Bac Kan 5.59

Bắc Kạn is the capital of Bắc Kạn Province, Vietnam. The province's only city, it is bordered by Bạch Thông District to the north, north-east and west and Chợ Mới District to the south-east and south-west.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: Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai, Đức Xuân, Sông Cầu, Phùng Chí Kiên, Huyền Tụng and Xuất Hóa and 2 communes: Dương Quang, Nông Thượng.HistoryBắc Kạn was established as a fort in 1880 for troops of the Nguyễn government during the 1878 revolt of Li Yung Choï 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 Bắc Kạn was one of the early headquarters of the Viet Minh in the war against the French. Jean-Étienne Valluy aimed to surround the area and capture the town in Operation Léa 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 Vo Nguyen Giap escaped only by hiding in camouflaged holes nearby. It was also an area of fighting between the communists and Việt Nam Quốc Dân Đảng armed forces.