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1. History of Legends
In the late 10th century, Hoa Lu was the capital as well as the economic, political and cultural center of Dai Co Viet, an independent Vietnamese polity founded in 968 A.D. by the local warlord Dinh Bo Linh (posthumously known as King Dinh Tien Hoang, or "First Dinh Emperor"), following years of civil war and a violent secessionist movement against China's Southern Han Dynasty. Hoa Lu was the native land of the first two imperial dynasties of Vietnam: the Dinh founded by Dinh Tien Hoang, and the Early Le founded by Le Dai Hanh. Following the demise of the Le Dynasty, in 1010 Ly Cong Uan, the founder of the Ly Dynasty, transferred the capital to Thang Long (now Hanoi), and Hoa Lu became known as the "first ancient capital in Vietnam"
2. Relic and Vestige
The capital at Hoa Lu covered an area of 300 ha (3.0 km2), including both the Inner and Outer Citadels. It included defensive earthen walls, palaces, temples and shrines, and was surrounded and protected by mountains of limestone. Today, the ancient citadel no longer exists, and few vestiges of the 10th century remain. Visitors can see temples built in honor of the emperors Dinh Tien Hoang and Le Dai Hanh, their sons, and Queen Duong Van Nga, who was married first to Dinh Tien Hoang and then to Le Dai Hanh. The tomb of Dinh Tien Hoang is located on nearby Mã Yên mountain, while the tomb of Le Dai Hanh lies at the foot of the mountain.
3. Location and how to get to Hoa Lu from Hanoi
The ancient capital of Hoa Lu was located in a flat valley between small but steep limestone mountains that created virtually impenetrable barriers to human traffic. Even today, many of the mountains are accessible only to the mountain goats that roam the area. Click to see the road map for details.
(Hoa Lu location & road map from Hanoi to Hoa Lu - source; Google map)
4. Events
The 10th century rulers of Dai Co Viet took advantage of this topography in order to design enclosures that would be especially difficult to attack. In order to block the gaps between the limestone mountains, they ordered the construction of earthen walls reinforced and anchored in the soft earth by wooden stakes. In all, the capital was protected by ten sections of wall, the longest being 500m in length and the shortest 65m in length. They were approximately 10m high and 15m thick. Several sections of wall still exist and have been excavated by archeologists.
During the time it served as the capital, Hoa Lu's defenses were never actually tested by an enemy army. In 972, the king of Champa sent a fleet against Hoa Lu, but it was devastated by a storm as it tried to enter the river system from the sea and was forced to return home with great loss. In 981, two Chinese armies of the Song Dynasty invaded the Dai Co Viet with the aim of eventually working their way south and taking the capital, but they were stopped and defeated in the northern part of the country.
The ancient capital at Hoa Lu consists of two separate enclosures, the Inner Citadel which lies to the West and the Outer Citadel which lies to the East, and which includes most of the sites visited by tourists. The two citadels are separated by a limestone mountain. Both have access to the Hoang Long ("Golden Dragon") River that runs just northwest of the capital and that, via a system of rivers, connects Hoa Lu to the sea. In the 10th century, the dwellings of the common people, as well as the markets and the storehouses connected with the river trade, were concentrated near the river.
5. Top 3 things todo in Hoa Lu area
5.1. When ever you visit Ninh Binh, please come to Hoa Lu for visit this ancient building to learn about Vietnamese history at one time, special with talk to local guide about 2 Kings and 1 Queen story in Vietnamese history.
5.2. In this area now available 2 ancient temples for 2 our kings with unique architecture and the view around is wonderful. If you have time, you can take a hike 300 steps to the top of Ma Yen mountain to visit Dinh King tomb and enjoy beautiful view on the top down vestige of Hoa Lu area.
5.3 Cycling around villages, Hoa Lu is beautiful area within combine between mountain & river. Specially, some villages are hidden in trails with green fields and trees shadow, just cycle by bike around, you should feel quite and very peaceful. Make you have to think love this simply real countryside.
6. Some tour included Hoa Lu temples
>>> Click one tour to see details.
