Constructed during the Nguyen dynasty, it was designed to control movement on the Perfume River.

Another fortress, Trấn Hải Thành, was constructed in 1813 to protect the capital against assault from the sea.

[1] The fortress follows the French military engineer Vauban's typical layout,[2] and has 21 canon emplacements.

The Garrison was reinforced and subsequently used as a base for ARVN and U.S. Marine forces to eject the PAVN from the Citadel.

[4] The base was abandoned by the ARVN on 23 March 1975 as part of the withdrawal to Danang in the face of the PAVN's Hue–Da Nang Campaign.