“Ha Thanh Chinh Khi” is written by author Phung Nguyen and directed by People’s Artist Trung Hieu. The work was completed and premiered by the Hanoi Drama Theater in 2019 on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the Hanoi Opera House (1959 -2019) and the 1010th anniversary of Thang Long Hanoi.
The play “Ha Thanh Chinh Khi” is set in the 1880s when the French colonialists captured Cochinchina and sent troops to the North to capture Hanoi. At that time, the governor of Ha Ninh province was Governor Hoang Dieu who managed and maintained three provinces and cities: Hanoi Citadel, Ha Nam province and Ninh Binh province. Hoang Dieu was good comprehensively, profoundly educational, an honest mandarin with a heart for the country and the people. Realizing the aggression of the French colonialists, Governor Hoang Dieu immediately began to prepare for battle: digging trenches, building structures, preparing weapons and ammunition…
However, it was the cowardice of the court that made Governor Hoang Dieu stand alone against the strength of the mighty French army. Despite the reprimand of the Hue court, Hoang Dieu and the soldiers together determined to protect Hanoi even to die… But due to the treason of Prince Ton That Ba, until 1882 in Hanoi citadel lost, Governor General Ha Ninh Hoang Dieu died at the Vo Mieu.
Not only brave and steadfast, Governor Hoang Dieu was also a person who wholeheartedly took care of the people’s life and people. During his lifetime, he issued regulations to prevent harassment against people during funerals, weddings, as well as money laundering and looting on rivers and markets.
Admiring the kindness, bravery, integrity, living and working for the people, especially admiring the courage, steadfastness and heartedness for the country of Governor Hoang Dieu who would rather die than surrender, Hanoi people and scholars established an altar to him next to the Governor General Nguyen Tri Phuong at Trung Liet temple on Dong Da mound.
And with “Ha Thanh Chinh Khi”, even though the Hanoi citadel fell, but the image of Governor Hoang Dieu who was steadfast, indomitable and hearted for the people, determined to protect the Hanoi citadel always lives in the history of Vietnam.
The play “Ha Thanh Chinh Khi” has the participation of many artists and actors of the Hanoi Drama Theater such as Meritorious Artist Quang Thang, Meritorious Artist Thu Hanh, Meritorious Artist Linh Hue, Artist Hoang Son, Artist Tien Loc, Artist Thuy An, Artist Manh Kien, Artist Thien Tung, Artist Thanh Tung, Artist Manh Hung, Artist Manh Ha, Xuan Tung, Quang Minh, Kim Oanh, Tien Huy, Xuan Hong, Tien Manh, Dam San, Tran Tuan, Xuan Hien, Duy Hung, Manh Cuong, Quan Anh, Dieu Linh … This is a play on historical topics, elaborately and spectacularly staged by the Hanoi Drama Theater.
“Ha Thanh Chinh Khi” is also one of two works selected by the Hanoi Drama Theater to attend the National Drama Festival 2021 taking place in Hai Phong from November 5 to 17, 2021.
Minh Trang