Son Phong Citadel

About this location

Son Phong Citadel - Base of Emperor Ham Nghi in Ha Tinh Son Phong Citadel is located in Huong Khe Commune, Ha Tinh Province. An earthen citadel built in 1885, serving as the Can Vuong base of Emperor Ham Nghi, recognized as a national relic site in 2001 alongside Cong Dong Temple and Tram Lam Temple. SON PHONG CITADEL – EMPEROR HAM NGHI'S BASE AMIDST THE VAST MOUNTAINS Son Phong Citadel is located in Phu Thanh Village and Phu Yen Village, Huong Khe Commune, Ha Tinh Province. The new Huong Khe Commune, established under Resolution 1665/NQ-UBTVQH15 in 2025, comprises Huong Khe Town, Huong Long Commune, and Phu Gia Commune. The citadel lies on the left bank of the Tiem River, near the foothills of the Truong Son Mountains, approximately 7 km west of the Ho Chi Minh Highway. Setting features: A rectangular earthen citadel covering an area of approximately 4,200m2, with a height of 2.2m, a base width of 9m, a top width of 7m, surrounded by a moat. Built by Emperor Ham Nghi in 1885 as a defensive base and the location where the second Can Vuong (Save the King) Edict was issued to rally anti-French resistance forces. The Son Phong Citadel, Cong Dong Temple, and Tram Lam Temple complex was classified as a national relic site in 2001. The complex features a wooden temple with red tiled roofs, a red brick courtyard, a stone screen, stone elephant statues, bronze statues, and red-and-gold dragon palanquins. The landscape is suitable for aerial flycam shots of the earthen citadel, medium shots of the wooden temple, and close-ups of the stone screen, elephant statues, and dragon palanquins. The landscape is ideal for historical films, films about Emperor Ham Nghi and the Can Vuong movement, heritage documentaries, family dramas, journey films, and heritage tourism promotional videos. Information compiled from various sources by: PTIT. Photo source: PTIT.

Location Videos & Footage

Location rules

• Obtain permission from the Huong Khe Commune People's Committee + Relic Management Board prior to filming
• Do not climb, dig, drive stakes, or set up heavy equipment on the earthen citadel; do not cause erosion to the base, top, or moat of the citadel
• Do not touch or relocate statues, altars, ritual items, stone screens, dragon palanquins, or horizontal lacquered boards without prior approval
• Maintain order and quiet inside the temple; no loud talking, running, jumping, or filming inappropriate content in sacred areas
• No fire, smoking, burning votive paper, eating, drinking, or littering within the relic grounds
• No flycams, large lighting equipment, or filming during ceremonies without special permission; restore the location to its original state upon completion

Infrastructure