Battle of Bach Dang (1288)
Part of the Mongol invasions of Vietnam
Silk painting by Năng Hiển.
Date 1288 Location Bach Dang, Dai Viet Result Dai Viet Victory
Combatants
Dai Viet	Yuan Mongol Army Yuan Mongol Navy
Commanders
Tran Hung Dao Tran Khanh Du	General Omar
Strength
200 000	500 000
Casualties
unknown	unknown

The Battle of Bach Dang took place near Halong Bay in present-day Vietnam, it was part of the Third Yuan Mongol Invasion (1287-88). This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (968x464, 82 KB) Silk painting. ... Events February 22 - Nicholas IV becomes Pope. ... Motto: Độc lập – Tá»± do – Hạnh phúc (Independence, freedom, happiness) Anthem: Tiến Quân Ca Capital Hanoi Largest city Ho Chi Minh City Official language(s) Vietnamese Government Communist single-party state  - General Secretary Nông Ðức Mạnh  - President Nguyá»…n Minh Triết  - Prime... Motto: Độc lập – Tá»± do – Hạnh phúc (Independence, freedom, happiness) Anthem: Tiến Quân Ca Capital Hanoi Largest city Ho Chi Minh City Official language(s) Vietnamese Government Communist single-party state  - General Secretary Nông Ðức Mạnh  - President Nguyá»…n Minh Triết  - Prime... 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The plan

In 1288 after the evacuation from the capital Thang Long or present-day Hanoi, Dai Viet's Grand Commander Tran Hung Dao decided to launch an offensive against the Mongolians on the Bach Dang river and immediately set to organise the battle. Hanoi (Vietnamese: Hà Ná»™i, Hán Tá»±: 河内)  , estimated population 3,145,300(2005), is the capital of Vietnam. ... Template:Infobox Celebrities cleanup-date|March 2006}} Trần HÆ°ng Đạo (陳興道) (1228-1300) was a Vietnamese Grand Commander-in-Chief during the Trần Dynasty. ...

The Bach Dang river ran through Yen Hung district (Quang Ninh) and Thuy Nguyen (Haiphong) before reaching the sea. This is where the well-known battle of Ngo Quyen against the Nanhan took place in 938 A.D. It was from March, Tran Hung Dao was already there to prepare the battlefield. He borrowed the same tactic that Ngo Quyen used against the Chinese in 938. He studied the tidal law, had beds of stakes planted under the water and arranged ambushes in a unified plan of campaign. Ngo Quyen (897?- 944), was prefect, under Chinese domination, of Giao Chau province in the valley of the Red River in what is now northern Vietnam. ... Template:Infobox Celebrities cleanup-date|March 2006}} Trần Hưng Đạo (陳興道) (1228-1300) was a Vietnamese Grand Commander-in-Chief during the Trần Dynasty. ... At the Battle of Bach Dang river in 938 the Vietnamese forces, led by Ngo Quyen, defeated the Chinese invaders and put an end to Chinese imperial domination of the Vietnamese. ...

The battle

As was foreseen, the Mongolians in Thang Long suffered acute shortage of food. Without any news about the supply fleet Toghan found himself in a tight corner and had to order his army to retreat to Van Kiep. It was when Dai Viet's Army began the general offensive by recapturing of a number of locations occupied by the Mongol invaders. Groups of partisans were given order to harass the enemy in Van Kiep, putting them at a loss. Toghan had to split his army into two and retreated home.

In early April the supply fleet led by Omar and escorted by infantry fled home along the Bach Dang river. As bridges and roads were destroyed and attacks were launched by Dai Viet's troops, the Mongols reached Bach Dang. Dai Viet's small flotilla engaged in battle and pretended to retreat. The Mongols eagerly pursued Dai Viet troops and fell into their pre-arranged battlefield. Thousands of Dai Viet's small boats from both banks quickly appeared, fiercely launched the attack and broke the combat formation of the enemy. Inflicted with a sudden and strong attack, the Mongols tried to withdraw to the sea in panic. Hitting the stakes, their boats were halted, many of which were broken and sunken. At that time, a number of fire rafts quickly rushed toward them. Frightened, the Mongolian troops jumped down to get to the banks where they were dealt a heavy blow by a big army led by the Tran king and Tran Hung Dao.

The Mongolian supply fleet was totally destroyed. Omar was captured.

At the same time, Dai Viet's Army made continuous attacks and smashed to pieces Toghan’s army on its route of withdrawal through Lang Son. Toghan risked his life making a shortcut through forests to flee home.

Legacy

The Battle of Bach Dang went down as one of the greatest victories in Vietnamese military history and is a well-known event in Vietnam.

In 1959 during excavation works in Yen Giang commune, Vietnamese archaeologists found the sharpened stakes that were used during the campaign in 1288.

See also

• Battle of Bach Dang
• First Battle of Bach Dang
• Battle of Chi Lang

There have been three Battles of Bạch Đằng recorded in the history of Vietnam: Battle of Bach Dang (939) between the Vietnamese commanded by Ngô Quyền and troops of the Southern Han. ... At the Battle of Bach Dang river in 938 the Vietnamese forces, led by Ngo Quyen, defeated the Chinese invaders and put an end to Chinese imperial domination of the Vietnamese. ...

References

• Karnow, Stanly (1983) Vietnam: A History.
• http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/showarticle.php?num=04SUN220106