Bac Kan

Bac Kạn (About this soundlisten) is the capital of Bac Kạn Province, Vietnam. The province’s only city, it is bordered by Bạch Thong District to the north, north-east and west and Cho Moi District to the south-east and south-west.

As of 2019 it had a population of 45,036 people.The town traces its origins to a fort established in 1880 and upgraded to city on 11 March 2015. It is divided into six wards: Nguyen Thị Minh Khai, Duc Xuan, Song Cau, Phung Chi Kien, Huyen Tụng and Xuat Hoa and 2 communes: Duong Quang, Nong Thuong.

Bac Kạn was established as a fort in 1880 for troops of the Nguyen government during the 1878 revolt of Li Yung Choi coincident with the Black Flag Army. Following Li’s capture and decapitation, the remains of his group reformed under Liu Zhiping and with 5,000 men attacked the fort defended by 300 Annamite soldiers in 1881.

The town of Bac Kạn was one of the early headquarters of the Viet Minh in the war against the French. Jean-Etienne Valluy aimed to surround the area and capture the town in Operation Lea between 7 October and 22 December 1947.A parachute drop caught the Viet Minh by surprise and seized letters left on the desk of Ho Chi Minh.Both Ho and Voo Nguyen Giap escaped only by hiding in camouflaged holes nearby.It was also an area of fighting between the communists and Viet Nam Quoc Dan Dang armed forces.