Hoa Lu Ancient Capital is one of the three core areas of Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex. The special values of Hoa Lu Ancient Capital are being preserved by all levels and sectors in association with tourism development, creating a strong spread of the cultural beauty of the capital with all the characteristics of an ancient oriental urban area.
According to documents of the Department of Culture and Sports of Ninh Binh: Hoa Lu was the first capital of Dai Co Viet state, the first centralized feudal state, the birthplace of three dynasties: Dinh-Tien Le and the beginning of Ly dynasty. The Hoa Lu Ancient Capital historical-cultural relic site was ranked as a national relic by the Ministry of Culture for the first time in 1962; and was ranked as a special national relic by the Prime Minister in 2012. The historical-cultural vestiges still existing in the relic area are very rich and diverse, including the system of worshiping architecture, walls, and caves. In the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital area, thousands of relics and antiques of historical, cultural and scientific value are still preserved.
Ninh Binh province currently has 5 national treasures preserved and conserved at relics belonging to the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital Special National Relic Site, such as: Buddhist Scripture Pillar of Nhat Tru Pagoda (recognized in 2015), Dragon Bed in front of Bai Duong Temple of King Dinh Tien Hoang (recognized in 2017), Dragon Bed in front of Nghi Mon Ngoai Temple of King Dinh Tien Hoang (recognized in 2017), Bo Phu Viet Temple of King Dinh Tien Hoang (recognized in 2019), Bo Phu Viet Temple of King Le Dai Hanh (recognized in 2019).
The special values of the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital National Special Relic Site have also been confirmed through the results of archaeological excavation research over the past decades . The Department of Culture and Sports has coordinated with the Institute of Archaeology to conduct excavations in the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital area, continuing to make new discoveries, contributing to clarifying the history of formation, existence and development through many different periods, from the period of Northern domination to the Dinh-Tien Le period. This place, from the pre-Hoa Lu period to the beginning of the Christian era, was a large administrative region; found and separated the architectural plan of the Dinh-Tien Le palaces stacked on top of each other, with a massive scale; Hoa Lu art broke out of the mold of Northern domination art, starting to form new elements, shaping Dai Viet art in the later period... These discoveries have demonstrated, affirmed and changed the perception of the scale of the Hoa Lu capital from the past to the present.
The relic site is also a place to preserve unique intangible cultural heritage values, typically the Hoa Lu Festival, the largest traditional festival in Ninh Binh province, taking place from the 9th to the 11th of the third lunar month every year, an activity to commemorate and pay tribute to the contributions of the ancestors in the cause of building and defending the country; arousing the tradition of patriotism, national pride and self-esteem. The festival was recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2014.
Since the relic was ranked (1962) up to now, Ninh Binh province has paid attention to preserving and promoting the value of the relic, focusing on activities such as archaeological research and excavation, organizing Archaeological Announcement Conferences; organizing seminars on the life and career of historical figures of the Dinh - Tien Le dynasties, on the position and role of the Dai Co Viet State in the historical process; implementing scientific research topics and tasks on preserving and promoting the value of the relic site; Developing a master plan for preserving, embellishing and promoting the value of the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital historical - cultural relic; Detailed plan for preserving, embellishing and promoting the value of the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital special protection zone; Project for preserving, restoring, embellishing and expanding the scope of some relics related to the Dai Co Viet State to promote the historical and cultural values of the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital...
Identifying cultural heritage as the province's strength, the restoration and embellishment of Hoa Lu Ancient Capital relics has been carefully implemented, strictly following the State's regulations on procedures for preserving, restoring and rehabilitating relics in accordance with the Law on Cultural Heritage and related legal regulations. The units participating in consulting and constructing the restoration of relics are all experienced in the field of relic restoration, and are leading units in the restoration and embellishment of relics at the central and local levels.
Most of the main items of the relic site have been renovated and embellished, the infrastructure system has been renovated and upgraded, contributing to protecting the sustainability of the relic and promoting the value of the relic associated with tourism development. The construction items include: restoration and embellishment of the Festival Square; restoration and embellishment of the tomb of King Dinh Tien Hoang, the tomb of King Le Dai Hanh; restoration and embellishment of original relics in the relic site; restoration and embellishment of relics related to Dai Co Viet State; construction of an archaeological exhibition house, etc.
The propaganda, promotion and education of the historical and cultural traditions of the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital National Special Relic Site have been promoted. Ms. Dinh Thi Nga, a tour guide at the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital Historical and Cultural Relics Conservation Center, said: Every day, the relic site welcomes many visitors to visit the relic site. The tour guide team has provided visitors with knowledge about history, the role of King Dinh Tien Hoang, King Le Dai Hanh, the contributions of national heroes in the process of building and defending the country of our ancestors, and the architectural and artistic values. Currently, the Center has deployed an automatic QR interpretation system in 4 languages to serve a large number of visitors.
With its cultural values, historical relics and artistic architecture, the relic site attracts a large number of domestic and foreign tourists to visit and worship every day. Ms. Le Thi Bich Thuc, Deputy Director of the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital Historical and Cultural Relics Conservation Center, said: We determine that the task of preserving traditional cultural heritage values with tourism development must be resolved harmoniously and uniformly to create sustainable development. The Center has focused on preserving and conserving traditional cultural values, protecting natural landscapes, protecting the environment, improving service quality towards building the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital Special National Relic Site into a cultural, historical and archaeological tourist destination of national and international significance.
Article and photos: Phuong Anh
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