(photo: baoquangninh)

Dong Ma Ngua stake yard, a relic of the famous battle on Bach Dang River in 1288, now located in Quang Yen town, northern Quang Ninh province, on April 15 received a certificate recognising it as a national historical site.

The stake yard was discovered in 2005 and scientists affirmed it was one of the stake traps placed hidden in Bach Dang river, which contributed to Vietnam’s victory over Mongol invaders in 1288 under the leadership of General Tran Hung Dao.

The Bach Dang river ran through Yen Hung district (Quang Ninh) and Thuy Nguyen (Hai Phong) before reaching the sea. Tran Hung Dao borrowed the same tactic that Ngo Quyen used against the Chinese in 938. He studied the tidal law, had stakes planted under the water and arranged ambushes in a unified plan of campaign.

The general sent small flotilla to harass the Mongol fleet and then pretended to retreat. The Mongols eagerly pursued Dai Viet troops and fell into their pre-arranged battlefield. Thousands of Dai Viet’s small boats from both banks quickly appeared, launched fierce attacks and broke the combat formation of the enemy. The Mongols tried to withdraw to the sea in panic. Hitting the stakes, their boats were halted, many of which were broken and sunken.

Unlike the two previously discovered yards, stakes in Dong Ma Ngua were driven into the riverbed densely like a wall.

Source: VNA