Viet Nam’s ancient capital aims for world heritage listing.

In a spot brimming with history, natural landmarks help link to past events, with the site itself telling a story.

First-time visitors to Hoa Lu are often mesmerised, by its jagged limestone peaks, which once acted as a natural line of defence for the ancient capital of Viet Nam.

Located in Truong Yen Commune, Hoa Lu District, the site was once the economic, political and cultural centre of Dai Co Viet, the first centralised feudal state in Viet Nam from AD968 to 1010. It was also the native land of three royal dynasties—the Dinh, early Le and Ly.

In the late 10th century, Viet Nam was fragmented and later reunited by Dinh Bo Linh, who founded the Dinh dynasty in 968 and ascended to the throne under the name Dinh Tien Hoang.

The emperor chose Hoa Lu as his capital, because it was protected by the Trang An mountains on three sides and by the Hoang Long River to the northwest.

With strong walls linking the limestone mountains, Hoa Lu had firm natural defences, while also allowing the emperor’s forces to mount attacks against their foes and communicate with their subjects.

For over 42 years, the Dinh and the early Le dynasties built palaces, temples and shrines in the centre of the nation’s city walls.

Even when Hoa Lu was demoted, successive dynasties still regarded it as a sacred site and the homeland of heroes.

Most of Hoa Lu has been destroyed. The remains are the temples dedicated to King Dinh and King Le. In 1998, archaeologists unearthed a ‘new’ section of the old citadel, which have been preserved together with some artifacts and shown in a display room built around them.

Discussions on the value of Viet Nam’s Hoa Lu Citadel and Trang An eco-tourism site were held last month at a seminar in the northern province of Ninh Binh.

It aimed to redefine prominent values of the citadel and the site to propose to Unesco for recognition as world heritage.

Scientists said the Hoa Lu Citadel is a special and important cultural and historical site of Viet Nam. The citadel existed for 42 years under six kings of Dinh, Le, and Ly dynasties.

The Trang An eco-tourism site includes 31 valleys, 50 caves and grottoes. The site is considered a ‘Ha Long Bay on Land’ and is an exemplary geographical site.

Plans call for an eco-tourism complex to be developed at the Trang An grottoes along the limestone mountain ranges, valleys and rivers which blend harmoniously together in a wash of green.

A boat trip along the winding, olive river lined with trees and rare orchids helps to understand the immense pride of the area’s inhabitants.

Located 4km southwest of the Hoa Lu old capital in Truong Yen Commune, the destination is made more alluring by the route going there.

Upon reaching the complex, one encounters a system of caves, some of the more noteworthy being Ba Giot (Three Drops), Dia Linh (Holy Land) and May (Cloud).

For those with more academic interests, there are numerous historical relics related to architecture, economics and social and military history from the Dinh, Le and Ly dynasties.

“Green trees, a crystal clear river, fresh air, magical caves and sweeping mountains rich with history... all charmed me at first glance,” said Nguyen Khac Khoan from Ninh Binh Province’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism. “Come here, and you won’t want to leave.” (The Viet Nam News/ AsiaNews)