Hoa Lu, the capital of Dai Co Viet (the old name of Vietnam) under the Dinh and Le dynasties carries a legend.

Location and History

As the capital of the first Basic Government of Vietnam, Hoa Lu witnessed many important historical events: the unification of Vietnam after the “Twelve Lords Rebellion”, the war with the Song Dynasty, the war fighting against the ancient Cambodians and the formation of present-day Hanoi. . With a total area of ​​13.87 square kilometers, Hoa Lu ancient capital is an attractive place that history lovers should not miss.

Visiting Hoa Lu

Hoa Lu ancient capital has many historical places for visitors to enjoy.
Photo: vietvisiontravel.com

First and foremost, the tourist attractions are the temples, places of worship for the Emperors and royalty who reigned here more than 1000 years ago: Dinh Tien Hoang De, Temple Le Dai Hanh Emperor , the temple of Princess Phat Kim (Phat Kim is a tragic fate of the daughter of Dinh Tien Emperor), and the latest is the temple of Ly Thai To, built to commemorate the 1000th anniversary of Hanoi’s founding. In addition, Hoa Lu also has four sacred Hoa Lu temples (Hoa Lu Tu Tran) worshiping the gods of the four directions: Quy Minh temple, Thien Ton temple, Cao Son temple and Nguyen temple. Moreover, Hoa Lu also has its own One Pillar Pagoda like One Pillar Pagoda in Hanoi, but not to be confused with One Pillar Pagoda in Hanoi, Hoa Lu One Pillar Pagoda has a Pillar full of Buddha’s couplets in front of it. has existed for more than 1000 years. Along with these temples, many monuments, mausoleums, shrines to many other famous people and gods are also attractive places.
Photo: tranganretreat.com

Secondly, Hoa Lu still preserves traces of the ancient fortress built by the Dinh Dynasty more than 1000 years ago. The palace is located 3m below the ground and now becomes a very interesting place to visit. Visitors will have a chance to see old items used by royalty in the olden days. The outside of the fortress is built on the advantages of nature: mountains are good foundation, deep valleys are basements, rivers provide drinking water for people inside the fortress and will become pitfalls. to fight the enemy in any case. This fortress is a very strong fortress that can withstand even the strongest enemy for months. On the other hand, the inside of the fort is a great setting for photography and sightseeing. In addition, Hoa Lu ancient capital can easily captivate visitors by its own unique features.
Photo: justgola.com

The last but not least impressive factor for visitors when coming to Hoa Lu is the Truong Yen Festival held in February and March (lunar calendar) including a series of events to regain the spirit of the emperors. Ancient Emperors: Water Sacrifice, Water Sacrifice. for the Dinh and Le kings, there were performances in the past, the battles of Dinh Tien Hoang when he was a child, Cheo performances, tuong and beauty contests of Hoa Lu women. This festival brings back old memories and gives young people the opportunity to understand more about the traditions of our ancestors.

How to get there

Hoa Lu can be a convenient stopover on your way from Hue to Hanoi, or if you’re already in Hanoi, you can easily book a day tour to Ninh Binh, just 90km south of the capital.

Useful information

• Location: Hoa Lu, Ninh Binh

• Best for: Families, couples, alone

• Entrance ticket: 20,000 VND

• Hours: All hours

• Distance to city center: None