a boat back to visit, he recalled all the bitterness of his wandering days.
It sounded so heartfelt: "Ten years have passed, I have drifted like a duckweed,
Day and night, I miss my homeland like tormented in the heart, How many
times did he send his soul back to his old hometown, But then he had to shed
tears and blood to wash away in his imagination the graves of his mother, his
grandparents, and the village and relatives, while the enemy was trampling,
how could he avoid their brutal acts! And he was just feeling pity for them in
vain, Heaven: what can I do! A night passed by my pillow, unable to close my
eyes" (written on the boat to Con Son - translated). A pure life, a lifetime
devoted to the country and the people: Returning to the countryside, he was at
ease and proud: "Our old hometown lacks nothing, Vegetables in the fields,
fish in the pond". Plowing and planting is a joy: "One plow and one hoe, the
pleasure of the countryside, The orchids and beans are scattered among the
millet. He praised the details of pine, bamboo, and apricot, the three trees that
do not succumb to the cold of winter and he always kept a pure heart, a
"fragrant heart".
The country was invaded by foreign forces, it manifested in a deep hatred for
the enemy and a steadfast, steely will to destroy the enemy: "Hate the enemy
and vow not to live together", "Taste gall and lie on thorns, not just for one
22
morning or two nights, Forget to eat because of anger, the strategy and tactics
were well thought out". The enemy was wiped out, it was the desire to build a
prosperous country, the people forever happy and prosperous: "From now on
the country will be stable, From now on the country will be renewed...., The
foundation of peace will be solid forever".

3. Some typical poems

Proclamation of Victory (Translated by Ngo Tat To)

23
 Loạn hậu đáo côn sơn cảm tác (Nguyen Trai)

1. Biography summary
Tran Hung Dao (Chinese : 陳興道; 1228
– 1300) (real name Tran Quoc
Tuan (Chinese : 陳國峻), title Hung Dao
Dai Vuong) was a politician , military
man, and royal family member of Dai
Viet during the Tran Dynasty . After
his death, people honored him as Duc
Thanh Tran (德聖陳) or also known
as Cuu Thien Vu De (九天武帝). He is
known in Vietnamese history for
commanding the army to defeat two
invasions of the Yuan-Mongol army in
1285 and 1288. Most historical
research documents and later folklore
often use the short name "Tran Hung
Dao" instead of the full name "Hung
Dao Dai Vuong Tran Quoc Tuan",
which includes the title bestowed upon him. He is one of the 14 typical heroes
of the Vietnamese people.
As the son of Prince An Sinh Vuong Tran Lieu and grandson of Tran Thai To ,
Tran Hung Dao had a close relationship with the Tran royal family and
King Tran Nhan Tong called him uncle. In 1257 , he was appointed by

24
King Tran Thai Tong as a general to command the forces at the border to fight
the invading Mongols . After that, he retreated to his fief in Van Kiep . In the
10th lunar month of 1283 , the Yuan Dynasty (after the Mongols unified China)
threatened to attack Dai Viet for the second time. King Hung Dao was
appointed as the National Duke by the Retired Emperor Tran Thanh Tong and
King Tran Nhan Tong (respectively his cousin and nephew), commanding the
army of the whole country. In this position, in 1285 , he led the army to stop the
invading army led by the ninth prince Thoat Hoan . After the initial failures, the
Vietnamese army and people under the leadership of the two Tran kings,
General and Grand Tutor Tran Quang Khai and Hung Dao Vuong
counterattacked strongly, defeated the Yuan army in the battles of Ham
Tu , Chuong Duong , Truong Yen , Van Kiep ,... completely driving the Yuan
army away from the border.
In 1288 , the Yuan army returned to invade Dai Viet for the third time. When he
was again awarded the title of National Duke; King Hung Dao affirmed to
King Tran Nhan Tong : "This year, fighting the enemy will be easy" . He
successfully applied Ngo Quyen 's tactics , completely defeating the Yuan navy
commanded by generals Phan Tiep and O Ma Nhi in the naval battle on Bach
Dang River , forcing the Yuan army to retreat back to their country. In the
fourth lunar month of 1289 , Tran Nhan Tong officially conferred on him the
title of "Great King" even though the top position of the court at that time still
belonged to the Grand General, Grand Tutor Chieu Minh, Great King Tran
Quang Khai .
After that, he retired to Van Kiep until his death in 1300. Before his death, he
advised Tran Anh Tong : "We must be lenient and relax the people to create a
plan that will deepen the roots and maintain the foundation” . In addition, he
also left behind classic works such as Proclamation to the soldiers , Military
Strategy Essentials , and Van Kiep Tong Secret Book, which laid the foundation
for Vietnamese military art from the Tran Dynasty to the present day.
Back ground
Tran Hung Dao's real name was Tran Quoc Tuan , the third son of Tran Lieu -
the eldest brother of Tran Thai Tong Tran Canh, so Tran Quoc Tuan called Tran
Thai Tong his uncle. Until now, it is still unclear who his mother was (there are
some hypotheses that it was Thien Dao Quoc Mau , whose real name was
Nguyet, a member of the Tran royal family). Because Tran Lieu 's previous
first wife , Princess Thuan Thien, became the queen of Tran Thai Tong , Thien
Dao Quoc Mau became the second wife. After Tran Lieu died ( 1251 ),
according to "Tran Dynasty Genealogy" , Mrs. Tran Thi Nguyet became a nun,
with the name Dieu Huong . He had an adoptive mother who was also his aunt,
Princess Thuy Ba.

