Dong Trieu is a region recorded in historical texts as the ancestral homeland of the Tran Dynasty, one of the most prosperous feudal dynasties in the history of nation-building and national defense of the Vietnamese people. The place name Dong Trieu has appeared in ancient texts for a long time.
The place name Dong Trieu appeared in the latter half of the 14th century, more than 600 years ago, when King Tran Du Tong (1341-1369) renamed An Sinh commune to Dong Trieu. The book "Dong Trieu District Chronicle," written by Ngo San, the district chief of Dong Trieu, on August 8, 1896, states that this area was once a bustling trading center along the Cam River. Dong Trieu was a place with many boats and was a crucial waterway in the coastal region.
Over the past six centuries, Dong Trieu has undergone numerous administrative changes. According to the book "Dai Nam Nhat Thong Chi," the initial administrative center of Dong Trieu district was located in Dong Trieu commune, Dam Thuy district. The book also states that before the Tran dynasty, this land was called Dong Trieu prefecture; during the Ming dynasty, it belonged to Tan An prefecture; during the Le Thai Tong dynasty, it was called Dong Trieu province, belonging to Nam Sach province; after the Quang Thuan dynasty of the Le dynasty, it was established as Dong Trieu district, belonging to Kinh Mon prefecture. During the Tay Son dynasty, Kinh Mon prefecture, including Dong Trieu district, was merged into An Quang province. In the 3rd year of Tu Duc (1850), the administrative center of Dong Trieu district was moved to An Lam commune, Me Son district. At that time, Dong Trieu district had 5 districts and 56 villages. Two years later, when Emperor Tu Duc abolished the district chief, Dong Trieu had 11 districts and 98 villages. "Dong Khanh Du Dia Chi" also records a similar number of administrative units in Dong Trieu. Thus, according to ancient texts, Dong Trieu had a vast territory, with both high mountains and deep rivers, as well as plains, situated on a crucial land transportation route from the capital Thang Long to Quang Yen.
In the 8th year of the reign of Emperor Thành Thái (1896), the French colonialists built Đồn Cao as a fortified military base. Đông Triều and 7 communes belonging to the Bí Giàng district were merged into Quảng Yên province. Later, Đông Triều belonged to Hải Dương province, and the Đông Triều administrative center was expanded. The surrounding area became increasingly populated, becoming a center for trade and exchange of goods… transforming into Đông Triều city, one of the four cities of Hải Dương province at that time.
In December 1946, Dong Trieu district separated from Hai Duong province to become part of Quang Yen province. In March 1947, Dong Trieu became part of the Quang Hong Inter-provincial Committee. In 1957, the location of the Dong Trieu district headquarters and Dong Trieu town were separated from Duc Chinh commune to become Dong Trieu town, an administrative unit of Dong Trieu district.
In 1959, Dong Trieu district was transferred back to Hai Duong province. In October 1961, Dong Trieu district returned to the Hong Quang Special Zone. On October 30, 1963, Dong Trieu district officially became a district-level administrative unit of Quang Ninh province. In 2015, Dong Trieu district became Dong Trieu town. From November 1, 2024, Dong Trieu town officially became the 5th city of Quang Ninh province.
Throughout its formation and development, Dong Trieu has belonged to various administrative units, and its administrative boundaries have changed many times, but the name Dong Trieu has remained virtually unchanged and has long been part of the country's history. It is a strategically important area in terms of politics, economics, and military affairs, the place where Emperor Tran Nhan Tong practiced Buddhism and attained enlightenment, and the sacred site of the Truc Lam Zen sect. The establishment of Dong Trieu City and its new wards and communes is a source of joy and pride for the local military and people, creating new momentum for socio-economic development and contributing to the development of the province and the Red River Delta region.
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