Hoa Lu – the former capital of Vietnam.

Hoa Lu – the former capital of Vietnam.

100 kilometers from Hanoi is the ancient capital of Hoa Lu, the capital of Dai Co Viet over 10 centuries ago. Standing on Ma Yen Son Mountain where the tomb of King Dinh is located, you can see the old capital over view.

The ancient capital was 300 ha long, stretching over the territory of Chi Phong, Yen Thanh and Yen Thuong villages in Truong Yen commune, Hoa Lu district. The limestone mountains bobbing, the Hoang Long river winding on the plots like the yellow chess board that nurtured the color of ripe rice. On the Hoang Long River is the Liep Linh Mountain (mountain of plugging sword). This is Thap Co mountain, where the flag of Dai Co Viet is located. These are Salt cave, Tien cave, food storage, treasury cave. It is the Thien Ton cave that kept the tiger and tortured the guilty, the Ao Giai - where the king raises large turtle of fresh water, lives in the abyss) to tortured sinners into the pond.
Hoa Lu ancient capital tourist area



Since 968, Dinh Bo Linh was crowned emperor at Hoa Lu, the capital of Hoa Lu has existed for 41 years (968 - 1009) of which 12 years were the great Dinh dynasty (Dinh Bo Linh was crowned Emperor Dinh Tien). Hoang, named the country Dai Co Viet) and the next 29 years was the Le dynasty (Le Hoan was the first person to become Emperor Le).


Please visit our website for tours to Hoa Lu: https://orientskylinetravel.com/tours/hoa-lu-and-trang-an-excursion/ 



The peaceful Hoang Long River among the rocky mountains

Over a thousand years ago, Hoa Lu was a magnificent, imperial capital. The sprawling hills and mountains around the belt of capital like a screen; The Hoang Long river meandering and the vast fields of Nho Quan and Gia Vien are natural deep trenches that are very convenient for the military. The ancient citadel has three areas: the Outer City, the Citadel and the South. Explore the Outer City, visitors will enter Yen Thanh village, Truong Yen commune.


Water in the ancient capital of Hoa Lu

Hoa Lu citadel has a large scale, has many continuous routes, up to 300ha wide. The city consists of two areas, the inner and outer areas, connected by a narrow and rugged walkway. Each zone consists of many rounds, many small routes. According to legend, the palace was built in the outer city. In the East there is the main entrance into the city

Tam Quan gate of ancient capital Hoa Lu

There are also two relics: King Dinh Temple and Le King Temple built in the 17th century with sculpture on wood and stone. The road to King Dinh temple leads visitors to go under the canopy of phoenix trees along the road.


King Dinh temple at Hoa Lu

People called Hoa Lu a stone city and the temple of King Dinh and Le also used many materials from stone. In the temple, visitors will see a stone pillar with the meaning for: "Dai Co Viet is on par with Tong Dynasty ; Hoa Lu is the capital of Dai Co Viet”.

Entering the temple yard, visitors will see the stone floor and the two unicorns flocked with monolithic blue stone. Enter the harem; visitors will see the statue of King Dinh was cast in bronze placed on a monolithic blue rock.


King Le temple in the middle of Truong Yen country


The temple of King Le is 200 meters away from King Dinh's temple. The temples here hide in the green of the leaves. Located 200 meters from King Le temple, is Nhat Tru pagoda, built from the reign of King Le Dai Hanh, in front of the pagoda, there are stone pillars, 4.16 m high, an eight-sided shape, engraved with the bible made by the king to offer Buddha. Next to it is the Phat Kim temple worshiping the third princess of King Dinh Tien Hoang who self-suicide jumped into the well, not following the husband of the pirate against his father.


The ancient Nhat Tru Pagoda

In the ancient exterior area, there are still many other ancient pagodas, which were built during the Dinh dynasty such as Dam pagoda, Thap pagoda and Ba Ngo. By 1010 Ly Thai To moved the capital from Hoa Lu to Thang Long. Capital of Hoa Lu became the ancient capital. Today in the old palace background are two temples separated by about 200m. A temple of Dinh Tien Hoang and a temple of Le Dai Hanh. Also because the two temples worshiped two emperors very close together, the people used to be called Dinh - Le temple.

Visiting Hoa Lu historical land is an opportunity for us to admire the architectural works, the magnificent beauty of the entire relic area, marking the period of opening the splendid, independent and autonomous country Dai Co Viet from thousands of years ago.