Cannons pegged as national treasure

The city administration said the collection, which is on display at the Da Nang Museum in the old location of the Dien Hai Citadel, had originally been cast in iron during the Nguyen Dynasty, between 1802 and 1860.

They form part of a collection of 30 cannons deployed at the citadel to protect Da Nang in the fight against French-Spanish coalition forces in 1858-60.

The cannon collection and citadel are closely linked to Nguyen Tri Phuong (1800-73), a famous general who commanded an army and civilians in fighting against invading forces.

Dien Hai Citadel was first constructed as a military outpost in the 12th year of King Gia Long’s reign (1813), near the mouth of the Han River, to control access to Da Nang port and serve as an important defensive position.

The citadel, which was listed as a national historical monument in 1988, still has a moat between two brick walls, with the cannon collection displayed outdoors.

Da Nang Museum, spanning 3,000sq.m. of exhibition space, displays 2,500 objects, photos and documents related to the culture of Da Nang and neighbouring central provinces, of which 1,900 are original artefacts.

The museum is a top destination for tourists.

According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Vietnam has recognised 104 national treasures.

Among them are three at Da Nang’s Cham Sculpture Museum: the Bodhisattva Tara Statue, the My Son Altar of E1 Tower of My Son Sanctuary, and the Tra Kieu Altar.

These items represent the unique antique Cham sculptures created during the Champa Kingdom (from the 4th to the 13th centuries in the central region of Vietnam).