The region of Kiep Bac is situated on the left bank of the river Luc Dau Giang, belonging to the territory of the commune of Hung Dao (Chi Linh, Hai Duong), at 100km east of Hanoi, 5km north of Pha Lai. In the history of foundation and defence of the country, it is a place of
The region of Kiep Bac is situated on the left bank of the river Luc Dau Giang, belonging to the territory of the commune of Hung Dao (Chi Linh, Hai Duong), at 100km east of Hanoi, 5km north of Pha Lai. In the history of foundation and defence of the country, it is a place of particular importance in many points of view. First of all, it is a vanguard place of the north-east region of the country, usually considered as the starting point of the aggressions of the northern feudalists. Coming from Lang Son or from the sea toward the center of Thang Long, the road, by land or river, must pass through this place. Therefore the feudal vietnamese dynasties hold this place in great consideration. The kings of Ly and Tran strive to edify this region, apply policies of economic and military development (Van Don) and nominate talented governors (Tran Hung Dao, Tran Khanh Du).
In this geohuman situation, with its particularly important situation, Kiep Bac becomes a rather famous region in history, where “the land is sacred and the men are heroes”. First of all, this region has picturesque mountains and rivers, having all the features of a “sacred land”, with the system of high mountains belonging to the arch of Dong Trieu which surrounds all the north-east region. There are here a whole system of mountains with average height from 200m to 250m, among which is the mountain “Dragon front” which stands and embraces the central part containing the temple of Kiep Bac. The two chains of mountains, Con Son (in the north) and Phuong Hoang (in the south), coming from Yen Tu, surround the temple of Kiep Bac. The chain Con Son is linked to Kiep Bac by low hills in form of “reversed bowls”, disseminated in the north-east plain. The chain Phuong Hoang runs along the south as a natural wall, separating the mountains and the plain of the huyen of Chi Linh.
Beside the mountains, the system of water streams of Kiep Bac is dominated by the river Luc Dau Giang, full of water all year round, especially at the season of floods, when this river becomes immense, being the point of convergence of many rivers (Song Cau, Song Thuong, Song Luc Nam, Song Duong, Song Thai Binh, Song Kinh Thay).
Moreover, Kiep Bac has plains (small and narrow) which are the prolongation of alluvion banks or of little valleys quite favourable to economic developmenmt and production. With this configuration similar to that of a stretched hand, the region of Kiep Bac has a particular important position, favourable to communication, not only for economic development, but also for military manoeuvres. That is why this region is linked with the life and the works of many famous personalities in history.
In the history of the country, in the 13th century, the name of Kiep Bac has been mentioned many times in annals, being linked to the life and the works of Hung Dao Dai Vuong Tran Quoc Tuan, the talented military commander who have had great achievements in the resistance against the Mongols agressors, the man who has been dubbed “father of the people” in vietnamese popular conscience, with a great feast at the 8th lunar month (at the 8th month, anniversary of father, at the 3th month, anniversary of mother). Kiep Bac having a picturesque landscape and a flourishing population, Tran Hung Dao has chosen it as his place of residence, in order to transform it into a production economic center, and at the same time an important military center of the time.
This place is still linked to many other personalities of the time of Tran. Quite near Kiep Bac is the mountain Con Son, with the temple and the vestiges relative to Nguyen Trai – famous mundial cultural personality. Farther, at the foot of the mountain Phuong Hoang is the vestige of the temple of Chu Van An – the sublime pedagogist, renowned magnanimous and honest with his famous “petition of sentence to death of seven depraved dignitaries”…
With great historical cultural values, since long, the region of Kiep Bac has attracted the interest of the population of the whole country, especially in the season of feasts which occurs once every year.
Nguyễn Văn Đoàn