Preserving and promoting the value of the special national relic of Quang Tri Citadel

VHO - Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh has just signed Decision No. 861/QD-TTg dated April 29, 2025 approving the Task of developing a Plan to preserve, restore and renovate the Quang Tri Ancient Citadel National Special Monument and memorial sites for the 81-day and night event in 1972. The Decision takes effect from the date of signing.

Quang Tri Citadel Memorial

The scope of the planning study covers an area of ​​approximately 454.15 hectares; within the administrative boundaries of wards 1, 2, 3 and An Don ward (Quang Tri town), Hai Phu commune (Hai Lang district), Trieu Trach commune and Trieu Trung commune (Trieu Phong district), Quang Tri province; is the space surrounding the areas related to the special national relic of Quang Tri Citadel and the memorial sites of the 81-day and night event in 1972.

The objective of the relic planning is to preserve and promote the value of relics associated with the historical event of 81 days and nights in 1972; honor the indomitable spirit and heroic sacrifice of our army and people to protect every inch of our homeland;and educate future generations about patriotism.

At the same time, concretize the Quang Tri Provincial Planning for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050 approved by the Prime Minister in Decision No. 1737/QD-TTg dated December 29, 2023.

Develop strategies, plans, roadmaps and groups of comprehensive solutions for management, investment in construction, restoration, embellishment and promotion of relic values ​​associated with tourism development, in line with the local socio-economic development orientation.

According to the decision, the subjects of planning research include:

Relics and component relic sites of the Quang Tri Ancient Citadel National Special Historical Relic and memorial sites of the 81-day and night event in 1972, Quang Tri province; historical - cultural and architectural values ​​of the relics.

Intangible cultural heritage: Traditional festivals, culture, customs, and beliefs of local people where the relic is located.

Management, protection and promotion of relic values; technical and urban infrastructure; socio-economic and environmental factors related to relics; institutions and policies, planning, plans, projects and related projects.

Location, role, and relationship between the special national relic of Quang Tri Citadel and the memorial sites of the 81-day and night event in 1972 with other relics, works, and tourist destinations in Quang Tri province and neighboring areas to connect and develop tourism.

The content of the task of establishing a relic planning includes: Determining the requirements for research, survey, and assessment of the current status of the relic;

Research and evaluate socio-economic factors and natural environment related to planning content; determine characteristics and typical values ​​of relics, identify characteristics, original elements constituting relics, typical values ​​of relics as a basis for preserving and promoting relic values;

Forecast and determine development indicators of the planning area: Land use demand, tourism development;

Determine technical infrastructure indicators and tourism development indicators to apply to planning; determine the content of orientation for preservation, restoration, rehabilitation and promotion of relic values; orientation for organizing architectural space, landscape and construction of new works...

Solutions for planning implementation: Solutions for planning management (management model, inter-sectoral coordination mechanism, mechanism for mobilizing community participation);

Investment solutions; solutions for mobilizing resources to protect relics; solutions for inter-sectoral coordination; solutions for propaganda, raising awareness and mobilizing community participation; solutions for developing human resources for managing and protecting relics.

The Decision clearly states that the People's Committee of Quang Tri province is responsible for arranging capital sources, approving cost estimates for planning and other costs related to planning work; assigning investment agencies; and selecting planning consultants in accordance with legal regulations.

Relevant ministries, branches and agencies, according to their assigned functions, tasks and current regulations, are responsible for coordinating with the People's Committee of Quang Tri province in the process of researching and organizing the planning to ensure quality, progress and efficiency; coordinate with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to appraise and submit to the Prime Minister for approval of the planning project according to regulations.

Memorial house, flower wharf at Thach Han river wharf

After Quang Tri province was liberated (May 1, 1972), to carry out the plan to retake Quang Tri province, first of all Quang Tri town, the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) organized an operation called "Lam Son 72", with the plan to basically occupy Hai Lang district, Quang Tri town and Trieu Phong district from the end of May 1972 to mid-July 1972.

To carry out the reoccupation operation, the ARVN mobilized 4 divisions of the national reserve force with forces equivalent to 17 infantry regiments, 17 artillery battalions, 5 armored regiments and many air force units and naval gunboats of the US military to support.

To prevent and defeat this operation, the Liberation Army mobilized the 48th Regiment, 320th Division; the 308th Division; 2 battalions of Quang Tri local troops; later, the 95th Regiment, 325th Division, Battalion 8 of the 64th Regiment; local troops of Quang Tri province... along with tank units, anti-aircraft artillery and guerrilla forces from communes in the 2 districts of Trieu Phong and Hai Lang.

The fight against the counterattack and reoccupation of the Liberation Army against the ARVN lasted for 81 days and nights, from June 28, 1972 to September 16, 1972, in a large area including Hai Lang district, part of Trieu Phong district and the entire Quang Tri town.

Starting from the end of July, at key positions in the directions leading to Quang Tri town, fierce battles between the Liberation Army and the ARVN took place.

Especially in the outlying bases, the outskirts of the town such as: Long Hung, Tri Buu, La Vang, Long Quang, Bich La, Ngo Xa... the Liberation Army soldiers fought tirelessly in a difficult, deprived and dangerous situation. From the beginning of September 1972, the war took place extremely fiercely in the area of ​​Quang Tri town and the Citadel.

The fierceness of the bombs and the casualties from both sides made the battle to protect the town and the Citadel a typical battlefield of the fierceness of the Vietnam War. The indomitable fighting spirit and heroic sacrifice of the Liberation Army soldiers built a monument to revolutionary heroism.

The 81-day and night battle against the counterattack to retake and protect Quang Tri town and the Citadel in 1972 left behind many places marking the fierce war relics; at the same time demonstrating the fighting spirit and heroic sacrifice of the Liberation Army soldiers.

With its typical historical, cultural and scientific values, the relic "Quang Tri Citadel and memorial sites of the 81-day and night event in 1972" was recognized by the Prime Minister as a special national relic according to Decision No. 2383/QD-TTg dated December 9, 2013, including 7 component relic sites:

Quang Tri Citadel (Ward II, Quang Tri town);

Long Hung T-junction and church (Hai Phu commune, Hai Lang district);

Tri Buu Church (Ward II, Quang Tri town);

Bo De School (Ward III, Quang Tri town);

Thach Han River Wharf (South Bank (Ward II, Quang Tri Town) has the following structures: Memorial House, Flower Wharf, Liberation Square, Ancient Citadel Bell Tower; North Bank (An Don Ward, Quang Tri Town) has the following structures: Memorial Temple, Flower Wharf, Monument);

Long Quang checkpoint (Trieu Trach commune, Trieu Phong district);

Ngo Xa Tay checkpoint (Trieu Trung commune, Trieu Phong district).

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/van-hoa/bao-ton-phat-huy-gia-tri-di-tich-quoc-gia-dac-biet-thanh-co-quang-tri-130235.html