25
Tran Quoc Tuan was born in Tuc Mac village ( Loc Vuong ward , Nam Dinh
city today), but his year of birth is still unclear. Some documents say it was
in 1228 , while others say it was in 1230 , or even 1231 , so in the end, they all
lack solid evidence and reliability. But that also shows that he was born not long
after the Tran dynasty was established (in 1225 ).
Dai Viet Su Ky Toan Thu describes him as a handsome man, more intelligent
than others . Thanks to being taught by talented people from a very young age,
he soon became a well-read person, talented in both literature and martial arts.
Career
Three times against the Mongol-Yuan army
First time (1258)
It is not clear when Tran Hung Dao became a military officer of the Tran
Dynasty. We only know that in September ( lunar calendar ) of the year Dinh
Ty ( 1257 ), he was assigned the responsibility of defending the border
before the Mongol invasion in December 1257. The book Dai Viet Su Ky Toan
Thu recorded : "In September ( 1257 ), (King Tran Thai Tong) issued an edict,
ordering the left and right generals to bring the army and water to defend the
border (in the North) under the control of Quoc Tuan".
However, historical documents of both countries such as Dai Viet Su Ky Toan
Thu , Nguyen Su , An Nam Chi Luoc do not mention in detail the role of Hung
Dao Vuong in the major battles of the war. On the 12th and 13th of the 12th
lunar month of 1257 (ie January 17-18, 1258), the Mongol army led by
General Ngo Luong Hop Thai (Uriyangkhadai) defeated the Dai Viet army
personally commanded by King Tran Thai Tong in the two battles of Binh Le
Nguyen and Phu Lo , forcing the king to leave the capital Thang Long and
retreat to defend the Thien Mac River . The Mongol army entered Thang Long
but fell into a serious shortage of food, had to divide its troops to raid the
villages around the capital and encountered fierce resistance from the local
people and soldiers, causing the Mongol army to collapse, completely isolated
in Thang Long, and lose the initiative against the Tran army.

Taking advantage of this, on the 24th day of the 12th lunar month of 1257
(January 28, 1258), Grand Tutor Tran Thu Do and General Le Phu
Tran escorted King Tran Thai Tong and the 18-year-old crown prince Tran
Hoang to Dong Bo Dau by boat , defeated the Mongol army, and liberated
Thang Long. The war ended, King Thai Tong abdicated the throne to Crown
Prince Hoang, who was King Tran Thanh Tong. King Thanh Tong granted his
younger brother Tran Quang Khai the title of Grand Chancellor and the title of
Dai Vuong. Tran Quoc Tuan still kept his old title and returned to his fief
in Van Kiep . The book Dai Viet Su Ky Toan Thu recorded : "According to the
Tran Dynasty's regulations, the princes and nobles all lived in their own
26
palaces, when they attended court, they went to the capital, and when they
finished, they returned to their palaces. Like Quoc Tuan in Van Kiep , Thu Do
in Quac Huong , and Quoc Chan in Chi Linh, they were all like that . "

Second time (1285)

In 1279 , the Mongol Empire destroyed the Southern Song Dynasty , established
the Yuan Dynasty, and became a potential threat to Dai Viet in the north. The
Tran Dynasty was on guard and prepared to resist. King Tran Thanh Tong
ordered Tran Quoc Tuan to open a martial arts school to train royal children and
talented people in the country. He often traveled to all the roads, controlled
local martial arts schools, and recruited many talented people such as Yet
Kieu , Da Tuong , Pham Ngu Lao , Nguyen Che Nghia , Do Hanh ,...
In early 1277 , Tran Thanh Tong personally led an expedition to punish the
ethnic minorities in Nam Ba La cave (now in Quang Binh ). Tran Quang
Khai followed him as his escort. The Prime Minister's seat was vacant, just in
time for the arrival of an envoy from the North. Retired Emperor Tran Thai
Tong called Tran Quoc Tuan, expressing his intention to appoint him as Tu Do
to receive the envoy from the North. Tran Quoc Tuan replied:
"I dare not refuse to receive the envoy, but as for appointing me as the Minister
of Justice, I dare not obey the imperial edict. Moreover, the Emperor is away
fighting a distant war, and Quang Khai is attending him, but Your Majesty has
arbitrarily appointed me as such. I am afraid that the relationship between
superior and subordinate will not be proper, and will not please the Emperor
and Quang Khai. When the imperial edict returns, it will not be too late to ask
to obey the imperial edict."
When Thanh Tong returned, the matter was abandoned, because the two men
did not like each other.
After that, Tran Quoc Tuan took the initiative to put aside his grudge with Tran
Quang Khai for the sake of national affairs. One day, Tran Hung Dao came
from Van Kiep , Tran Quang Khai went on a boat to play all day before
returning. Tran Quang Khai was afraid of bathing, Tran Hung Dao liked to
bathe with scented water, he once jokingly told Tran Quang Khai: "My body is
dirty, please bathe me" , then took off Tran Quang Khai's shirt, used scented
water to bathe him and said: "Today I get to bathe the General" . Tran Quang
Khai also said: "Today I get to bathe the Duke" . From then on, the relationship
between the two men became better and better.
In early 1281 , the Yuan emperor Kublai Khan ordered Sai Thung to bring
thousands of troops to escort Tran Di Ai's group back to the country. The
book Dai Viet Su Ky Toan Thu recorded : "Sai Thung was arrogant and rude,
riding his horse straight into Duong Minh gate. Thien Truong soldiers stopped
him, Thung used a horsewhip to whip them, injuring their heads... The King

