1. Battle of Bach Dang River (938 AD)
In 938 AD, Vietnamese leader Ngo Quyen orchestrated one of history’s most ingenious military victories at the Bach Dang River.
Facing the formidable Southern Han naval forces aiming to reassert Chinese dominance, Ngo Quyen skillfully employed hidden underwater stakes, sharpened and strategically placed in the riverbed. As the enemy fleet advanced, high tides concealed these deadly traps. When tides receded, the Han ships became trapped or severely damaged, leaving them vulnerable to Ngo Quyen’s forces. This decisive victory not only thwarted the invaders but also ended centuries of Chinese rule, ushering in a new era of Vietnamese independence.
