Quang Trung (aka Nguyen Hue) is “one of Vietnam's most revered national leaders,” explains Rusty Compass. “He's the most celebrated leader of the anti-feudal Tay Son rebellion that swept the country from Tay Son village in the late 18th century,” and he “also led his army to victory in a decisive battle with the Chinese in 1798.” The museum at Tay Son, located 48km from Quy Nhon, “is to this day, a pilgrimage site for national leaders.”
“During his reign, Quang Trung was something of a social reformer,” notes Daily Travel Vietnam. “He encouraged land reform, revised the system of taxation, improved the army and emphasised education, opening many schools and encouraging the development of Vietnamese poetry and literature.” He died in 1792 at the age of 40. Communist literature portrays him as the leader of a peasant revolution whose progressive policies were crushed by the reactionary Nguyen dynasty, which came to power in 1802 and was overthrown by Ho Chi Minh in 1945.
The Museum is built on the site of the brothers’ house, and “encloses the original well and an ancient tamarind tree said to have been planted by the brothers,” explains Daily Travel Vietnam. “Displays include various statues, costumes, documents and artefacts from the 18th century … especially notable are the elephant -skin battle drums and gongs from the Bahnar tribe.” The museum is also known for its demonstrations of vo binh dinh, “a traditional martial art that is performed with a bamboo stick.”