27
( Tran Nhan Tong ) sent Tran Quang Khai to the embassy to receive him. Thung
lay there and did not come out, Quang Khai went straight into the room, he did
not get up to receive him. Hung Dao Vuong Quoc Tuan heard that, asked to go
to the embassy to see what Thung was doing. At that time, Quoc Tuan had
shaved his hair and was wearing a cloth shirt. When he arrived at the embassy,
he went straight into the room. Thung stood up and bowed to invite him to sit.
Everyone was surprised, not knowing that shaving his hair and wearing a cloth
shirt was the appearance of a monk from the North. He sat down to make tea
and drank with him. Thung's servant stood behind Quoc Tuan holding an
arrow, poking his head until it bled, but Quoc Tuan's expression did not change.
When he returned, Thung went to the door to see him off..."
In 1282 , the Yuan Dynasty sent Toa Do to lead troops across the sea to
attack Champa in the south of Dai Viet. The war between Dai Viet and the
Yuan Dynasty was approaching. In October ( lunar calendar ) of 1283 , to
prepare for the second resistance, Tran Hung Dao was appointed by the retired
emperor Tran Thanh Tong and king Tran Nhan Tong as the National Duke,
commander-in-chief of the army. He selected talented military officers and
assigned them to command military units. In August ( lunar calendar ) of the
following year ( 1284 ), he reviewed the troops at Dong Bo Dau wharf (near
Hang Than slope, Hanoi today), read the famous " Hich tuong si ", then divided
the troops to guard Binh Than and other important places.
In the 7th lunar month of 1284 , the Yuan Dynasty sent King Thoat Hoan of
Yunnan and A Ly Hai Nha to gather 500,000 troops in Ho Quang province ,
planning to invade Dai Viet the following year. In the 11th lunar month of 1284,
King Tran Nhan Tong sent Tran Phu as an envoy to Ho Quang province to ask
for a delay in troops. When he returned, Tran Phu reported that Kublai Khan
used the pretext of borrowing the road to attack Champa, bringing a large army
into Vietnam. In early 1285 , the Yuan army massively combined attacks from
two sides, Thoat Hoan crossed the northern border of Dai Viet, while Toa Do
attacked north, threatening the Thanh Hoa - Nghe An region . King Hung Dao
led his troops to block at the border but failed, but the situation was more
advantageous so he withdrew his troops to Van Kiep. According to Dai Viet Su
Ky Toan Thu , Tran Quoc Tuan, thanks to his loyal servant Yet Kieu , who
resolutely held the boat and waited for his commander, was able to retreat
safely. History records that:
"Previously, King Hung Dao had slaves named Da Tuong and Yet Kieu, who
treated him very well. When the Yuan army arrived, Yet Kieu kept the boat at
Bai Tan, and Da Tuong followed. When the army withdrew, the navy was
completely dispersed. [Hung Dao] King planned to retreat along the foot of the
mountain. Da Tuong said:
"Yết Kiêu will not leave the boat until he sees the King."

28
The King arrived at Bai Tan, only Yet Kieu's boat was still there. The King was
very happy and said:
"The flamingo needs six wings to fly high. Without those six wings, it would be
just an ordinary bird."
Having said that, he ordered the boat to go, but the enemy cavalry could not
catch up. The King arrived at Van Kiep, and divided his troops to intercept and
guard at Bac Giang."
The Yuan navy led by O Ma Nhi attacked Van Kiep, the Yuan army surrounded
Tran Quoc Tuan's army. A major naval battle between the two sides took place.
King Tran sent troops to support Tran Quoc Tuan. O Ma Nhi could not stop the
Dai Viet army so he retreated. The entire Dai Viet army withdrew from Van
Kiep, Pha Lai, Binh Than to form a battle line on the bank of the Red River near
Thang Long citadel. The Yuan army advanced by land to Thang Long. To
preserve its forces and implement the "thanh da" (empty garden and empty
house) strategy, Tran Hung Dao ordered his troops to retreat.
The invaders entered Thang Long and then led their troops to chase King Tran
down to Thien Truong Palace ( Nam Dinh region ). In the dangerous situation,
the retired emperor Thanh Tong was worried and pretended to ask King Hung
Dao whether they should surrender or not. He boldly replied, "Your Majesty,
behead me first before surrendering."
After the Dai Viet army's unsuccessful counterattack against the Yuan army and
the collapse of the Thanh-Nghe front (due to Tran Kien 's betrayal ), the great
Vietnamese army was forced from both the North and the South. Tran Hung
Dao led the retired emperor Thanh Tong and king Nhan Tong to retreat to the
coastal area in present-day Quang Ninh and Hai Phong , where the Yuan army
had not yet reached. During the retreat, the Dai Viet army was quickly chased
by the Yuan army. Faced with the pressure of the Yuan-Mongol army, he
secretly took the two Tran kings on a small boat to Tam Tri Nguyen ( Ba Che
River , in today's Quang Ninh province), then ordered someone to take the royal
boat to Ngoc Son to avoid the enemy. At that time, the king's royal procession
was drifting, and there was still the old grudge of Tran Lieu, so many people
were suspicious. Tran Quoc Tuan followed the king, holding a stick with a
sharp iron tip. Everyone glared at him. Tran Quoc Tuan immediately threw
away the sharp iron tip and walked with just a stick, so the two Tran kings and
everyone else were no longer suspicious.
When he saw that Toa Do's army had left Thanh Hoa and advanced to Truong
Yen ( Ninh Binh ), on April 7, 1285, Tran Hung Dao led the two Tran kings and
a large army across the sea to Thanh Hoa, escaping the enemy's grip. A series of
Tran royal family members surrendered to the Yuan army, such as Prince Tran
Ich Tac , royal relatives Tran Long, and Tran Kien.

