BEST THINGS TO DO IN HOA LU

1. Introduction
Hoa Lu is an ancient city surrounded by the Trang An limestone mountains. Its 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. around the current Ho Lu area – is Truong Yen commune, Hoa Lu district, Ninh Binh, is home to more than 11000 people.
Hoa Lu is known as the first capital of Vietnam with a wide range of historical landmarks. In 968, King Dinh Bo Linh of Dai Co Viet (an old name of Vietnam) constructed his capital in Hoa Lu and ruled until the year 980.Afterwards, Hoa Lu also existed for almost 30 years of Early Le dynasty (980-1009) and 1 year of the Ly dynasty (1009-1010). In 1010, King Ly Thai To moved it to Thang Long (Ha Noi now) and since then, Hoa Lu became an ancient capital which maintained lots of ancient temples and relic sites of Vietnam.
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 surroundings are quite picturesque, with ponds and limestone range forming a jagged horizon.
Nowadays, Hoa Lu ancient capital plays an important role in architectural and historical complex of Viet Nam. It was also recognized as one of the 4 cores forming of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Trang An Complex.

2. Best thing to do in Hoa Lu Ancient Capital

a. Visiting the Temples of  Dinh King and Le King
There are two 17th century temples, modeled after their 11th-century originals that are on most itineraries to Hoa Lu. They are Dinh Tien Hoang Temple and Le Hoan Temple, dedicated to the founder of the Dinh Dynasty and its successor, reachable after a climb of more than 200 steps.

*About King Dinh Temple

Temple of King Dinh Tien Hoang is located in Truong Yen Thuong village (so it is also called Thuong temple). The temple turns to the East, on a campus of about 5 acres, taking Ma Yen mountain as a project. The temple is the place to worship King Dinh Tien Hoang and his sons.The temple to worship King Dinh Tien Hoang in the main hall of Hoa Lu capital was built in the style of domestic and foreign languages, that is, inside the architecture of the Chinese script (Chinese characters), outside the structure of the national script. The path in the temple follows the shape of a king. The architectural works are symmetrical along the main road.Temple of King Dinh Tien Hoang is a unique architectural work, historical relic and artistic architecture of Hoa Lu Ancient Capital which was ranked as a special national relic in 2012.
In front of the temple is Ma Yen Mountain shaped like a saddle. On the mountain is the tomb of King Dinh. The temple of King Dinh was built in the opposite style on the Shinto axis. Starting from the semicircular lake and ending at the Main Hall.
The semicircular lake is a lake built in the style of ancient royal architecture. In the lake drop water lily. After Minh Duong - Ho Crescent is a screen.
The outer gate leading to the temple - Ngo Mon Quan is three pavilions with tiled roofs. On the arched arch, there are two unicorns playing with clouds. Above the gate are two roofs with eight roofs. On the inside of the gate, there are four words "Precursor of the royal court".
The second court is Nghi Mon (inner gate) with 3 compartments built of ironwood. Through the outer Nghi door, along the Shinto road to the inner Nghi door. The decorative motifs of the internal ritual are similar to those of the foreign ritual.
The temple has two layers of doors to the temple, similar to the two rounds of the ancient Hoa Lu citadel. Going all the way to the right path, through two large pillars, you will reach the dragon yard. In the middle of the dragon yard, there is a stone screen around embossed. On both sides of the dragon's fall, there are two stone clams, carved on two monolithic green rocks.
The altar to the community altar. Burning incense has an architecture in the style of a water pipe, where the four pillars of the Dinh dynasty are worshiped: Nguyen Bac, Dinh Dien, Trinh Tu, and Luu Co.
The main hall has 5 compartments. The throne of King Dinh Tien Hoang is placed in the middle, painted with gold paint. The throne is placed on a pedestal with a dragon-like statue in the dragon sieve. The statue of King Dinh Tien Hoang is cast in bronze and placed on a monolithic green stone altar.
*About Le King Temple

In front of the temple is Ma Yen mountain shaped like a saddle. On the mountain is the tomb of King Dinh. The temple of King Dinh was built in the opposite style on the Shinto axis. Starting from the semicircular lake and ending at the Main Hall.
The semicircular lake is a lake built in the style of ancient royal architecture. In the lake drop water lily. After Minh Duong - Ho Crescent is a screen.
The outer gate leading to the temple - Ngo Mon Quan is three pavilions with tiled roofs. On the arched arch, there are two unicorns playing with clouds. Above the gate are two roofs with eight roofs. On the inside of the gate, there are four words "Precursor of the royal court".
The second court is Nghi Mon (inner gate) with 3 compartments built of ironwood. Through the outer Nghi door, along the Shinto road to the inner Nghi door. The decorative motifs of the internal ritual are similar to those of the foreign ritual.
The temple has two layers of doors to the temple, similar to the two rounds of the ancient Hoa Lu citadel. Going all the way to the right path, through two large pillars, you will reach the dragon yard. In the middle of the dragon yard, there is a stone screen around embossed. On both sides of the dragon's fall, there are two stone clams, carved on two monolithic green rocks.
The altar to the community altar. Burning incense has an architecture in the style of a water pipe, where the four pillars of the Dinh dynasty are worshiped: Nguyen Bac, Dinh Dien, Trinh Tu, and Luu Co.
The main hall has 5 compartments. The throne of King Dinh Tien Hoang is placed in the middle, painted with gold paint. The throne is placed on a pedestal with a dragon-like statue in the dragon sieve. The statue of King Dinh Tien Hoang is cast in bronze and placed on a monolithic green stone altar.

b.Take part in the Festival in March Lunar Calendar.

King Dinh Temple Festival is one of the special festivals with profound cultural and spiritual values. Every year, on the 8th day of the third lunar month, visitors from all over the world come back to visit the temple. The festival takes place over 3 days, from March 8-10.
The Festival of King Dinh and King Le Temples (Truong Yen Festival) is held annually in Hoa Lu Ancient Capital (in Truong Yen Commune, Hoa Lu District, Ninh Binh Province), where two temples worshiping King Dinh are located. Tien Hoang and King Le Dai Hanh, along with historical figures related to the Dinh - Tien Le dynasties.
c. Climing up Ma Yen mountain

Ma Yen Mountain is considered as the legend of a king in Hoa Lu, Ninh Binh. The height of it is around 200m. People called it Ma Yen as it looks like a saddle, with the low shape in the middle and high shape in other two heads.
This mountain is related to the legend of Dinh Bo Linh who decided to build the capital of Vietnam in this mountainous region in 968.
When the king passed away after 12 years ruling the country, the local people here buried his body on top of Ma Yen. Also, on this mountain, at the foot to the south, there is the tomb of King Le Dai Hanh where you can light some incense to pray for him.
If you want to see the panorama of the ancient Hoa Lu capital, go up to the top of Ma Yen mountain. And if you want to enjoy the whole beautiful atmosphere, come to Hoang Giang river near the Kiem Mount.