Old East Gate (Ô Quan Chưởng), Hanoi: The Last Remaining Gate of Thang Long
I. History and Values of Old East Gate II. Highlights and Architecture of Old East Gate III. How to Get to Old East Gate? IV. Extra Tips >> Check out: Communicating with Vietnamese People When taking a trip to Hanoi, the more-than-1000-year-old capital of Vietnam, it is a pity if tourists do not pay a visit to a variety of historical places which have preserved all the values and traditions of this city. Each destination boasts an interesting and meaningful story. Of all the monuments, Old East Gate (O Quan Chuong) is worth your visit not only due to its significance but also for its attachment to the daily life of Hanoians. Contents I. History and Values of Old East Gate The ancient Thang Long Citadel was a bustling city, which used to be the capital of Vietnam through many different dynasties. As a center of culture, a system of rampants, temples and mausoleums was founded, spreading in a large area. Source: @christiandickenson According to some historical documents, through the medieval period, Thang Long Citadel had 21 gates in total to protect the royal family and people living inside the city, and five most famous gates were Cau Giay, Cau Den, Dong Mac, Cho Dua and Quan Chuong Gate. Due to the destruction of time and war, the vestiges of these constructions almost disappeared. There are only a few works left, one of which is Old East Gate. Old East Gate, also known as O Quan Chuong, was built in the reign of King Le Hien Tong (1749). The gate was located in the east of Thang Long Citadel, only 80 meters from the wharf of the old Red River, which was quite convenient for traveling and trading between Thang Long Citadel and other regions. However, the appearance of Old East Gate that we can see nowadays is the result of the restoration in 1817. The former name of Old East Gate was Dong Ha Gate – the gate to the east of a river. In November, 1873, the French army attacked Hanoi from Dong Ha Gate. A military leader of the Nguyen Dynasty and 100 soldiers fought to the last person and laid down their life to save Hanoi at this gate. Since this event, the gate has been named after the military leader to commemorate their heroic sacrifice. (Quan Chuong means military leader). After conquering Hanoi the French colonialism destroyed almost all the gates and dykes to expand the city. However, thanks to the intense struggle of people there, Old East Gate escaped from the same fate as other construction and has remained intact up to present. II. Highlights and Architecture of Old East Gate Source: @artymeg_design 1. Location Old East Gate is to the east of Hanoi Old Quarter, which is at the intersection of Hang Chieu, Dao Duy Tu, Thanh Ha and O Quan Chuong Street. It is only about 1.5 kilometers to the north of Hoan Kiem Lake and 0.5 kilometers to the south ...