Ly Thuong Kiet, who defeated Song invasion, commemorated in Bac Ninh province

A ceremony was held on May 16 to mark the 1000th anniversary of the birth of Ly Thuong Kiet, a Ly Dynasty general who expelled an invasion by China’s Song Dynasty in the 11th century.

The ceremony to commemorate Ly Thuong Kiet in Bac Ninh province. (Photo: Bao Bac Ninh)
The ceremony to commemorate Ly Thuong Kiet in Bac Ninh province. (Photo: Bao Bac Ninh)

The commemoration took place at a temple dedicated to Ly Thuong Kiet in Yen Phong district of Bac Ninh province.

As one of the most celebrated military commanders in Vietnamese history, Ly Thuong Kiet was known for a military expedition against the Champa Kingdom in 1069 and a pre-emptive attack against three southern prefectures of the Song Dynasty in 1075-1076.

His most remarkable feat was a strategic battle on the Nhu Nguyet River (in present-day Bac Ninh province) in 1077 that crushed the invasion carried out by the Song Dynasty.

Ly Thuong Kiet was also credited with composing a famous poem entitled “Mountains and Rivers of the Southern Country” which asserted Vietnam’s sovereignty and determination to repulse foreign aggressors.

In 2013, Ly Thuong Kiet was named as one of Vietnam’s 14 greatest national heroes by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

In honour of Ly Thuong Kiet’s great achievements, the authorities of Bac Ninh province have approved a project to build a tourism area covering 250 hectares around the site of his temple.