Vân Đồn

Vân Đồn lies among the islands and sheltered channels off the northeastern coast of Đại Việt. In 1149 King Lý Anh Tông established a trading station here, where foreign vessels could exchange goods and present regional products to the court. The island harbour became an important meeting place for merchants sailing between China and the ports of Southeast Asia, while access to the mainland was subject to royal control.

Its waters also witnessed fighting during the Mongol invasions. In 1288 Trần Khánh Dư attacked and destroyed a Yuan supply fleet near Vân Đồn, depriving the invading army of provisions. After the war the port continued to flourish: archaeological finds of ceramics and other traded goods show the breadth of its maritime connections. The islands, anchorages and tidal channels made Vân Đồn a distinctive gateway to the northeastern frontier.