Level: B2 – FCE
Source: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Tran-Hung-Dao
Questions written by: Ms Ngan Openland
Read the following article and circle the correct answer A, B, C, or D.
TRAN HUNG DAO - VIETNAMESE MILITARY LEADER
Tran Hung Dao, original name Tran Quoc Tuan, also called Hung Dao Vuong, (born 1229? – died
1300, Van Kiep, Vietnam), figure of almost legendary proportions in Vietnamese history, a brilliant
military strategist who defeated two Mongol invasions and became a cultural hero among modern
Vietnamese.
By the early 1280s the Vietnamese kingdom faced a growing threat from the Mongols under Kublai
Khan, who had conquered China in the previous decade. When he was appointed commander-in-
chief of the Vietnamese armed forces, Tran Hung Dao, in a rousing speech to his forces, called for
national unity and persuaded his army to fight the invaders. When the Mongols invaded the Red
River valley (in northern Vietnam) with a massive army in 1283/84, Tran gave way before the
invaders and adopted a defensive strategy, using guerrilla warfare and scorched-earth tactics
against them. He then launched a counteroffensive that liberated the Vietnamese capital and
drove the Mongols back into China.
When the Mongols resumed their campaign against Vietnam in 1287, Tran and his forces again
gave ground, avoiding a pitched battle until the Mongols had occupied the capital. After resuming
the offensive, Tran engaged the Mongol fleet in battle at the mouth of the Bach Dang River in
1288. Kublai Khan’s junks, lured by Hung Dao’s men, were ripped apart by iron-tipped spears that
had been implanted beneath the waters – a strategy borrowed from an earlier Vietnamese warrior,
Ngo Quyen (939).
Tran Hung Dao was one of the first great Vietnamese military strategists. His use of guerrilla
warfare to harass and eventually defeat a more powerful enemy provided a model for communist
guerrilla warfare in the 20th century. His mobilization of the entire Vietnamese population in the
cause of national resistance to foreign invasion similarly inspired the North Vietnamese during the
Indochina Wars (1946 – 75). His proclamation calling for national unity, along with a textbook he
wrote on military strategy, became classics of Vietnamese literature. Tran Hung Dao is still an
object of worship in rural areas of Vietnam, with many temples dedicated to him.
1 The article is about _____.
A dedication of Tran Hung Dao
B battles against foreign invaders of Tran Hung Dao
C military strategies of Tran Hung Dao
D people’s gratitude towards Tran Hung Dao
2 The term “guerrilla warfare” in the second paragraph is referred to _____.
A an army rank C a war tactic
B a call to arms D a war strategist
3 It can be inferred from the article that the warfare tactics of Tran Hung Dao were _____.
A inheritable B impractical C predictable D unique
4 An important factor contributed to Vietnam’s victories against the Mongols was due to
_____.
A powerful armed forces C compromise with the enemy
B people’s solidarity D direct combat with the enemy
ANSWER KEY
1. A 2. C 3. A 4. B
