After an excellent breakfast of mushroom and cheese omelette plus rice and Vietnamese coffee, we took the local taxi to the settlement of Hoa Lu, 7 kms away. After Dinh Bo Linh defeated the 12 warlords in 968, he created the first unified kingdom of Vietnam, known at the time as Dai Co Viet with its capital at Hoa Lu. Surrounded by rivers and round limestone hills like those of Guilin, it was easily defendable. In 970 he claimed the title of Emperor and changed his name to Dinh Tien Hoang. He died in 979 and was succeeded by Le Hoan as emperor, giving rise to the “Early Le Dynasty”. In 980 he defeated invasions by the Song from China in the north and the Champa from Cambodia in the south. In 1010 his successor, King Ly Thai To, moved the capital to Dai La, which subsequently became Ha Noi. There are two temples at Hoa Lu, built in the 17th century over the foundations of temples built during the Early Le Dynasty.
Ninh Binh landscape
Entrance to Hoa Lu
Lion guarding the entrance
Water buffalo for kiddies to ride on
Part of a large painting of life under the Early Le Dynasty, including the wars against the Song and Champa
Inside the main temple
The smaller temple. Note the offerings of cans of beer to the Buddha
Stone carving from the 10th century
Building from the Early Le dynasty. Note the sone turtle on the floor, a symbol of longevity.
A 16th century drum
Vietnam’s youngest tour guide
Our apartment at Trang An
