Hai Van Pass - Important Ancient Border Guard Post

Hai Van Pass - Important Ancient Border Guard Post Between Đại Việt and Champa

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Many people might wonder why there's a major border guard post in the middle of Vietnam – something that usually only appears at a country's edge. In reality, Hai Van Pass was indeed an ancient border guard when Vietnam didn't stretch as far south as Cà Mau like it does today. Back then, Đại Việt (ancient Vietnam) only extended to Huế, while the area from Da Nang southward belonged to the Champa kingdom (this territory was established from the Nguyễn Dynasty onwards).

The Mongol Empire, the most powerful empire in Asia at the time, once sent troops to attack Champa to create a pincer movement to attack Đại Việt from both land routes. Therefore, Hai Van Pass remained a very important strategic guard post, considered the "throat" guarding against attacks from the South.

(An interesting fact is that the Mongol Empire, the most powerful empire in Asia, failed... all three times it tried to invade Đại Việt.)

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