29
In May ( solar calendar ) of that year ( 1285 ), he planned a general
counterattack. After only one month of fierce fighting with the Yuan army, the
Dai Viet army led by Tran Hung Dao, Chieu Minh Dai Vuong Tran Quang
Khai, Chieu Van Vuong Tran Nhat Duat won victories in Ham Tu , Chuong
Duong , Tay Ket , Van Kiep ,... Dai Viet army and people entered Thang Long,
Thoat Hoan fled. Tran Hung Dao and his brother Hung Ninh Vuong Tran Quoc
Tung led more than 20,000 troops to attack the Yuan army on the north bank of
the Red River. The Yuan army was defeated and retreated to the North. The Dai
Viet army led by Tran Hung Dao's son Tran Quoc Hien (Prince Nghiem)
pursued them all the way to the border, the Yuan army had to hide Thoat Hoan
in a copper tube and flee. In this war, the Dai Viet army killed Yuan
generals Toa Do and Ly Hang .

Third time (late 1287)

In the third lunar month of 1286, the Yuan emperor Kublai Khan ordered the
Minister of Auruyvci Province and the Minister of State Omar to mobilize
500,000 troops, then ordered the governor of Huguang Province to build 300
warships, planning to gather the troops in Qinzhou and Lianzhou in August.
Kublai Khan also ordered the troops of the three provinces of Jiangzhe,
Huguang, and Jiangxi to prepare to attack Dai Viet, using the name of bringing
the rebel of the Tran Dynasty, Tran Ich Tac, back to become the King of An
Nam. In the sixth lunar month, King Tran Nhan Tong issued an edict to the
princes, nobles, and royal family to recruit soldiers.
King Tran Nhan Tong appointed Hung Dao Vuong to command the princes and
nobles to train soldiers, repair weapons, and build warships. In the second lunar
month of 1287, the Yuan Dynasty mobilized the Mongol army, the Han Nam
army (the Han people in Southern China), the army of the three provinces of
Giang Hoai, Giang Tay, and Ho Quang, the Yunnan army, and the Le army in
the four coastal provinces, dividing into many wings to invade Dai Viet. The
ten-man Truong Van Ho led the navy carrying 700,000 stone of grain to follow.
Kublai Khan also established the Conquering Giao Chi province, headed by the
Minister of War Ao Lu Xich, the Deputy Ministers of Government O Ma Nhi,
and Phan Tiep; this agency was under the command of Thoat Hoan. The Dai
Viet officials asked to conscript young men to join the army to make the army
larger, but Hung Dao Vuong did not agree:
“The army is precious in its elite, not in its numbers. Even with 1 million
soldiers like Bo Kien, what can they do?”
_Tran Quoc Tuan_

30
 On the 14th day of the
11th lunar month
of 1287 , Trinh
Xien reported that the
Yuan army of Yunnan
attacked Phu Luong
pass. Tran Nhan Tong
asked Hung Dao
Vuong: "How was the
fighting this year?" . He
still firmly said: "This
year the fighting was
easy" . This time,
knowing that the Tran
dynasty had prepared in
Thanh - Nghe, Thoat Hoan advanced straight from the north and northeast.
After unfavorable clashes at the border, the Dai Viet army retreated. Unlike the
previous time, Tran Hung Dao did not abandon the capital but organized
defense right at Thang Long. In February 1288, the Yuan army attacked the
city, and the Dai Viet army hid in the city and shot arrows. Tran Quoc Tuan sent
Tran Cao to Thoat Hoan's camp several times to ask for peace, but at night he
often led small groups to sneak attack the Yuan army camp, burned food, and
then retreated. Thoat Hoan sent troops out to pursue, but the Dai Viet army
often hid and was difficult to detect. The Yuan army surrounded and attacked
several times without results, and finally had to retreat.

Meanwhile, Truong Van Ho 's food fleet was intercepted and destroyed by
Nhan Hue Vuong Tran Khanh Du in Van Don . Thoat Hoan withdrew from
Thang Long to his headquarters in Van Kiep. Due to lack of food and disease,
Thoat Hoan was forced to retreat, one side of the navy was commanded by O
Ma Nhi and Phan Tiep, the other side of the infantry was commanded by Thoat
Hoan. Tran Hung Dao arranged an ambush force at the mouth of Bach Dang
river , directly destroying all of O Ma Nhi 's ships in April ( lunar calendar ) of
the year Mau Ty ( 1288 ), capturing O Ma Nhi, Phan Tiep and Tich Le Co.
Thoat Hoan led the army to flee along Lang Son road, along the way was
intercepted by the Vietnamese army causing "5 or 8 out of ten soldiers to be
lost".

Battle of Bach Dang (1288)

Bach Dang wooden
stakes during the Tran
Dynasty

31
This was the most prominent battle in the third resistance war against the Yuan-
Mongol army, confirming that it was also the last time the Yuan-Mongol army
invaded Dai Viet.

