ANCIENT CAPITAL HOA LU

Dinh Bo Linh (924-979), born Dinh Tiên Hoàng, was the first emperor of Dại Cô Viêt (ancestor of Vietnam) and the founder of the Dinh dynasty (968-980). In 968, he established his capital at Hoa Lu, his native village, which remained the capital of the next dynasty, that of the earlier Le, until 1010. The site, surrounded by mountains (the "terrestrial Halong Bay"), is well protected and close to major trade routes. The citadel must have covered an area of 3 km2, but only a few traces of the outer rampart remain, insufficient to restore the original plan. Today, the palaces and the citadel remain only as traces and only the reconstructions, dating from the 17th century, of two 11th century dynastic temples located in the commune of Truong Yên, Hoa Lu district are visible. The larger one is dedicated to the cult of emperor Dinh Tiên Hoàng and the other to emperor Lê Dai Hành.

Dinh Tiên Hoàng Temple (King Dinh Temple). Located on the Yen Ha territory, it dates back to the previous Le dynasty (17th century). When crossing the threshold of the temple, one notices the pedestal for the royal throne. The temple has three shrines: Bai Duong (for the community), Thien Huong (in honor of the mandarins) and Chinh Cung (the shrine dedicated to Dinh Tiên Hoàng). In addition, the temple houses a beautiful bronze bell and a statue of the emperor Dinh Tien Hoàng surrounded by his son (left), Dinh Hang Lang and Dinh Toan (right). In 1998, excavations carried out around the temple by Vietnamese archaeologists revealed terracotta slabs decorated with floral motifs (10th century), as well as numerous ceramic objects, representations of mythical animals that decorated the roofs of the palace.

Lê Dai Hành Temple (Temple of King Lê). It is located 300 m from the temple of Dinh Tiên Hoàng. It dates from the Dinh dynasty. In the main sanctuary dedicated to the cult of the kings, there are three statues, that of General Le Hoan, proclaimed emperor under the name of Le Dai Hanh and founder of the earlier Le dynasty (980-1005) (in the middle), that of Queen Duong Van Nga (on the right) and of their eldest son Le Ngoa Trieu (on the left), third king of the first Le dynasty. The temple also contains superb drums and gongs, and especially a collection of weapons from the 10th to the 18th century.

In addition to the temples, one can still see some remains of ramparts, vestiges of buildings, royal palaces and princely dwellings. These remains and the landscape that surrounds them are well worth a visit.