Quan Chuong Gate, the last remaining gate of Hanoi. (Photo: THANH DAT)
Five gates:
The image of the five city gates has become a symbol on the day of the Capital Liberation, when musician Van Cao wrote in the song “Marching to Hanoi”: “The five city gates welcome the advancing army…”.
Writer Nguyen Ngoc Tien once shared: “Musician Van Cao’s prediction coincided with the five armies that entered and took over Hanoi in early October 1954. From October 7 to 9, 1954, army units passed through the gates of Cau Giay, Cau Den, Yen Phu, Hang Dau and Thuy Khue into Hanoi.
Units of the Capital Regiment led the infantry formation marching from Mai Dich, O Cau Giay, Hang Day, Cua Nam, Hang Bong, to Bo Ho, Dong Xuan, Cua Bac into Hanoi citadel. To the south, the infantry and mechanized formation of the 308th Division marched bravely through Bach Mai, Pho Hue, Trang Tien... Wherever the troops went, cheers rose like waves. The streets were bright with flags and flowers, along with the faces, smiles, and bright eyes of the people of Hanoi welcoming them.
( Story of former "Suicide Squad" soldier of the Capital Regiment Bach Van Hanh )
Writer Nguyen Ngoc Tien, who is also a deep researcher on Hanoi, said that documents such as “Bac Thanh Du Dia Chi” compiled by Governor Le Chat under the reign of Minh Mang, “Ha Noi Dia Du” (Duong Ba Cung, 1851, compiled according to the decree of King Tu Duc), “Phuong Dinh Du Dia Chi Loai” (Nguyen Van Sieu and Bui Ngoc Quy, printed in 1900), “Thang Long Co Tich Khao Tinh Hoi Do” (compiled by Dang Xuan Khanh, EFEO 1956) all confirmed that Thang Long - Hanoi had 21 gates. But later documents also recorded that Hanoi had 15 or 16 gates. Over time, the capital was later moved to Hue, and the gates gradually changed or disappeared. By the end of the 19th century, the gates were only names. The only remaining gate was Quan Chuong gate. In 1906, the French colonial government intended to destroy this gate, but fortunately the École Française d'Extrême-Orient intervened and kept it intact.
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Quan Chuong Gate today. (Photo: THANH DAT)
The government has also changed the names of many gates, but people still call them by their nom names, such as: O Phuc Lam is called O Hang Dau, O Thinh Yen is called O Cau Den, O Thanh Bao is called O Cau Giay... Those nom names are still used today, but the only remaining gate is O Quan Chuong. The remaining gates have become public works, roads, overpasses or houses.
The O Quan Chuong relic today is located on Hang Chieu Street, Dong Xuan Ward, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi. From afar, you can see the ancient moss-covered wall and gate. On the gate is written the words: "Dong Ha Mon" meaning Dong Ha Gate, but people still call it O Quan Chuong.
O Cho Dua is currently the intersection of 6 streets: Xa Dan, Kham Thien, Ton Duc Thang, Tay Son, De La Thanh, O Cho Dua.
O Cau Den is a large intersection connecting Hue Street, Bach Mai, Tran Khat Chan, Dai Co Viet.
O Dong Mac is located at the end of Lo Duc street, at the intersection with Tran Khat Chan street and Kim Nguu street.
Cau Giay Gate is said to be located at Thanh Bao Street intersection with Son Tay Street.
Long Bien Bridge
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The last French soldiers withdrew from Hanoi. (Photo: Archive)
Long Bien Bridge is an important historical witness of the Capital Liberation Day. On July 20, 1954, according to the terms of the Geneva Agreement, all French troops had 80 days to withdraw from Hanoi.
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Long Bien Bridge today. (Photo: THANH DAT)
At 4 p.m. on October 9, 1954, the last French soldiers withdrew from Hanoi across Long Bien Bridge to Gia Lam, from where they retreated to Hai Phong. A unit of the Capital Regiment advanced to the head of Long Bien Bridge amid the cheers and applause of the people waiting along Hang Dau and Tran Nhat Duat streets.
