In 1288, the Vietnamese general Tran Hung Dao led a brilliant naval victory against the invading Mongol forces of the Yuan dynasty by placing steel-tipped bamboo stakes in the Bach Dang River. The Mongol fleet was caught off guard and destroyed, marking a decisive victory for Đại Việt. This battle ended the Mongol invasions of Vietnam and secured the country's independence from the Yuan Empire.

The Battle of Bach Dang River is a central event in Vietnamese national history and literature, celebrated in epic poems, chronicles, and folk songs. General Tran Hung Dao is venerated as a national hero, and his victory has been the subject of countless literary works, including the famous Hịch tướng sĩ (Proclamation to the Officers) that inspired his troops. The event symbolizes Vietnamese resilience and ingenuity and continues to be a powerful theme in Vietnamese poetry and storytelling.