The Yuan navy did not know about the tidal cycle of the river. Before the day of
this decisive battle, he predicted the enemy's escape route and quickly ordered
his troops to plant sharpened wooden stakes at the bottom of the river, creating
a unique underground stake formation similar to the time of famous generals of
the past such as Ngo Quyen and Le Hoan . When O Ma Nhi sent his troops into
the river, the water rose high enough to cover the wooden stakes. King Hung
Dao sent small ships to fight and then pretended to lose and run away. The Dai
Viet army retreated and fought back. When the water receded, the entire Yuan
navy was trapped. Immediately, King Hung Dao ordered General Nguyen
Khoi to lead the Thanh Duc army to defeat the Yuan army. Retired Emperor
Thanh Tong and King Nhan Tong led a large army to continue the battle, and
the Yuan army suffered countless casualties. According to Dai Viet Su Ky Toan
Thu: "the river water was therefore red" . In the end, 400 Yuan ships were
burned. Noi Minh Tu Do Hanh captured the two generals O Ma Nhi and Tich
Le Co Ngoc and presented them to King Tran.

Retreat to Van Kiep (1289)

Because of his great contributions to the defense of the country and the
preservation of independence, the King gave Hung Dao Vuong the supreme
position of commanding the Dai Viet army, and at the same time gave him the
privilege of bestowing titles on anyone he wanted. However, throughout his life,
he never used this privilege.

In April ( lunar calendar ) of the year Ky Suu ( 1289 ), after three times
defeating the Yuan-Mongol army, Tran Hung Dao was awarded the title of
Hung Dao Dai Vuong. After that, he retired to Van Kiep, where he was granted
a fief (now in Hung Dao commune, Chi Linh city, Hai Duong province ). The
people at that time respected him and built a temple to worship him in Van
Kiep. At the temple, there is a stele of King Tran Thanh Tong , comparing him
to the Supreme Father (ie Khuong Tu Nha ).

2. Passed away
In June ( lunar calendar ) of the year Canh Ty ( 1300 ), Tran Hung Dao was
seriously ill. King Tran Anh Tong visited his house and asked: "If by any
chance the Northern invaders come to invade again, what should be the plan? "
He replied: "In the past, Trieu Vu De ( Trieu Da ) founded the country,
the Han king sent troops to attack, the people used the strategy of clearing the
land (empty houses and gardens), the large army went to Kham Chau , Liem
Chau to attack Truong Sa, Ho Nam , and the short soldiers attacked from

32
behind. That was a time. During the Dinh dynasty , the Tien Le dynasty used
talented people, the southern land was newly strong while the northern land
was tired and weak, the people were of one mind, the people's hearts were not
separated, they built Binh Lo citadel and defeated the Song army . That was
another time. The Ly king opened the foundation, the Song dynasty invaded the
border, used Ly Thuong Kiet to attack Kham, Liem, all the way to Mai Linh
because of the situation. Recently, Toa Do and O Ma Nhi surrounded on all
four sides. Because the king and his subjects were of one mind, the brothers
were in harmony, the whole country contributed their efforts, the enemy had to
be captured. That was heaven's will. Roughly speaking, they relied on long
battles, we relied on short soldiers. Using short soldiers to control long battles
is a common thing in military strategy. If we only see their army "If it comes like
fire or wind, then it is easy to control. If it advances slowly like silkworms, not
seeking quick victory, then one must choose and use good generals, consider the
flexibility, like playing chess, adapt to the situation, and have an army of one
heart like father and son, then it can be used. Moreover, to be lenient and relax
the people's strength to make a plan that is deep-rooted and durable, that is the
best policy to protect the country."
Unable to cure his illness, he died of old age on the 20th day of the 8th lunar
month of that year ( October 3, 1300 ).
When he was about to die, Tran Quoc Tuan told his children: "When I die, I
must be cremated, have my bones buried in a round container, and
secretly buried in An Lac garden. Then, the land must be leveled and trees
planted as before, so that people will not know where it is, and it must be done
so that it rots quickly."

Hearing the news of Tran Hung Dao Vuong's death, the Dai Viet court
conferred on him the title "Grand Master, Supreme Patriarch, Great King of the
Nation, Nhan Vu Hung Dao" . He was honored by the people of the whole
country as "Saint Tran" and temples were built in many places, but the most
famous is the Kiep Bac Temple relic site where he is worshiped, located in the
two villages of Duoc Son and Van Kiep, Hung Dao commune, Chi
Linh city , Hai Duong province .

3. Great contributions
Under the leadership of the Tran kings and Hung Dao Vuong, the Dai Viet army
overcame many hardships, with only a small number of well-trained troops,
weaker than the enemy, twice defeated tens of thousands of powerful Mongol
troops, winning a victory that "resounded to the North, causing them to often
call him An Nam Hung Dao Vuong without daring to call him by name". His
strategy contributed greatly to this victory, so this great feat is often associated
with his name. This great achievement brought him to the rank of "a military

