There are destinations that you only need to see once to see how beautiful they are. But there are also places that the more you learn, the more interesting they become. The ancient capital Hoa Lu belongs to the second group.
Many visitors to Ninh Binh usually spend most of their time on Trang An, Tam Coc or Hang Mua. However, if you ignore Hoa Lu, you will miss a very important part of the story of the ancient capital.
According to practical experience from Ninh Binh Booking, Hoa Lu is not only a place to visit but also a place to help visitors better understand Vietnamese history more than a thousand years ago.
When should I visit Hoa Lu?
Hoa Lu can be visited all year round, but is most beautiful in the spring from January to March of the lunar calendar.
At this time the weather is cool, the trees are green and the festival atmosphere is quite vibrant. This is also the time when the Hoa Lu Festival takes place - one of Ninh Binh's biggest festivals.
If you don't like crowds, you should choose weekdays or autumn. The weather is pleasant, the number of visitors is not too crowded and sightseeing is more comfortable.
According to experience from Ninh Binh Booking, you should go to Hoa Lu in the early morning or late afternoon to avoid the sun and have more time to explore.
Don't go too fast
A common mistake of many tourists is to spend less than an hour on Hoa Lu and then continue on to Trang An or Hang Mua.
In fact, the greatest value of Hoa Lu lies in the historical stories behind each project.
If you just pass by to take pictures, you will hardly feel the meaning of the place that was the first capital of Dai Co Viet.
According to experience from Ninh Binh Booking, please spend at least 1.5 to 2 hours to fully visit the ruins.
Should we start from King Dinh Temple or King Le Temple?
Most tourists often start from King Dinh Tien Hoang Temple.
This is the most prominent building in the Hoa Lu complex and is also the place associated with the Emperor who unified the country after the 12 warlords' chaos.
After that, you can continue moving to King Le Dai Hanh Temple located not far away.
These two works form the center of the relic site and are where many of the most important historical values are kept.
Should I hire a tour guide?
If you just want to visit and take photos, you can completely explore on your own.
However, if you love history or are traveling with your family, the tour guide will make the trip much more interesting.
Stories about Dinh Bo Linh, Le Dai Hanh, the Dai Co Viet state or the process of moving the capital to Thang Long will help ancient buildings become more lively instead of just ancient temples.
According to experience from Ninh Binh Booking, this is a cost worth considering if you want to understand Hoa Lu more deeply.
Don't miss Ma Yen Mountain and Am Tien Cave
Many tourists only visit the temple area and then leave.
However, if you have time, you should visit Ma Yen Mountain and Am Tien Cave.
Ma Yen Mountain is where the mausoleum of King Dinh Tien Hoang is located and has a panoramic view of the ancient capital area.
Meanwhile, Am Tien Cave has a completely different beauty with a turquoise lake located between majestic limestone mountains.
According to Ninh Binh Booking's assessment, these are two points that help make the tour of Hoa Lu more complete.
Appropriate clothing when visiting Hoa Lu
Because you will spend most of your time outdoors, you should prioritize comfortable clothing.
Sneakers or low-heeled shoes will be more convenient when walking between areas in the monument.
If you plan to climb Ma Yen Mountain or visit Am Tien, bringing personal drinking water and a sun hat is also necessary.
In addition, this is a historical and spiritual relic site, so visitors should choose polite clothing suitable for the worship space.
What points should Hoa Lu be combined with?
One of the biggest advantages of Hoa Lu is its very convenient location.
Within just a few kilometers radius, visitors can combine sightseeing:
Trang An with a boat trip through famous caves.
Mua Cave with a panoramic view of Tam Coc from above.
Am Tien Cave with its blue lake is considered "Tuyet Tinh Coc" of Ninh Binh.
Bai Dinh Pagoda - the largest spiritual complex in Vietnam.
According to experience from Ninh Binh Booking, the Hoa Lu - Trang An - Hang Mua schedule is the most popular choice among tourists.
Should we visit the ancient capital Hoa Lu?
If you love history, culture and want to better understand the land of Ninh Binh, the answer is definitely yes.
Hoa Lu is not the place that owns the most majestic buildings or the most famous check-in corners. But this is a place that helps visitors connect with important milestones in the nation's history.
According to reviews from Ninh Binh Booking, only when visiting Hoa Lu will you truly understand why Ninh Binh is called the ancient capital and the cradle of the first Vietnamese feudal state.