Hanoi Flag Tower
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Flag-raising ceremony at Hanoi Flag Tower yard. (Photo: National Archives Center III)
At exactly 3:00 p.m. on October 10, 1954, in the jubilant atmosphere of the army marching to liberate the Capital, a special ceremony took place right at Doan Mon yard - Thang Long Imperial Citadel (then called Cot Co yard), which was the first historic flag-raising ceremony on the day Hanoi was liberated.
The units attending the flag-raising ceremony gathered in a solemn block, headed by the Capital Regiment. Following the infantry formation were the mechanized and artillery formations in straight, solemn rows. Around the stadium, the masses crowded the streets, eagerly attending the historic flag-raising ceremony.
The flag-raising ceremony was organized by the City Military Commission with the presence of military units participating in the takeover of the Capital and tens of thousands of people. The military band played the national anthem. The Opera House's siren sounded a long blast. The red flag with a yellow star was raised to the top of the Flagpole, fluttering in the wind.
At this historic flag-raising ceremony, Hanoians listened to President Ho Chi Minh’s appeal (read by Chairman of the Military and Government Committee Vuong Thua Vu) to the people of the Capital on the occasion of Liberation Day: “For the past eight years, the Government has had to leave the Capital to fight for national salvation. Although we are far apart, the Government’s heart has always been close to the people. Today, thanks to the solidarity and unity of our people, our army’s heroic fight, peace has been won, and the Government has returned to the Capital with the people. Thousands of miles away, one home, the joy is indescribable… The Government and our people must work together to restore, consolidate and develop the spiritual and material life of our Capital.”
Opera House
After the Liberation of the Capital, the Hanoi Opera House was the venue for the fourth session of the first National Assembly, the first session of peace in the capital Hanoi (March 20-26, 1955). This was also the place where Hanoians hung portraits of President Ho Chi Minh, banners and red flags with yellow stars to welcome the victorious army marching to the Capital.
Hang Dao Street
Hang Dao Street is where the people of Hanoi gathered to welcome the army advancing to liberate the capital on October 10, 1954.
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The Capital Regiment arrives at Hang Gai Street. (Photo: National Archives Center III)
Hang Dao Street was also the place to welcome the first convoy led by Major General Vuong Thua Vu, Chairman of the Military Commission, and Doctor Tran Duy Hung, Vice Chairman of the Military Commission, passing through Hang Duong, Hang Ngang, and Hang Dao streets into the city center.
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Hang Dao Street today. (Photo: THANH DAT)
The Capital Regiment, mechanized and artillery units also entered the city via this route.
Dong Xuan Market
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Dong Xuan Market today.
Dong Xuan Market was the site of heroic battles during the 60 days and nights when Hanoi was on fire against the French colonialists in late 1946 and early 1947. The most prominent of these was the battle of Dong Xuan Market on February 14, 1947. These battles contributed to protecting the Central agency's safe retreat, leading the resistance war against the French colonialists to victory, and the capital was completely liberated on October 10, 1954.
On the afternoon of October 8, 1954, the French held a flag-lowering ceremony at Hanoi Citadel. On the morning of October 9, our troops from La Thanh dike divided into two groups to advance and take over military areas such as Quan Ngua, Bach Mai, Don Thuy, and Hanoi Citadel. Wherever the French troops withdrew, we advanced, organizing the takeover in a "rolling" manner...
In the suburbs, the enemy withdrew from Van Dien district on October 6. On the morning of October 9, suburban working teams and troops entered to take over Quang Ba, Cau Giay, Nga Tu So, Quynh Loi and by noon took over Dai Ly Hoan Long (present-day Ha Dong).
At 4:00 p.m. on October 9, the last French soldiers withdrew to the east of Long Bien Bridge to leave Hanoi.
By 4:30 p.m., the Vietnamese Army had taken complete control of the city, taking over the entire city of Hanoi neatly and orderly.
On the night of October 9, the first night of peace, the city was resplendent in a forest of flags and the immense joy of the people of the capital.
(Hanoi City Party Committee 90 years of construction and development)
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(References from sources: Hanoi City Party Committee 90 years of construction and development - Hanoi Publishing House; History of Hanoi Opera House; History of Hanoi - Philippe Papin; Website of Hanoi Department of Home Affairs; Millions of footprints through the city gates - Nguyen Truong Quy)
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