Hoa Lu, the ancient capital near Ninh Binh: temples, ticket and visit (2026)
Hoa Lu was Vietnam's capital in the 10th century under the Dinh and then Le kings, before the move to Thang Long (Hanoi) in 1010. What remains are two temples, dedicated to kings Dinh Tien Hoang and Le Dai Hanh, at the foot of limestone cliffs. Ticket: about 20,000 VND, bought at the gate; usually open 7:00 to 17:00 (one source says 16:00). Allow 1 h to 1 h 30: it is a short cultural stop, almost always combined with Tam Coc or Trang An.
Highlights
King Dinh's temple
Courtyard, wooden halls and statues of the founder of the first independent dynasty, set among karst cliffs.
King Le's temple
Next to the first, it honours Le Dai Hanh, Dinh's successor; the architecture is similar and seeing both is quick.
The gates and the landscape
The site was a fortified centre backed by cliffs; read the entrance panel to place the old citadels.
Practical info
Tips
- According to the sources the temples have no separate hours: one ticket covers the site. Come early or late morning to avoid tour buses. Dress properly (shoulders and knees covered). Hoa Lu is about 12 km from Ninh Binh city and 10 km from Tam Coc: most travellers add it to a Ninh Binh day trip with Tam Coc and Trang An. The same tour often includes the large Bai Dinh pagoda.
How to get there
From Ninh Binh, 12 km by taxi, Grab or scooter (20 to 30 min). From Hanoi, about 2 hours by car: see the Hanoi - Ninh Binh train then a taxi.
Opening hours
Nearby
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