Do Ban still has the old mark...

According to Quach Tan in the book "Nuoc non Binh Dinh", Do Ban citadel (Cha Ban, Phat The...) called Vijaya (Victory) according to the stele inscription was built by King Ngo Nhat Hoan of Champa as the capital of the kingdom in the 10th century.

A historical document tells us that the citadel was the king's residence, built of stone, opening with four doors. The king's palace was high and wide, with a diamond-shaped roof. The surrounding walls were built of bricks and looked very spacious. The doors were all made of hardwood, decorated with sculptures of wild animals or local creatures. The houses of the people were thatched. Since the beginning of the 20th century, French researcher Henri Parmentier surveyed and drew a map of Do Ban citadel and estimated the scale of the citadel to be 1,400 m long and 1,100 m wide.

Poet Quach Tan, based on his observations of the location selection and construction of the citadel as a capital with a solid defense, commented: “Looking at the terrain of the mountains and rivers, we must admit that the Champa people were clever in choosing the place to build their capital! And Do Ban citadel, with such great wisdom, should have stood firm for so many centuries!”

Fairy Wing Tower in Do Ban citadel.

In 1776, Tay Son leader Nguyen Nhac, on the basis of Do Ban citadel, renovated and built a new citadel called Hoang De citadel. Hoang De citadel gate is now the remaining vestige of that entire citadel.

Now, the red-tiled towers and purple attics are no longer there! Walking slowly around the inner city, the red soil, the laterite stones, the old trees, the remaining relics and artifacts evoke a quiet, dreamy atmosphere. To the south of the current Imperial Citadel Gate, there stands a pair of large elephants carved from monolithic stone, with a lively and vibrant shape and demeanor, dating from the 11th - 12th century, evidence of the period when the Champa people moved the capital from Cha Citadel to Do Ban Citadel, a prosperous period of this capital. The relics left by the Champa people also include 3 stone lion statues inside the Imperial Citadel Gate (2 of which stand on either side of the tomb of Vo Tanh - Ngo Tung Chau), dating from the 11th century. Lions are sacred animals with religious significance, symbols of royalty, authority and power of the Champa dynasties. In 1992, two stone lion statues were discovered near Canh Tien Tower, currently on display at Binh Dinh Museum, recognized as National Treasures in 2024.

Coming to Do Ban, one cannot help but admire the Canh Tien tower, a tower located on a high hill right in the center of ancient Do Ban (now Nam Tran village, Nhon Hau commune, An Nhon town). This solemn tower, seen from afar, resembles fairy wings flying up, dreamy and romantic. Perhaps that is why people believe that the tower was built by King Che Man as a gift for Princess Huyen Tran. The majestic Canh Tien tower, typical of the style of Binh Dinh temples, is actually a temple (Kalan) worshiping the God Shiva, a perfect work of architecture and sculpture, where the physical structure of the tower is a manifestation of the truth, the gods worshiped represent goodness and beauty, the perfect beauty of architecture and sculpture.

The stone elephant statue has been recognized as a national treasure.

During its nearly 500-year history of formation and prosperity, Do Ban Citadel has witnessed countless battles, incidents, and historical events that still resonate today. Those were the glorious victories in repelling 100,000 Toa Do naval troops invading the kingdom at the end of the 13th century; the fierce battles with the Khmer army in the South. Historical statistics show that there were 28 times the Champa army attacked Dai Viet, including two times when King Che Bong Nga captured Thang Long Citadel; 20 times the Dai Viet army advanced and captured Do Ban. Perhaps history will never forget the event of King Tran Due Tong's death in battle in 1377, as well as the attack here in 1471 by King Le Thanh Tong, ending the existence of the Vijaya dynasty. Another event, in 1306, King Tran Nhan Tong married Princess Huyen Tran to King Champa Che Man in exchange for the two Chau O and Ly. The story of the girl who, for the sake of the great national cause, put aside her personal feelings and "came here to live with people of a different race" (Quach Tan) has become an attractive topic of literature, poetry, and music for centuries.

Walking in the ancient citadel, I remember the ancient stories of the Cham people that were passed down among the Vietnamese community who settled around Do Ban citadel and are still passed down to this day, which researcher Nguyen Xuan Nhan collected in 1975 and printed in the book "Ancient stories of Do Ban citadel - Thi Nai bay". The ancient stories tell us that the Champa people in ancient Do Ban citadel used to think in a very unique way about the world , human life and human personality, containing optimism, love of life, love of life and praising the values of truth, goodness and beauty.

Poet Quach Tan in his famous book “Nuoc non Binh Dinh” respectfully called “the imprints of the ancient citadel” the remaining heritage of a “civilization of Champa”. Indeed, hidden in the relics, artifacts, and ancient stories are the noble spiritual values of a once brilliant civilization. Those values still exist vividly in today’s life!

Source: https://baodaklak.vn/van-hoa-du-lich-van-hoc-nghe-thuat/202504/do-ban-con-do-dau-xua-0481579/