Throughout thousand years of national construction and defence, the feudal dynasties of Vietnam brought into existence of “fortified farmsteads” for land reclamation, farming, socio-economic development and territorial expansion. They were simultaneously ready to transform into armies to quell revolts and resist foreign aggressors, thereby forming a solid palisade to preserve tranquility along the border.

Situated in a favourable geographic position, throughout thousands of years of national construction and defence, our people always encountered numerous invasion wars conducted by external forces whose economic and military capabilities are overwhelming. Wars eventually led to far-reaching consequences. Additionally, we suffered from harsh weather and natural disasters that damage crops.

In order to foster socio-economic development in association with the consolidation of national defence and security and border areas to expand and preserve the territory of the country, Vietnamese feudal dynasties advocated reclaiming vast and fertile lands in key areas; in particular, the establishment of fortified farmsteads was a pivotal and effective policy. Throughout consecutive hundred years of existence with positive impacts, it can be affirmed that this large-scale reclamation policy of feudal dynasties manifested the guideline of combining socio-economic development with the consolidation of national defence and security, especially border areas. Several characteristics of this policy are mentioned as follows.

Firstly, fortified farmsteads brought forth positive socio-economic benefits. In feudal times of Vietnam, agriculture is the predominant economic sector. Thus, the feudal dynasties attached great importance to this area and brought into being numerous policies to promptly restore, expand, and develop agricultural production weakened by prolonged wars or natural disasters. Among these policies, the establishment of fortified farmsteads was seen as a positive agricultural policy, offered multiple economic advantages, effectively expanded cultivated land, unleashed labour forces, promoted agricultural production, and constructed a prosperous and powerful nation – a “state of prosperity and strong soldiers”. Without encouragement policies on land reclamation and if the people had been left to individually cultivate their lands, progress would be slow. This is because land reclamation requires capital, farming tools, cattle, etc.; meanwhile, the number of “landlords” within the population was limited and land reclamation was “self-initiated” or “small-scale” with limited effectiveness. Being fully aware of the benefits to expand the number of fortified farmsteads, in 1481, King Le Thanh Tong issued a royal edict to establish these farmsteads: “The establishment of fortified farmsteads is essential to make every endeavour in farming to ensure abundant domestic resources”. Accordingly, the state provided, lent, or leased cattle, farming tools, rice seeds, etc., as well as offered initial tax exemptions to farmers in the initial years so that fortified farmsteads were soon stabilised and developed. Through these policies, the royal court mobilised people from numerous social strata and those “without an inch of iron in their hands”, could start up. Thanks to this favourable policy, the agricultural production areas were constantly expanded within a short period, thereby incessantly increasing tax revenue for the royal court. This contributed to enriching the national treasury, facilitating daily bread, improving material life for the people, reducing the use of the royal budget for prisoners, ensuring stable in-site sources of military provisions, and promptly addressing any contingency at the border. Additionally, the policy on fortified farmsteads also brought positive social effectiveness. Fortified farmsteads were categorised into two types. First-class farmsteads consisted of soldiers, convicts, and criminals; specifically, soldiers were responsible for guarding and managing, while convicts and criminals constituted the main labour force. Second-class farmsteads were predominantly populated by those seeking new land for cultivation with the hope of “settling down”. Deploying soldiers, convicts, prisoners, and those living in exile to the border areas, the feudal dynasty advocated deploying the forces to farmsteads, for production and military training. This contributed to transforming the “problematic elements” of society into useful labourers and warriors in invasion wars, which ensured both domestic security and external defence to establish stability and development within society. In 1827, when Nguyen Cong Tru suppressed uprisings among the domestic peasants, he realised that the “rebels” were not unfamiliar but those living in exile. As a man with vision, he proposed to the royal court the gathering of people living in exile, soldiers, and prisoners to cultivate the coastal lands in Tien Hai (Thai Binh) and Kim Son (Ninh Binh), thereby eradicating the issues of dispersal and uprisings, facilitated agricultural development, and stabilised society.

