The Bronze Drums and the Earrings

This book offers an overview of Vietnamese history from prehistory to the present day and is written for people interested in history from a traveller’s perspective. It specifically focuses on the period from 700 to 111 BCE. It briefly discusses the origin of the Vietnamese, the three characters who shaped its early history—the Hùng kings, An Dương Vương, and Zhao Tuo (Triệu Đà)—and the battles involved during the transfer of power from one to the next. The final battle ended the country’s autonomy and placed it under Chinese dynastic rule for one thousand years, lasting until the 10th century.

The Bronze Drums and the Earrings tells the stories of the mythical Four Immortals, the bronze drums manufactured in the north, and the earrings produced in the central and southern parts of the country. It recounts the tragic love story of the Magic Crossbow, the 2,200-year-old fort of Cổ Loa, and its builder, An Dương Vương. It describes the key battles, including the invasion of the Yue kingdoms by the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, his general Zhao Tuo, and the fall of the Nanyue kingdom. It features 71 photographs, maps, and diagrams showing locations of interest to a traveller, though limited to this period.

It also includes lines from some famous Vietnamese poems, songs, and quotes, all translated into English. The book’s sources include archaeological evidence, works by historians, ancient Chinese texts, and Vietnamese records, alongside more recent academic papers and local newspaper articles. The book aims to strike a balance between telling stories that engage a traveller and discussing historical findings that interest serious scholars.