Private tailor-made journeys of a life time
(+84) 942777545
sales@vietnamescapetours.com
Need Help?
Private tailor-made journeys of a life time
Jun 29, 2023
By Ms. Anh Thu
Hoa Lu, ancient capital of Ninh Binh is a famous tourist destination in North Vietnam tours, with Trang An heritage complex and interesting caves in the North. Not only stories about history, but Hoa Lu Ninh Binh also makes visitors unforgettable through the majestic beauty of this region. Let's learn about this place with Vietnam Escape Tours to plan a memorable trip in Vietnam.
The limestone mountains of Trang An encircle the ancient city of Hoa Lu. The Hoang Long River forms its northwest border, and its tributaries flow through the nation's capital, providing the city with cool temperatures and useful waterways.
Hoa Lu, the first capital of Vietnam, boasts a variety of historical sites. King Dinh Bo Linh of Dai Co Viet (Vietnam’s former name), built his capital in Hoa Lu in 968 and ruled there until 980.
Following that, Hoa Lu continued to exist for nearly 30 years during the Early Le dynasty (980–1009) and for 1 year during the Ly dynasty (1009–1010) before King Ly Thai To relocated to Thang Long in 1010, which is now Hanoi. Ever since Hoa Lu has maintained a large number of Vietnam's ancient temples and relic sites.
The western part of the capital served as a location for child education and protection, while the eastern part of the capital was used to build the Royal Court over a 150-hectare area. Ponds and the limestone range that forms the jagged horizon in the area make for quite a picturesque landscape. The Hoa Lu ancient capital is significant to Vietnam's architectural and historical complex. It was also acknowledged as one of the four cores that make up the Trang An Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Hoa Lu
The traditional festival known as Truong Yen, or Hoa Lu Ancient Capital Festival, honors the two kings Le Dai Hanh and Dinh Tien Hoang.
The festival is held on Dinh Tien Hoang King's birthday which is on February 15 of the lunar calendar, or on the eighth and thirteenth day of the lunar third month (in the spring). The Truong Yen Festival lasts for three days. Tourists can take part in entertainment activities including performing “Co lau tap tran” (Cỏ lau tập trận), competing in writing Han script, playing chess, performing dragon dance, etc. These age-old games are amusing and accurately capture the locals' legends.
The majority of itineraries to Hoa Lu include two 17th-century temples that were designed after their original structures from the 11th century. It takes more than 200 steps to get to the Dinh Tien Hoang Temple and Le Hoan Temple, which are each dedicated to the founder and successor of the Dinh Dynasty. Hoa Lu, which had been the nation's capital for 41 years, had numerous palaces, pagodas, tombs, and pavilions that were constructed by various dynasties. The Bao Thien Tue Palace, which was decorated with gold and silver plating, is one of the most well-known examples of modern architecture. However, time and weather have destroyed many relics.
A historic pagoda from the 10th century, Nhat Tru (also known as One Pillar Pagoda), is located in the Hoa Lu Complex. Emperor Le Dai Hanh and Ly Thai Tong ordered the construction of the replica of the pagoda to be built. It still has many artifacts that are connected to the history of the old capital from the 10th to the 11th centuries. The stone scripture pillar in front of the pagoda is one of the building's most noticeable original features. The pillar was over 3,000 m2 in size and was constructed of stone. The stone lotus on top of the octagonal body served as a prayer book. On the right side of the pagoda, there is a 2-story roof that is connected to the gate. The stone Buddhist sutra pillar at the pagoda is a designated national treasure and the pagoda itself is proposed as an addition to the UNESCO World’s cultural heritage list. A two-story roof that is joined to the gate is located on the pagoda's right side. The pagoda's stone Buddhist sutra pillar has been designated a national treasure, and UNESCO has proposed adding the structure to its list of World Cultural Heritage Sites.
