168-year-old cannon unearthed during restoration of historic citadel in Vietnam’s Da Nang
A cannon believed to be around 168 years old has been discovered during restoration and renovation work at Dien Hai Citadel, a historic fortress in Da Nang City, central Vietnam.
Da Nang Museum staff carefully excavate a cannon discovered during restoration work at the historic citadel. Photo: Doan Cuong / Tuoi Tre
The cast-iron cannon, measuring 2.95 meters long, was discovered on Wednesday morning, approximately 1.5 meters underground, northeast of the citadel’s eastern gate.
Workers came across the weapon while digging to relocate the foundation of an electricity pole as part of an ongoing project to restore and renovate the historic citadel.
The discovery was immediately reported to local authorities, and specialists from the Da Nang Museum arrived to carefully excavate the artifact.
Huynh Dinh Quoc Thien, director of the Da Nang Museum, said preliminary assessments indicated that the cannon was approximately 168 years old and dated back to the Nguyen Dynasty.
He said that the cannon may have been among those used to defend Da Nang against the joint French-Spanish forces between 1858 and 1860.
However, further research is needed to determine its precise origin and historical role.
The cannon measures 2.95 meters in length. Photo: Doan Cuong / Tuoi Tre
Thien said the discovery was of considerable historical value and would further enrich the museum’s collection of cannons associated with Dien Hai Citadel.
The museum currently preserves 17 Nguyen Dynasty cannons, including 10 previously discovered within the citadel grounds during archaeological surveys and excavations.
Dien Hai Citadel was originally built in 1813 under Emperor Gia Long as a coastal fortification known as Dien Hai Fort, located near the eastern bank of the Han River.
In 1823, under Emperor Minh Mang, the fort was relocated to its present site and reinforced to strengthen Da Nang's defenses. It was renamed Dien Hai Citadel in 1835.
The citadel later played a crucial role in resisting French-Spanish forces during their invasion of Da Nang between 1858 and 1860.
Recognized as a special national historical relic in 2017, the citadel remains a symbol of Vietnam's resistance to foreign invasion.
Da Nang is currently carrying out the second phase of a project to restore and renovate Dien Hai Citadel, a special national historical relic, with completion expected in the fourth quarter of 2026.
Ngoc Nguyen - Doan Cuong / Tuoi Tre News
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