33
genius with strategic vision, and a national hero of the Tran dynasty", a true
master of strategy. His victory and that of the Vietnamese army and people
contributed to marking the end of the peak period of the Yuan-Mongol army in
history.
As a talented person in using people and military strategy, he recommended
talented people to help the country, such as Da Tuong and Yet Kieu , his
retainers who had the merit of defeating O Ma Nhi and Toa Do. Other famous
people such as Pham Ngu Lao , Tran Thi Kien , Truong Han Sieu , Pham Lam,
Trinh Du, Ngo Si Thuong, Nguyen The Truc, who were his guests, were all
famous for their literature and politics. Because he was talented in strategy and
heroism, and was devoted to protecting loyal people, he was able to keep
talented people around him. For example, when King Tran Thanh Tong
pretended to tell Tran Quoc Tuan: "The enemy's situation is like this, we must
surrender." Tran Quoc Tuan replied: "Your Majesty, please cut off my head first
before surrendering to the enemy." The Vietnamese people greatly respected
him and honored him as a national hero with great achievements among the top
for the country and a shining example of power for many future generations.
As a talented Commander , "he knew how to wait for the right time to use
troops, and knew how to advance and retreat". He was famous for his strategy
of "attack and retreat". In addition, he had a strong belief in the strength and will
of the people and his soldiers, so Tran Hung Dao proposed a superior resistance
strategy, typically the strategic retreats from the capital Thang Long , to
preserve his forces. The "thanh da" (empty gardens and empty houses) plan and
the harmonious coordination between the "village soldiers" and the royal army,
the decisive raids and ambushes for the entire campaign such as in Chuong
Duong, Ham Tu, Tay Ket, Van Don, and especially in Bach Dang... made his
name immortal.
It can be said that the ideology that governed Tran Hung Dao's entire life was a
heart devoted to the country, the desire to unite all classes in the nation into a
unified force, and the spirit of love for the people. Therefore, before his death,
he still told King Tran Anh Tong : "Must be lenient and relax the people's
strength to create a deep-rooted and lasting plan" for the long-term career of
the country.
The names Tran Hung Dao or Tran Quoc Tuan are also given to many public
works in Vietnam , such as the escort ship of the same name , streets ,
and schools.

34
 Tran Hung Dao Monument at Me Linh Square (Ho Chi Minh City), source:
http://thtranhungdao.pgddtbaolam.edu.vn

A corner of the yard features a passage from the Proclamation to Soldiers by Tran
Hung Dao written at the end of the 13th century before the second resistance war
against the Mongol invaders of Dai Viet army and people. Photo: VNEXPRESS

35
 Temple of Saint Tran Hung Dao. Photo according: WIKIPEDIA

1. Biography summary
Le Thai To ( Chinese : 黎太祖
September 10, 1385 – October 5,
1433), real name Le Loi (黎利) was
a politician , military leader , who
established a Vietnamese army and
led this army to fight against the
occupation of the Ming army
from 1418 until completely expelling
the Ming army from Dai Viet
in 1428 , then rebuilding and re-
establishing the country. He was also
successful with military campaigns
to suppress the chieftains on the
northern border of Dai Viet and the
incited Ai Lao army . He is
considered a hero, the legendary

36
Emperor of Dai Viet with military talent, governing ability and benevolence
towards the people.
Le Loi was born into a wealthy family in Bien Hoa , and grew up during
the Ming Dynasty's occupation of Vietnam . At that time, many Vietnamese
uprisings broke out against the Ming army but all failed. In 1418 , Le Loi
organized the Lam Son uprising with an initial force of only a few thousand
people. At first, he operated in the upper Thanh Hoa region . The Ming army
mobilized tens of thousands of troops to suppress them, but by using evasion
tactics or ambush and peace tactics, the Lam Son uprising gradually grew
stronger. Five years later ( 1424 ), Le Loi decided to attack Nghe An , Thuan
Hoa , continuously won battles and then returned to liberate Thanh Hoa .
By 1426 , the Lam Son army controlled from Thanh Hoa to Thuan Hoa, the
Ming army was only concentrated in the cities of Nghe An, Thuan Hoa and
Thanh Hoa.
In 1426 , he sent three armies to the North, while the Ming Dynasty sent a large
force commanded by Vuong Thong to reinforce. Le Loi's two armies combined
together, defeated the Ming army at the battle of Tot Dong - Chuc Dong ,
forcing Vuong Thong to retreat to Dong Quan to defend. Hearing the news, Le
Loi immediately brought a large army to the North, reorganized the army,
divided the administration, issued edicts to warn soldiers and people,... and set
up a battle formation to surround the Ming army. The Ming Dynasty continued
to send generals Lieu Thang and Moc Thanh to reinforce, Le Loi sent troops to
block and completely defeat these two reinforcements. Vuong Thong had no
choice but to ask for peace with the Lam Son army without permission from the
Ming court. Despite the opposition of generals and people, Le Loi not only
allowed the Ming army to retreat safely but also provided them with supplies
such as boats, road repairs,... On December 17, 1427 (lunar calendar), the Ming
army officially returned home. Le Loi ordered Nguyen Trai to write the
Proclamation of Victory over the Wu on his behalf , reporting to the world that
the Ming army had made peace, withdrawn its troops, the North and the South
had stopped fighting, and the world was at peace.
In 1428 , ascending the throne, Le Loi entered Dong Quan citadel from Tranh
palace in Bo De , granted amnesty to the whole country, changed the reign
name to Thuan Thien, named the country Dai Viet , took Dong Kinh as the
capital, proclaimed himself Thuan Thien Thua Van Due Van Anh Vu Dai
Vuong, titled Lam Son Dong Chu, known in history as Thai To Cao Hoang De,
established the Le dynasty (modern Vietnamese history calls it the Later Le
dynasty ). Le Loi rebuilt the imperial examination system , laws, economy ,
created rituals and music, and at the same time collected books, expanded
schools... making Dai Viet prosperous. He also quelled the opposing chieftains
in the western border areas such as Be Khac Thieu, Nong Dac Thai (Thach Lam

37
district) and Deo Cat Han (Muong Le district), defeated a wing of Ai Lao army
that came to help Han.