One Pillard Pagoda in Hoa Lu, Ninh Binh
Travelers from all over the world are drawn to Tam Coc-Bich Dong, a harmonious architectural ensemble, which is accessible from Hoa Lu. Along with the breathtaking Ngo Dong River, there are numerous endless mountain views, magnificent caves, and charming rice paddies waterways in this area. There are four distinct seasons in Tam Coc Bich Dong, and each has its own special beauty. Summer, when clouds and green rice fields start to turn a brilliant yellow, is the most beautiful season. Tam Coc - Bich Dong is now referred to as "a terrestrial Halong Bay" due to its fascinating and alluring location.
In Hoa Lu, Ninh Binh, Ma Yen Mountain is regarded as the legend of a king. It is about 200 meters tall. Because of its saddle-like appearance, with a low shape in the middle and a high shape on the other two heads, people used to call it Ma Yen. The legend of Dinh Bo Linh, who chose to locate the capital of Vietnam in this mountainous area in 968, has a connection to this mountain. The locals buried the dead king's body atop Ma Yen after he had ruled the nation for 12 years. Additionally, King Le Dai Hanh's tomb is located at the southern foot of this mountain, where you can light some incense and offer prayers for him. Get to the top of Ma Yen Mountain to see a panoramic view of the historic Hoa Lu capital. And head to the Hoang Giang River near Kiem Mount if you want to take in the entire stunning ambiance.
To visit Hoa Lu, it is simple to arrange a day trip from Hanoi. It takes two hours to travel 110 km to Hoa Lu from Hanoi. There are three key methods you can employ, namely:
Find the Ninh Binh train at the Giap Bat or My Dinh station in Hanoi. The cost of each ticket ranges from 100,000 to 150,000 VND. Every day from 5 am to 11 pm, there is a bus that runs every 30 minutes
Giai Phong Street to the left, Phap Van Cau Gie Highway to the right, and then straight ahead. Follow the signs until you reach Ninh Binh Province. From here, it is simple to travel to Hoa Lu, the former capital. Traveling by car or motorbike is quite reasonable and flexible.
You can catch a train to reach Hoa Lu. After the train stops at Ninh Binh Railway Station, you must board a taxi to continue your journey to Hoa Lu.
There are some foods that you must try when you visit Hoa Lu, Ninh Binh. Mountain Snail is sweet, crispy, and prepared in a variety of ways. Mountain Meat is prepared as steamed goat, goat pudding, goat spring rolls, and goat with lemon juice. The rice crust is crispy with a yellow color dipped into a special sauce.
You can visit Hoa Lu at any time of year. However, according to Vietnamese residents, spring is the best time to visit Hoa Lu, Ninh Binh because there will be many wonderful festivals taking place after the Lunar Tet holiday. People can participate in and experience the busy atmosphere and crowds at these festivals during this time. On the other hand, if you enjoy Hoa Lu's tranquility, you should go there in the remaining days.
There is an increasing number of tourists visiting Hoa Lu and the province of Ninh Binh. As a result, there are a ton of hotels, resorts, homestays, and hostels that provide excellent services to customers. Tam Coc Rice Fields Resort, Trang An River View Homestay, and Trang An Mountain House are a few of the coziest spots to unwind near Hoa Lu.
If you are looking forward to visiting Hoa Lu Vietnam, but you have no prior experience organizing a tour to North Vietnam, you can take a tour of travel agencies in Vietnam to assist you in preparing all of the necessary items before departing for Hoa Lu Ninh Binh. The only thing left to do is to pack your bags and enjoy the trip.
• If you want to learn more about Vietnamese history, you should hire a tour guide to accompany you on the trip to Hoa Lu, the capital of Ninh Binh.
• When visiting Hoa Lu, wear appropriate attire as it is a sacred location.
• Do not leave trash outside the trash can.
• When entering the temples, keep quiet.
• Visit Hoa Lu between 7 am and 4 pm.
Vietnam's Hoa Lu Ancient Capital is an extremely significant cultural and historical site. Do not hesitate to explore this amazing site.
