Introduce about Hoa Lu Ancient Capital Ninh Binh

Ninh Binh is known as “Halong Bay on land” with beautiful natural scenery, containing many profound cultural values. If you come to Ninh Binh, visit Trang An, Mua Cave or Tam Coc – Bich Dong, you cannot miss Hoa Lu Ancient Capital. Hoa Lu ancient capital is a unique historical relic complex with many unique architectural works. So let’s learn more about the profound values ​​of the ancient capital of Hoa Lu with Smile Travel.

1. Some informations about Hoa Lu Ancient Capital

1.1. Hoa Lu Ancient Capital history

Located in the heart of Ninh Binh, Hoa Lu Ancient Capital is a precious gem hidden among famous landscapes such as Tam Coc – Bich Dong, Bai Dinh Pagoda or Trang An. With a contiguous location between Gia Vien and Hoa Lu districts, in Truong Yen commune, Hoa Lu ancient capital Ninh Binh is like a bridge connecting the heroic past and beautiful present. Hoa Lu ancient capital is not only a cultural heritage but also a living museum of Vietnamese history and culture. The solid walls covered with moss will give us an idea of ​​the ups and downs of history, making us appreciate the mountains, rivers, and borders. 

Hoa Lu ancient capital was the first capital of the centralized feudal state of ancient Vietnam. This place has witnessed the ups and downs of the heroic history of the Vietnamese people, with the glorious period of the Dinh, Early Le and early Ly dynasties.

During its 42 years of existence (from 968 to 1010), Hoa Lu witnessed the brilliant development of the country under the reigns of Kings Dinh, Le and Ly. Many massive architectural works and magnificent palaces have been built, affirming Hoa Lu’s position as the capital of a powerful country.

In 1010, King Ly Thai To decided to move the capital to Thang Long (Hanoi). Although no longer the capital, Hoa Lu still holds a special place in the hearts of Vietnamese people. This place became a symbol of the beginning of a nation, an independent and self-reliant culture.

With an area of ​​more than 300 hectares, Hoa Lu ancient capital includes architectural works of city walls, temples, pagodas, caves,… and is divided into 3 areas as follows: Special protection zone, Buffer zone and Related monuments.

The special protection zone includes ancient architectural works such as: temples of King Dinh and King Le; Nhat Tru Pagoda; palaces, city walls,… along with archaeological relics, artifacts left by the ancients and caves such as Ca cave, Bo cave, Co Tien cave,…

The buffer zone of the ancient capital is diverse with natural landscapes on both sides of Sao Khe River, Trang An scenic complex, caves and communal houses such as Am Tien cave, Ba Giot cave, Nau Ruou cave, Yen Trach communal house, …creating an extremely mysterious and magical scene.

And related relics in the ancient capital of Hoa Lu include: South gate, Dong gate, Hoa Lu cave, Dinh Bo Linh temple,…

1.2. Hoa Lu Ancient Capital entrance fee

According to the latest information we have updated, current Hoa Lu Ancient Capital ticket prices can be referred to as follows:

• Adults:  20,000 VND/Ticket
• Children over 1m2:  20,000 VND/Ticket
• Children under 1m2:  Free

Ticket prices to Hoa Lu Ancient Capital will change over time and are not fixed depending on the policy of the tourist area. If you plan to visit with your family and relatives, you should check in advance the latest ticket price information from reliable and accurate information sources. Additionally, you can go directly to the official website of Hoa Lu Ancient Capital.

2. Share your experience visiting Hoa Lu Ancient Capital

2.1. Transportation to Hoa Lu Ancient Capital

Motorbike: If you like the feeling of being in charge of your own journey and want to personally explore new routes, you can rent a motorbike as the main means of transportation for your trip. From Phap Van highway, you continue going in the direction of Cau Gie – Phu Ly to reach the ancient capital of Hoa Lu Ninh Binh.

Car: is a convenient and fast means of transportation, making your trip free and able to arrive at your destination at any time.

Train: you can choose the train as a means of transportation if you want to relax, enjoy the scenery and not be in a hurry. The train will depart from Hanoi station and end at Ninh Binh station, ticket price is only from 130,000 VND. Hoa Lu ancient capital is about 15km from Ninh Binh station so you can catch a taxi or motorbike taxi to get here.

In addition, Smile Travel also provides visitors with shuttle bus/limousine service to take visitors from Hanoi Old Quarter to Ninh Binh at a price suitable for your budget. Please contact us via hotline/WhatsApp: (+84) 941776786 to book a shuttle bus.

2.2. When is the right time to visit Hoa Lu Ancient Capital?

Hoa Lu ancient capital has no time limit for visiting, so you can come here at any time. However, if you want to immerse yourself in the vibrant and bustling atmosphere of the festival season, visitors can come here in March – May (Lunar calendar).

March 8 – 10 of the lunar calendar is the time for the annual traditional festival in the ancient capital of Hoa Lu, gathering a series of unique cultural and artistic activities. Besides, at this time the weather is also cool and pleasant, suitable for outdoor activities.

However, if you do not like crowds and noise, May will be an ideal recommendation for your trip to Ninh Binh, exploring the ancient capital of Hoa Lu. These days, the land of the ancient capital is covered in shimmering yellow clothes, the scent of ripe rice spreads everywhere. Traveling to Ninh Binh in May combined with visiting Tam Coc Bich Dong and Mua Cave will definitely be a memorable and interesting experience.

Tourists can refer to some Ninh Binh Tours with Smile Travel:

>> Hoa Lu – Tam Coc – Mua Cave 1 Day Tour From Hanoi

>> Tour in Hanoi – Hoa Lu Tam Coc 2 Days 1 Night

3. Interesting experience at Hoa Lu Ancient Capital

3.1. Explore the ruins of King Dinh Tien Hoang’s temple

King Dinh Tien Hoang Temple is a destination not to be missed when traveling to Hoa Lu. Here, visitors can not only admire the unique architecture from the 17th century but also immerse themselves in the sacred and ancient space. Each wooden column, tiled roof, horizontal panel, and couplet all bear the mark of time, telling heroic stories of a bygone era. King Dinh Tien Hoang Temple is not only a place of worship but also a living museum, preserving traces of the heroic history of Dai Co Viet. 

3.2. Explore the ruins of King Le Dai Hanh’s temple

About 500m away from King Dinh temple is King Le Dai Hanh temple with a smaller scale. The entire temple is built of wood, the roof is covered with yin and yang tiles, and decorated with exquisite patterns. The columns, rafters, and beams are all painted and gilded, creating a majestic and ancient beauty. King Le Dai Hanh’s temple has similar architecture to King Dinh Tien Hoang’s temple, but has its own unique features. The temple is consisted of three buildings:

• Worshiping hall: Where sacrificial rituals take place, with three large painted and gilded signs.
• Burn incense: A place to place incense burners.
• Main palace: Place of worship of King Le Dai Hanh, Queen Mother Duong Van Nga, Le Long Dinh, Princess Le Thi Phat Ngan and General Pham Cu Luong.

If you want to fully understand the history of the temples of King Dinh and King Le, don’t worry because there is a tour guide at the site who will explain it to visitors.

3.3. Explore the temple of Princess Phat Kim

Located next to King Le Dai Hanh temple and Nhat Tru pagoda is the temple of Princess Phat Kim (Princess Phat Kim Temple, also known as Ba Chua Palace) – daughter of King Dinh Tien Hoang. Princess Phat Kim Temple is not only a place of worship but also a symbol of the loyalty and chastity of Vietnamese women. Princess Phat Kim Temple has bold traditional Vietnamese architecture. The houses in the temple are built of wood, have yin-yang tiled roofs, and are decorated with exquisite patterns. The space inside the temple is solemn, with horizontal paintings and parallel sentences in ancient Chinese characters.

3.4. Participate in traditional festivals at Hoa Lu Ancient Capital

Coming to Hoa Lu Ancient Capital in March, you will be immersed in the solemn atmosphere of traditional festivals. The festival is held to honor the kings and national heroes who contributed to building and developing the state of Dai Co Viet and the capital Hoa Lu in the 10th century. In a bustling and exciting space, you can also participate in games imbued with Vietnamese identity such as boat racing, wrestling, cheo singing…

3.5. Visit some famous tourist attractions near Hoa Lu Ancient Capital

Trang An

Trang An, a masterpiece given by nature, is a complex of caves, limestone mountains and magical rivers. This place is recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage, and is the pride of Vietnamese people. When coming to Trang An, visitors will experience the feeling of exploring mysterious caves, admiring steep cliffs, and enjoying the peaceful space of nature. On small boats, visitors will weave through dark caves, admire shimmering stalactites, and listen to the gurgling sound of the water. 

Mua Cave

Mua Cave has long become one of the most attractive destinations for tourists. With hundreds of stone steps winding around the mountainside, Mua Cave is like a miniature “Great Wall” in the heart of Vietnam. From the top of Mua Cave, visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of Tam Coc valley with golden rice fields, winding rivers and undulating limestone mountains. The charming scenery here has captivated many tourists.

Tam Coc – Bich Dong

Coming to Tam Coc, visitors will experience the feeling of sitting in a dugout boat through magical caves, admiring the beauty of pristine nature and enjoying the fresh air of the countryside.

Bich Dong, with three beautiful caves, is an indispensable part of this tourist complex. Each cave has a unique beauty, with magical stalactites, towering stone pillars and sparkling lights. Along with that, ancient temples nestled among the mountains and forests further enhance the mysterious beauty of this place.

Bai Dinh Pagoda

Bai Dinh Pagoda is not only an ancient temple but also a massive and modern Buddhist architectural complex. With many Asian and Vietnamese records, Bai Dinh Pagoda is known as the largest temple and owns the most records in Vietnam.

Located on the mountainside, between a vast valley of lakes and rocky mountains, Bai Dinh Pagoda has both majestic and peaceful beauty. The temple’s architecture harmoniously combines ancient, traditional and modern features, creating a sacred and impressive space. In particular, the pagoda is famous for the largest gold-plated bronze Buddha statue in Asia, the longest Arhat corridor in Asia and the largest bronze statue of Maitreya in Southeast Asia…

4. What should you note when visiting Hoa Lu Ancient Capital?

• Dress politely because the ancient capital of Hoa Lu is a sacred place.
• Maintain order, do not jostle or push, ensure a quiet space
• When you finish eating and drinking, do not leave trash indiscriminately, causing loss of aesthetics for the interior space
• When you first come to Hoa Lu Ancient Capital, you should check the map in advance to confidently move in this area.
• Bring hats, hats and sunscreen in summer because the ancient capital of Hoa Lu does not have a covered area
• For tour groups, following the instructions of the tour guide and the monument management board is important
• Don’t forget to bring your camera phone to record the scenery here.

Even though time has quietly passed, the ancient capital of Hoa Lu is still ancient and contains many profound cultural and historical values ​​of the first feudal state in Vietnam. If you are a person who is passionate about learning history, do not miss this destination.

Smile Travel is pleased to accompany and provide tourists with detailed information about tourist destinations throughout Vietnam. Besides, we are proud to be one of the top reputable travel companies in Hanoi providing Vietnam package tours, cruise tours on Ha Long Bay,… Please contact us via email: info@smiletravel.com.vn for advice and support at all times.

 

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