He was highly regarded by historians for his political, military, and economic
talents, and was one of the two saints who restored the nation (the first was Ngo
Quyen), but some modern historians criticized him for harming two of the
nearly one hundred meritorious subjects he conferred, Tran Nguyen
Han and Pham Van Xao . However, historians Le Quy Don , Tran Quoc
Vuong, and Ta Chi Dai Truong argued that Tran Nguyen Han and Pham Van
Xao had actually committed crimes, and Le Loi had punished them according to
the law. When Vietnam was under French rule , those who advocated national
restoration considered Le Loi and the Lam Son uprising as models, inspirations,
and symbols of national unity. Phan Boi Chau considered him a shining image
of the second restored king after Ngo Quyen . During the Vietnam
War ( 1945 - 1975 ), to devise a strategy to fight the French and Americans, the
leader of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam , Truong Chinh, wrote the book
" Resistance Will Definitely Win" and used Le Loi's 10-year resistance as an
example of long-term resistance.

2. Origin and education

Le Loi was born on August 6, 1385 , in Lam Giang or Lam Son village, Luong
Giang district, Thanh Hoa prefecture (now Lam Son town , Tho
Xuan district , Thanh Hoa province ). Le Loi's paternal grandfather, Le Hoi,
once came to Lam Son . The book Dai Viet Thong Su recorded that: He saw
flocks of birds flying around the foot of the mountain, like a scene of a large
gathering of people . Le Hoi thought it was good land and moved there. After 3
years, it became an estate. From then on, generations of the Le family took turns
being military leaders in Thanh Hoa , and the Le family's dynasty began from
there.
Based on the composition of the population in Lam Son area today, most of
them are Muong people and Le Loi's family has been military leaders there for
several generations, there are hypotheses that Le Loi was a Muong chieftain .
However, recent research on the Le family genealogy has found that Le Loi's
paternal great-grandfather was Mr. Le Moi, from Bai Do village (now Xuan Bai
commune, Tho Xuan district). Le Moi gave birth to 5 children, of which Le Hoi
was the second son. Bai Do is a land that has never been inhabited by Muong
people. Regarding Le Loi's mother's family, they also originated from Kinh
people who came from other places to reclaim the land of Thuy Chu. Thus, it
can be affirmed that Le Loi was Kinh , not Muong.
Le Hoi married Mrs. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Duyen, a native of Quan Doi (now Tho
Xuan district). The two gave birth to Le Dinh, who continued the family's
career, loved people, and had people from near and far come to take refuge,

38
with thousands of people in his family. Le Dinh married Nguyen Thi Quach,
and had 37 sons, the eldest son was Le Tong, the second son was Le Khoang.
Le Khoang married Mrs. Trinh Ngoc Thuong (a native of Chu Son village, now
Thuy Chu). Mrs. Trinh Ngoc Thuong's grandfather was named Trinh Tam, who,
when he went to fight against Champa, captured a white elephant and was
awarded the title of Dai tot huu. Her father, Trinh Sai, inherited the title of Dai
tot huu.
Mr. and Mrs. Le Khoang were in Lam Son village when the Ai Lao chieftains
Cam Lo and Cam Lan came to plunder. They moved to Thuy Chu, gave birth to
Le Hoc, Le Tru and Le Loi, and gave birth to three daughters: Princess Ngoc
Ta, Princess Ngoc Vinh and Princess Ngoc Tien.
Le Loi was born at the hour of Ty on the 6th day of the 8th month of the year At
Suu , which is September 10, 1385 , the 9th year of the Xuong Phu reign of
the Tran Dynasty in Chu Son village, also known as Thuy Chu village, Loi
Duong district, his mother's hometown. Dai Viet Su Ky Toan Thu describes him
as "exceptionally handsome and talented. When he grew up, he had a majestic
and brilliant appearance, bright eyes, a wide mouth, a high nose, a mole on his
shoulder, a voice like a bell, a gait like a dragon, and steps like a tiger". Le Loi
was raised by his older brother Le Hoc when he was young.

Le Loi also had an older brother named Le Tru - the 5th generation ancestor of
the later King Le Anh Tong . The kings of the restored Le Dynasty were all
descendants of Le Anh Tong, that is, they belonged to the Le Tru lineage, not
the Le Loi lineage.

