LỄ HỘI ĐỀN TRẦN KHÁT CHÂN - XÃ VĨNH THỊNH, VĨNH LỘC, THANH HOÁ 2025

General Tran Khat Chan (1370-1399), from Ha Lang village, Vinh Ninh district, was a talented and loyal general. However, his life was intertwined with a turbulent period in history. Historical records state that the Tran dynasty declined, and power fell into the hands of Ho Quy Ly. Externally, the Champa invaders launched continuous attacks, disrupting the lives of the people. Faced with this situation, the Tran king repeatedly sent generals to suppress the invaders, but all failed. In the winter of the year Ky Ty (1389), the Champa king, Che Bong Nga, led a powerful army, including land and naval forces, and even elephant troops, to attack Thanh Hoa. The enemy, taking advantage of the situation, advanced northward. In this perilous moment, Tran Khat Chan – a young general and a low-ranking military officer – bravely accepted the order to lead the Long Tiep army to fight the invaders. With his intelligence and courage, Tran Khat Chan and his army routed the enemy, killing Che Bong Nga. The head of Chế Bồng Nga was then brought back to Bình Than wharf, where the royal army was stationed, to report the victory. The foreign invaders had been subdued, but the domestic political situation remained volatile and chaotic. In 1394, Emperor Emeritus Trần Nghệ Tông died. In 1398, Hồ Quý Ly forced Emperor Thuận Tông to abdicate in favor of his three-year-old son, Crown Prince An, and then seized real power. Hồ Quý Ly built the Tây Đô citadel (An Tôn citadel, Tây Giai citadel, Hồ Dynasty citadel), moving the capital from Thăng Long to Thanh Hóa. In 1400, Hồ Quý Ly ascended the throne, adopting the national name Đại Ngu. Hồ Quý Ly's actions further fueled the discontent of some officials loyal to the Trần dynasty, who conspired to assassinate him, including General Trần Khát Chân. Their plot failed, and a large-scale purge ensued, resulting in the deaths of General Trần Khát Chân and hundreds of others. Regarding the death of General Tran Khat Chan, the Dai Viet History Chronicle records: “People say that when Khat Chan was about to be executed, he went to Don Son mountain and shouted three times. Even after three days, his face remained as if alive, and flies dared not land on him. Afterward, a great drought and heavy rain occurred, and it immediately came true.” Join this channel as a member to enjoy special privileges:    / @lucbahl