From Ngo Mon to historic Ba Dinh

VHO - Eighty years have passed, but in the subconscious of many seniors in the ancient capital of Hue, they still cannot forget the historical moments of the August Revolution in 1945. Especially the event of King Bao Dai abdicating, ending the last monarchy in Vietnam.

Ngo Mon Hue relic - where the abdication ceremony of King Bao Dai took place, ending the last feudal regime in Vietnam

In the heroic atmosphere of the August Revolution of 1945, in Hue, the center of the feudal regime, important historical turning points were finally marked.

Remember the historical autumn

The memory of the historic autumn 80 years ago is still intact in the mind of Mr. Nguyen Van Tien, a pre-uprising cadre, now nearly 100 years old. At that time, he studied at the Hue National School and soon became enlightened about the revolutionary ideal, then returned to his hometown in Loc Bon commune, Phu Loc district, Thua Thien Hue province (old) to participate in the struggle movement.

Mr. Nguyen Van Tien recalled, “At that time, I was 18 years old, admitted and became Deputy Secretary of the Commune Youth Union for National Salvation, together with my teammates, mobilizing people to seize power in Loc Bon commune. After that, we mobilized people to seize power in An Nong commune, Phu Loc district (old) and on August 19, we seized the district government. From the district to the province, on August 23, 1945, tens of thousands of people from the districts gathered in the city area, surrounded the headquarters of the puppet government, and officially seized power in Thua Thien Hue province.”

Initially, the Tran Trong Kim government planned to hold a rally at Hue Stadium to celebrate the event of Japan returning control of Cochinchina to the Hue court. However, this plan was disrupted by the Thua Thien Hue Provincial Uprising Committee and turned into a rally to demonstrate the revolutionary spirit of the masses.

Tens of thousands of people in Thua Thien Hue waved high the red flag with yellow star and cheered loudly. Here, Mr. To Huu read a speech clearly stating the scale and significance of the uprising and declared that from now on the government belonged to the people. At the same time, he introduced the provisional revolutionary committee of Thua Thien Hue province with Mr. Ton Quang Phiet as Chairman and Mr. Hoang Anh as Vice Chairman.

The important milestone of that autumn was the historical event of King Bao Dai abdicating, ending the last feudal dynasty of Vietnam, and the government returned to the people.

Mr. Nguyen Xuyen

  When the August Revolution took place, I was a 20-year-old young man full of enthusiasm and honor, fortunately participating in two large rallies in Hue. Especially witnessing the historic moment when King Bao Dai read the abdication edict at Ngo Mon Gate and handed over the seal and sword to the delegation of the Provisional Government led by Mr. Tran Huy Lieu. The August Revolution in Hue was a transfer of power with profound humanistic values.

(Mr. NGUYEN XUYEN)

Mr. Nguyen Xuyen (residing on Phan Boi Chau Street, Thuan Hoa Ward, Hue City) has just turned 101 years old but is still mentally sharp, he told us about the rally at Ngo Mon Square when King Bao Dai abdicated. That was the afternoon of August 30, tens of thousands of people gathered at Ngo Mon Square and shouted "Long live Vietnam's independence", "Long live the Democratic Republic of Vietnam".

“I was born in Binh Dinh and then went to study at Khai Dinh High School (later Quoc Hoc Hue School). When the August Revolution took place, I was a 20-year-old young man full of enthusiasm and honor, fortunately participating in two large rallies in Hue. Especially witnessing the historic moment when King Bao Dai read the abdication edict at Ngo Mon Gate and handed over the seal and sword to the delegation of the Provisional Government led by Mr. Tran Huy Lieu. The August Revolution in Hue was a transfer of power with profound humanistic values,” Mr. Nguyen Xuyen said.

Former Deputy Secretary of the Thua Thien Hue Provincial Party Committee (now Hue City) Nguyen Trung Chinh said that the most special mark in the August Revolution in Hue was King Bao Dai's abdication, handing over the royal seal and sword, contributing to the whole country's general uprising to completely win power.

Rarely has a historic transfer of power in the world taken place in an atmosphere of order and peace like that in Hue. The feudal monarchy ended in the consensus of history and the people.

Mr. Nguyen Van Tien, a pre-uprising cadre in Hue, talks about the struggle to seize power in 1945.

Ngo Mon relic continues to tell historical stories

Ngo Mon (Hue Imperial City) is located on the sacred axis of Hue Citadel, built during the reign of King Minh Mang of the Nguyen Dynasty and has been renovated and preserved over several periods. This is not only the main southern gate of Hue Imperial City but also considered as the "ceremony platform" when holding major ceremonies of the royal court such as: Ban Soc (calendar distribution) ceremony; Truyen Lo ceremony;... And in the historic Autumn of 1945, Ngo Mon was also the place where King Bao Dai announced his abdication before all the people.

The very existence and majesty of Ngo Mon is a reminder of this momentous event, which marked the end of the 143-year feudal regime in Vietnam (1802-1945). Today, Ngo Mon Hue continues to tell the historical story of King Bao Dai's abdication 80 years ago. That story, although not always expressed directly, is expressed through regular activities.

As information on the signs, information explanations about Ngo Mon to spread to visitors, the historical story of Ngo Mon includes the abdication of King Bao Dai. Or exhibitions or thematic displays on the occasion of important events of the country, especially the thematic about the August Revolution 1945 and National Day 2.9, including the thematic "From Ngo Mon to historic Ba Dinh" displaying many related documents and artifacts.

At the exhibition "From Ngo Mon to historic Ba Dinh" to celebrate the successful August Revolution in Hue

The historical story at Ngo Mon Gate in Hue in 1945 is also continued to be told through publications and historical research documents about Hue... In particular, the awareness of the people and tourists. "For many Vietnamese people, especially Hue people and history lovers, Ngo Mon Gate is associated with the event of King Bao Dai's abdication. Awareness and oral retelling in the community is also a way to continue to maintain the historical story", Mr. Nguyen Duc Loc, Director of Hue City History Museum emphasized.

It can be seen that Ngo Mon Hue is not only a beautiful architectural work but also a historical witness, where the story of King Bao Dai's abdication is still told clearly and solemnly through official information channels, cultural activities and in the minds of those interested in the heritage of the ancient capital.

Since 2025, the Hue City People's Council has also issued a Resolution to adjust the free admission time for the Hue Monuments Complex. During the five days of free admission for Vietnamese tourists, there is the anniversary of the August Revolution on August 19 and the National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on September 2.

This is also an opportunity for people and tourists not only to visit the relic but also to approach and learn more about the heroic history of the nation, including the abdication ceremony of King Bao Dai at Ngo Mon.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/van-hoa/tu-ngo-mon-den-ba-dinh-lich-su-161931.html