3. Youth and historical context

Le Loi succeeded Lam Son as a tutor, growing up in the midst of many changes
in Dai Viet . When he was 16 years old ( 1400 ), the Tran dynasty 's
maternal relative Ho Quy Ly, after many years in power, dethroned Tran Thieu
De , became emperor , took the national title Dai Ngu , and established the Ho
Dynasty. The Ming Dynasty ( China ), which wanted to invade Dai Ngu , took
the opportunity when Ho Quy Ly usurped the Tran Dynasty's throne to send
troops to invade Vietnam in 1406. Ho Quy Ly continuously failed and
in June 1407 , he was captured along with his sons Ho Nguyen Trung , Ho Han
Thuong and grandson Ho Nhue. The Ho Dynasty collapsed, and the Vietnamese
people fell into 20 years of Ming rule.
The Ming Dynasty ( China ) at that time implemented a policy of erasing
the Dai Viet civilization of the Ly and Tran dynasties by burning, destroying
and transporting to Yen Kinh all kinds of books and steles that mentioned the
Vietnamese people, created by the Vietnamese people, castrating Vietnamese
men; using strict policies, implementing cruel punishments, banning salt and
fish sauce, raising taxes, and forcing people to pay products. In addition, they
39
also moved people far away, built 10 citadels across the country, and divided
troops to guard them, in order to easily govern and suppress Vietnamese
uprisings. Those actions made the Vietnamese angry. Immediately after the
Ming Dynasty occupied, the Tran Dynasty's royal family, Tran Ngoi and Tran
Quy Khoang, raised an army to establish the Later Tran Dynasty . Historical
books have different records about Le Loi's attitude towards the Later Tran
Dynasty. Dai Viet Su Ky Toan Thu said that Le Loi saw that they did not have
real power so he did not follow them but hid in Lam Son area, recruiting
scholars. The book Viet Su Tieu An also said that Le Loi once followed Trung
Quang De and held the position of Kim Ngo Tuong Quan. According to the
book Dai Viet Thong Su, during the period when Ho Quy Ly usurped the Tran
Dynasty , Le Loi stayed at home reading books, pondering military strategies,
and waiting for the right time. When the Ming Dynasty defeated the Ho
Dynasty, Le Loi secretly had the will to restore the country, so he humbled
himself to respect the wise, spent money to raise soldiers, recruited those who
had fallen into the wrong path and opposed the Ming Dynasty, and gained the
respect of many people.
General Hoang Phuc of the Ming Dynasty knew of his reputation and gave him
an official position to entice him to follow, but he refused to submit. Le Loi "hid
in the mountains and forests and worked as a farmer; read classics and history
books, especially focusing on the books of the Strategy; treated guests well;
recruited fugitives and traitors; secretly nurtured the wicked and the intelligent;
gave up property and rice to help the orphans and the poor; was generous and
humble to win over heroes and great men; all of them were happy" (according
to Lam Son Thuc Luc). Great men such as Le Van An, Le Van Linh, Bui Quoc
Hung, Luu Nhan Chu, Trinh Vo, Vu Uy, Le Lieu and Le Xa Loi came to submit
one after another. By 1414 , the Later Tran Dynasty was completely defeated by
the Ming army.
Lam Son Uprising
The Lam Son uprising lasted for 10 years (1418 - 1427), going through three
main stages.
- Period 1418 - 1423:
+ In 1418, Le Loi gathered righteous men from all over the country to raise the
flag of uprising at Lam Son base (Thanh Hoa).
+ The Ming army continuously organized attacks and surrounded Lam Son
base. The insurgents retreated three times to Chi Linh mountain (Lang Chanh,
Thanh Hoa) and suffered many losses.
+ In mid-1423, Le Loi proposed a temporary peace, and the Ming army
accepted.
- Period 1424 - 1426:

40
+ At the end of 1424, Nguyen Chich proposed to temporarily leave Thanh Hoa,
move troops to Nghe An, and then turn around to attack and take Dong Do.
+ From the end of 1424 to the end of 1426, the insurgents quickly liberated
Nghe An and Thanh Hoa, controlled the entire Thuan Hoa region, and then
attacked the North.
- Phase 1426 - 1427:
+ At the end of 1426, Lam Son's army defeated over 50,000 Ming troops in the
battle of Tot Dong - Chuc Dong.
+ In October 1427, about 150,000 reinforcements led by Lieu Thang and Moc
Thanh entered Dai Viet and were also defeated in the battle of Chi Lang -
Xuong Giang.
+ In December 1427, Vuong Thong in Dong Quan citadel accepted the peace
treaty, then withdrew his troops back to his country.
4. Founding of the Later
Le Dynasty
Le Loi ascended the throne
of Dai Viet
After the Ming army withdrew in
December
s1427 , Tran Cao was appointed Ki
ng of Dai Viet by the Ming court .
In January 1428 , Tran Cao knew that he had no merit and that the people did
not follow him, so he fled to Ngoc Ma district ( Tran Ninh prefecture ), was
captured by the army and forced to drink poison and die. Before ascending the
throne three months later, Le Loi implemented many different policies to restore
the country. In August 1427 , while the war was going on, Le Loi sent an envoy
to the Ming dynasty to request the establishment of Tran Cao as King of An
Nam , and the Ming emperor agreed. He immediately sent an envoy to issue the
title, and it was not until March 1428 that the Ming envoys arrived at Dong
Quan citadel , Dai Viet . Le Loi again sent an envoy to the Ming dynasty to
report the death of Tran Cao.

On the 15th day of the 4th lunar month of 1428 , Le Loi entered Dong
Quan citadel from Tranh palace in Bo De , granted amnesty to the whole world,
changed the reign name to Thuan Thien, named the country Dai Viet ,
took Dong Kinh as the capital, proclaimed himself Thuan Thien Thua Van
Due Van Anh Vu Dai Vuong , called himself Lam Son Dong Chu , called by
history as Thai To Cao Hoang De , established the Le Dynasty (modern
Vietnamese history often calls it the Later Le Dynasty).

41
5. Images in culture

Le Loi Monument in Thanh Hoa City (source: tuyengiao.vn)

42
 Le Loi Monument at Cay Go The Vinh Lang stele was composed by
roundabout, District 6 , Ho Chi Minh Nguyen Trai , summarizing the
City (source: nguoidothi.net.vn). biography of Le Loi and the Lam Son
Uprising, at Vinh Lang, Thanh Hoa
(source: Wikipedia).

43