Secondly, fortified farmsteads functioned as solid border defences – the “barricade” along the borderlands. To firmly safeguard the Fatherland’s borders and prevent foreign aggressors from violating or encroaching upon our territory and creating a strategic springboard for the offensive on our country, the feudal dynasties proactively undertook various effective measures to “preserve the country before it was endangered”. Among these measures, fortified farmsteads acted as a “barrier” - a solid “barricade”  in the border areas which was formed to thwart the schemes of any foreign aggressors. In peacetime, the inhabitants of these farmsteads were peasants whose primary focus was on economic activities. Their operational characteristics closely resembled those in typical rural villages and hamlets. Therefore, in addition to agricultural production, the fortified farmsteads also served as the “eyes and ears” of the royal court to keep abreast of the security and order in the border areas and all movements of foreign forces and thus enabled the royal court to respond flexibly and promptly to any situations. Simultaneously, these farmsteads also functioned as a place for exchanging, deploying, and strengthening diplomatic activities and border relations. Thanks to regular military training during peacetime, when wars broke out, these farmsteads transformed into military units where the inhabitants became soldiers who shifted their focus from production to combat against foreign aggressors and defended the country’s territories and borders. These inhabitants were intimately familiar with the local terrain, conditions, and climate. They were on-site forces that could immediately engage in and repel the aggressors’ advances to establish a solid initial defence for the royal forces. In 1432, in the Northwestern border area at Cat Han Pass, the chief of Ninh Vien province colluded with other local chiefs to plan an uprising and seize control of the region. However, the inhabitants of the fortified farmsteads were well aware of the rebels' intentions and tactics. Through timely assistance from the royal troops, the rebellion was swiftly suppressed, which contributed to stabilising the border situation and preventing foreign aggressors from evasion.

Being fully aware of the importance of fortified farmsteads, in 1821, Nguyen Van Thoai astutely enlisted local people and merchants to establish farmsteads, villages, and markets in Chau Doc (currently a part of An Giang province); as time flew, the numbers of people increased and more areas of land were expanded. Consequently, when the situation in border areas changed, the royal court promptly convert the inhabitants of these farmsteads into soldiers. These farmsteads were then transformed into military outposts. They were tasked with effectively addressing the various situations that arose in the border areas to maintain tranquility along the strategic Southwestern border of the country. As a result, thanks to the well-structured organisation similar to military units and regular training in peacetime, the farmsteads were the solid “barrier” in border areas that promptly prevented any violation and disturbances and safeguarded the frontier of the Fatherland.

Thirdly, fortified farmsteads played a vital role in establishing communes and hamlets to extend the administrative boundaries in the South. During the reign of the Nguyen dynasty, the policy of establishing fortified farmsteads was inherited, developed, and achieves multiple outcomes, especially in accelerating production and stabilising people’s lives in the South. This policy began during the reign of Gia Long and developed under Minh Mang's rule. The establishment of fortified farmsteads became attractive destinations – the “promising land” for inhabitants from other places to reclaim and establish villages and markets with the aspiration of “settling down”. It was no coincidence that under the rule of four Kings of the Nguyen Dynasty (Gia Long, Minh Mang, Thieu Tri, Tu Duc), fortified farmsteads developed rapidly and robustly. Since the South was relatively new compared to the North and Central regions. The fertile land enriched annually by alluvial deposits led to abundant resources and favourable conditions for large-scale and high-yield agricultural production. As time went by, fortified farmsteads were expanded and transformed into prosperous villages and hamlets. This contributed to expanding administrative boundaries, maintaining security, preserving social order, and firmly safeguarding the national sovereignty and territorial integrity in the South.

Throughout the history of the South, inhabitants in fortified farmsteads were the first to explore the Dong Thap Muoi and establish renowned floating markets such as Vam Ngua, Cai Lay, Binh Thuy, Cai Rang, O Mon, and Tra On. Simultaneously, these fortified farmsteads contributed their manpower and resources to construct the Vinh Te Canal, thereby facilitating trade, promoting socio-economic development, and maintaining territorial integrity in the strategic southwestern area of the Fatherland. Being Fully aware of the pivotal role of fortified farmsteads in expanding administrative boundaries and extending the country's frontiers, the Nguyen Dynasty introduced regulations that after six to ten years, when the cultivated lands were planned and established, inhabitants in fortified farmsteads became permanent residents; the form of fortified farmsteads would be replaced by hamlets, establish collective communities, and integrate into districts. They were imposed the same tax and fulfilled military service obligations as other villages and hamlets. Consequently, it can be asserted that the fortified farmsteads formed a considerable number of communes and hamlets in the South. As a natural outcome, the expansion of communes and hamlets, and communities corresponded to the expansion of the country's frontiers and the firm establishment of territorial sovereignty.

Throughout thousands of years of existence, the policy of fortified farmsteads of the feudal dynasties made significant contributions that vividly manifested the guidelines of combining economic development with the consolidation of national defence and security in border areas. The values that the policy brought to the history of the country need to be studied and creatively applied in the cause of national construction and defence.

HA THANH – THU TRANG