Citadel of Quảng Trị

The Quảng Trị Citadel (Vietnamese: Thành cổ Quảng Trị, or Cổ thành Quảng Trị; lit. Ancient Fort of Quảng Trị ) is a historical site of a 19th-century fort on the bank of Thạch Hãn River, in the heart of Quảng Trị town, Quảng Trị province, Vietnam. The citadel once hosted the administration office of the Nguyễn dynasty (1802–1945), and later that of the French colonial regime and the American-backed southern regime, while also functioning as a military defense system. The citadel is mostly remembered as the site of the Second Battle of Quang Tri between the communist forces against South Vietnam and its US ally during the Vietnam War. Today, the citadel, along with seven other historical sites commemorating the Second Battle of Quang Tri is recognized as one of the Special National Sites of Vietnam in the fourth round of rating proposed by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam.