Hoa Lu Ancient Capital

Richard Mortel from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia · CC BY 2.0

Capital of Dai Co Viet from 968 to 1010, using the limestone mountains themselves as its walls.

Dinh Bo Linh chose Hoa Lu for a practical reason: a ring of limestone closes the valley, so walling the gaps between the peaks produced a citadel that was near impossible to storm. For forty-two years this was the political centre of Dai Co Viet across the Dinh, Early Le and early Ly dynasties, until Ly Thai To moved the capital to Thang Long. The palaces are gone, but two temples to King Dinh Tien Hoang and King Le Dai Hanh still stand on the old ground — 17th-century timber architecture with dragon carving and a stone dragon bed. Around them are ricefields and limestone: exactly the setting a peasant king picked.

Visitor information

When is the best time to visit Hoa Lu Ancient Capital?

January to March, or the ripe-rice season in May–June

How much does it cost to visit Hoa Lu Ancient Capital?

20,000₫

How long do you need at Hoa Lu Ancient Capital?

2 - 3 hours

What are the opening hours of Hoa Lu Ancient Capital?

07:00 - 18:00

Did you know

It was the capital of Vietnam from 968 to 1010, under the Dinh, Early Le and early Ly dynasties.
The citadel used the limestone ranges themselves as natural walls.
It lies in Truong Yen Thuong village, about 90km south of Hanoi.
The present temples to King Dinh and King Le are 17th-century timber architecture.
It forms part of the Trang An Landscape Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Travel tips

Pair it with Trang An in one day — the two are less than 5km apart.
Look for the stone dragon bed before King Dinh's temple, a designated national treasure.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoa_Lư_Ancient_Capital

Updated: 2026-08-06