Located in the central of Ninh Binh Province, Hoa Lu is one of district founded in 1977. This was the capital of Vietnam in the 10th and 11th centuries. Located in half mountain half plain area, far from Hanoi about 90km to the South, Hoa Lu has many picturesque limestone mountain with a lot of place must to see.
Hoa Lu is some 110km or two hours from Hanoi. Located near the town of Ninh Binh, Hoa Lu is the site of a 10th-century capital of an ancient Vietnamese Kingdom called Dai Co Viet. This small Kingdom covered an area of only 300 hectares, and reigned from the 10th century, during the Dinh and Le dynasties, to the 11th century, during the Ly Dynasty. The Kingdom was enclosed by a citadel. The citadel and the Yen Ngua limestone hills provided good defence for this kingdom against the Chinese.
The mountains and sea combined to make Hoa Lu’s picturesque landscape. Hoa Lu lays in a flat valley surrounded by the Trang An lime stone mountains, which form a natural wall protecting the old citadel. The city’s northwest is bordered by the Hoang Long River, the tributaries of which run through the capital, cooling the weather within the city and serving as convenient waterways.
Not much of this ancient kingdom is left standing. Whatever that remains of the palaces and shrines would only be of interest to archaeologists. The Royal Court was built in an area of 150 hectares in the eastern part of the capital while the western part served as a site to educate and protect children. The surrounding to be quite picturesque, with its ponds and limestone range forming a jagged horizon. There are two 17th century temples, modelled after their 11th-century originals that are on most itineraries to Hoa Lu. They are the Dinh Tien Hoang Temple and Le Hoan Temple, dedicated to the founder of the Dinh Dynasty and to its successor, reachable after a climb of more then 200 steps. I shall describe these two temples separately on their respective pages.
As the capital of the country for 41 years, Hoa Lu has many palaces, pagodas, tombs and pavilions that were built by different dynasties. One of the most popular pieces of architecture is the Bao Thien Tue Palace, which was plated with gold and silver. However many vestiges have been destroyed due to time and weather.
In 968, Dinh Bo Linh ascended to the throne and took the name of King Dinh Tien Hoang and reunified the country under the name of Dai Co Viet. Hoa Lu was its capital for 41 years (968-1009). The first 12 years were the Dinh Dynasty while the rest were the Le Dynasty with King Le Dai Hanh. In 1010, King Ly Thai To moved the capital to Thang Long (Hanoi now).Dinh Tien Hoang Temple at Hoa Lu
Dinh Tien Hoang Temple at Hoa Lu
Coming to Hoa Lu visitors can attend traditional cultural festivals here, and the most important and largest of them is the Truong Yen Festival, which is held on the 10th day of the third lunar month. The festival is in memory of the Kings of the Dinh and Le dynasties. The festival lasts for three days with many traditional games and martial arts, reflecting local residents’ legends.
Hoa Lu Ancient Capital Festival
The festival is held annually on the 10th -13th of March of the lunar calendar in Truong Yen commune, Hoa Lu district with the purpose of commemorating the two kings Dinh Tien Hoang and Le Dai Hanh.
The festival includes two parts: Worshiping is water procession at Truong Yen water station located on Hoang Long river and worship at the two temples of King Dinh and King Le. Entertainment activities includes performing "Co lau tap tran", competing in writing Han script, playing chess, performing dragon dance, etc.
One more beautiful feature...
One more beautiful feature in HoaLu is Trang An Ecotourism Complex which is approved as a Special National Site of Vietnam by the Prime Minister. It is considered as a “Ha Long on land” of our country. According to statistics, Trang An has a diversity in flora and fauna systems, among them 10 species are listed in the Red Book of Vietnam. Furthermore, the natural limestone system aged 32 million years to 6.000 years will bring to Trang a great scenery. Many spectacular cave are here as Ba Giot, Seo, Dia Linh, Nau Ruou, etc. This is the ideal destination for who loves nature and wants to discover it.
Now, Ninh Binh has developed an application site of Trang An for recognition by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage. Belong Trang An complex, Tam Coc – Bich Dong is considered focused location for tourist. Being a poetic and inspiration natural scenery, Tam Coc – Bich Dong is considered as a “A terrestrial Halong bay or “second nicest grotto of Vietnam”.This complex is covered in an area of 350.3 hectares, far from Ninh Binh city about 7km in which Tam Coc means threes grotto, including of Hang Ca, Hang Hai and Hang Bac caves. Meanwhile, Bich Dong is the name of a beautiful pagoda, comprising three structures: Ha, Trung, and Thuong Pagodas. During the journey to visit Tam Coc – Bich Dong, visitor has an opportunity to see some others attractive ecological tourism as Thung Nang (Sun Valley), Thung Nham, Co Vien Lau Ancient houses…Those are marvelous landscape from nature for Hoa Lu. After all, with a huge potential tourism as above, today Hoa Lu is one of highlight of Ninh Binh in particular and of Vietnam in general.