Viet Nam News
QUANG TRI — Authorities of Trieu Phong District in central province of Quang Tri held a ceremony on Tuesday to receive special national certification for historical relic sites of the Nguyen lords in the locality.
The sites include residential palaces in communes of Trieu Ai and Trieu Giang and Ai Tu Town of Trieu Phong District.
On June 20, 2018, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism added these places to the list of national relic sites
The sites include Ai Tu Palace (used in 1558-1570), Tra Bat Palace (1570-1600) and Cat Palace (1600-1626) and Trao Trao Temple (Ai Tu Town).
Nearly 500 years ago, in October 1558, Nguyen Hoang was assigned by King Le Anh Tong to move to Thuan Hoa to manage the locality. Nguyen Hoang and his troops took to sea to reach Viet Yen Beach and then went upstream of Thach Han River and stopped at Sa Khuu in Ai Tu Commune, Vu Xuong District.
When he set feet on the new land, Nguyen Hoang was supported by local authorities and people. He decided to choose the sandy area to camp, which was then the first palace of Nguyen lords in Trieu Phong.
During his 68 years living in Trieu Phong, Lord Nguyen Hoang moved his palace twice. After 12 years at Ai Tu, he moved the camping area to Tra Bat. Then in 1600, he moved the camping place from Tra Bat to Dinh Cat. The areas acted as political and administrative centres to manage the whole Thuan – Quang area.
In 1613, Lord Nguyen Hoang died. His son Sai Nguyen Phuc Nguyen took his position and completed his father’s wills. In 1626, Lord Nguyen Phuc Nguyen moved the administrative office to Phuoc Yen (now Quang Dien District, Thua Thien Hue Province).
In 68 years managing Trieu Phong area, lords Nguyen Hoang and Nguyen Phuc Nguyen focused on establishing military camps and promoting trading and culture with various localities.
The period witnessed advances in economic and society for the Thuan Hoa-Dang Trong region.
According to historians, the first palaces of Nguyen lords in Ai Tu and Tra Bat in Vu Xuong District have great meaning to the nation’s development as these were the first administrative bases to mark a milestone for a new royal reign - the reign of the Nguyen lords and the Nguyen dynasty. — VNS