The Battle of Rạch Gầm-Xoài Mút was fought between Tây-Sơn (Vietnamese) and Siamese forces in present-day Tiền Giang Province on January 19, 1785. It went down as one of the greatest victories in Vietnamese history.

Background

In 1783 when Tây-Sơn rebel forces recaptured Saigon and forced Nguyễn Ánh to escape across the river to Siam. While in exile Nguyễn Ánh wished to retake Gia Định and push the Tây-Sơn rebels out. One of Anh's general, Chau Van Tiep, convinced the peaceful King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke of Siam to provide Nguyen Anh with support troops and a small invasion force.

In mid-1784 Nguyễn Ánh, with 20,000-50,000 Siamese troops and 300 warships, moved through Cambodia, then East of Tonle Sap (Toh Lay Sap in Thai) and penetrated the recently annexed provinces of Annam. 20,000 Siamese troops reached Kiên Giang and another 30,000 landed in Chap Lap, as the Siamese advanced towards Cần Thơ. Later that year the Siamese captured the former Cambodian province of Gia Định where, they committed atrocities against the population of Việt settlers, this made some locals turn their support into Tây Sơn.

Battle

The Tay Son reforcements led by Nguyen Hue marched south from Quy Nhon and arrived Cochin China territory soon after. Hue avoided a direct attack into strong Siamese force at Sa Dec and tried to setup a trap. Nguyễn Huệ, anticipating a move from the Siamese, had secretly positioned his infantry and artillery along the Mekong River (Rạch Gầm-Xoài Mút area of present day Tiền Giang province), and on some islands in the middle, facing other troops on the northern banks with naval reinforcements on both sides of the infantry positions.

On the morning of January 19, 1785 Nguyễn Huệ sent a small naval force, under a banner of truce, to lure the Siamese into his trap. After so many victories, the Siamese army and naval forces were overconfident. So, they went to the parley, unaware of the trap. Nguyễn Huệ's ships dashed into the unprepared Siamese troops, prevented them from advance or retreat. In the meanwhile, Tay Son artillery opened firingTucker, p.16. The battle ended with a near annihilation of the Siamese force, Vietnamese source recorded that all the ships of the Siamese navy were destroyed and only 2,000-3,000 of the original expedition survived to escape back across the river into Siam. Nguyen Anh and his family members escaped and later went to Siam.

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