The value of Hoa Lu Capital Heritage in implementing the socio-economic and cultural development strategy of Ninh Binh

Hoa Lu Citadel - a heritage of cross-century value

At the scientific conference "Dinh Tien Hoang - Historical stature and national aspirations", Associate Professor, Dr. Tong Trung Tin, Vietnam Archaeological Association affirmed this when mentioning the heritage value of Hoa Lu Capital. He explained: There are not many archaeological relics of the 10th century. Up to now, the most important and most studied relic of this period is the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital relic site, Truong Yen commune, which was the capital of the Dinh and Le dynasties for 42 years (968-1010). Vietnam Archaeology has conducted a number of relatively large-scale research campaigns on the Hoa Lu Historical and Cultural Relic Site, which has brought many new documents, allowing a more specific view of the historical and cultural value of Vietnam during the Dinh-Tien Le period in Vietnam's cultural history.

After more than 1000 years, the vestiges of Hoa Lu citadel have been mostly destroyed. Archaeological surveys show that Hoa Lu citadel was large in scale, built on the basis of connecting many natural mountains with sections of walls. The construction of the citadel, consisting of many layers of walls, following the natural terrain in Hoa Lu, carried the tradition of building citadels of the Vietnamese people since the time of An Duong Vuong, clearly demonstrating the spirit of independence and self-reliance at a very high level in the work of building and protecting the independence of the Dinh dynasty and the people of Dai Co Viet during the Dinh period...

In his research, Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Quy, Institute of Archaeology, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences also affirmed: Hoa Lu Citadel is a unique architectural work, demonstrating a process of both maintaining and developing traditional architecture and absorbing new technical quintessence, thereby creating a unique style of Vietnam in the 10th century. From the research and discoveries serving the construction of Hoa Lu Citadel, a Hoa Lu art was formed, opening the flow of Dai Viet civilization and was also absorbed and strongly promoted in Ly-Tran art...

The value of Hoa Lu Capital Heritage in implementing the socio-economic and cultural development strategy of Ninh Binh — Gate to the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital Special National Monument. Photo: Ngoc Linh

In many archaeological and historical research works by domestic, international and provincial experts and scientists, there is a common opinion: Hoa Lu Capital of the whole country in 42 years of existence has fulfilled the historical mission of the nation and left a very rich heritage of historical value in the historical process of the nation. That is a great achievement on the path of building and defending the country, a very important milestone in the history of building and defending the country of our people in the 10th century.

Ninh Binh is a land with a rich history and cultural traditions, where tangible and intangible cultural heritages imbued with national cultural identity are preserved, blending into the majestic natural landscape of mountains, rivers and a system of shimmering and magical water caves.

The land of outstanding people where more than 1000 years ago, in 968, Dinh Bo Linh unified the country, ascended the throne as Emperor, established the capital in Hoa Lu, took the reign name Thai Binh, and gave birth to Dai Co Viet - the first centralized feudal state in our country in the 10th century.

Hoa Lu was the capital of the three dynasties Dinh-Tien Le and the early Ly dynasties, existing for 42 years (968-1010). In 1010, King Ly Thai To moved the capital from Hoa Lu, Ninh Binh to Dai La citadel, later changed to Thang Long, Hanoi, Hoa Lu capital was called Hoa Lu ancient capital from then on.

Today, coming to the ancient capital of Hoa Lu, the past, present and future, history, natural landscape and people seem to blend together, bringing us back to the thousand-year-old indomitable roots of the nation.

The tangible and intangible cultural heritages of Hoa Lu Capital that are still preserved have special important value in the history of the nation, and are vivid symbols expressing the indomitable will, pride, and desire for independence, freedom, and national unification of the Vietnamese people through thousands of years of history.

Important strategic resource for economic, cultural and social development

Over the years, deeply aware of the great and precious values of the Hoa Lu Imperial Citadel heritage, Ninh Binh province has always attached importance to, paid attention to, researched, invested in and promoted the heritages left by our ancestors, considering them as important strategic resources to practically and effectively serve the cause of construction and socio-economic development of the locality, especially the development of tourism and cultural industry.

Reality shows that preserving heritage associated with sustainable development, establishing a suitable position for Hoa Lu Capital in the system of capitals in national history, making the central area of Hoa Lu Ancient Capital become one of the cores and driving forces to implement urban development strategies, cultural and tourism industry development strategies of Ninh Binh province is a necessary task today.

Associate Professor, Dr. Bui Minh Tri, Institute of Imperial Citadel Studies, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, in researching and analyzing the Dinh Dynasty's imprints at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, also said that Ninh Binh Province needs to have a strategy to coordinate long-term research investment with large-scale excavation and archaeological research projects, which are comprehensive, organized and implemented in a more professional, scientific and systematic manner, with a roadmap for implementation over many years like the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, in order to gradually clarify the inherent values of the Hoa Lu Capital in history. Contributing to deepening the political stature, the aspiration for national unification and revival of Emperor Dinh Tien Hoang, making Hoa Lu a heritage city on par with the region and the world, becoming an impressive and attractive tourist center in the development of the cultural industry of Ninh Binh Province in the future.

Among the solutions proposed to improve the efficiency of preserving and promoting the value of Hoa Lu Citadel heritage, Mr. Nguyen Duc Long, Chairman of Ninh Binh Cultural Heritage Association, mentioned the solution of applying science and technology to protect and promote the value of relics such as: applying Module software in relic management; applying Lidar and Round Radar technology to determine the location of archaeological excavation; applying 3D printing technology in preserving the elements that make up the relic... The above applications promise to open up new spaces to continue exploiting Hoa Lu Citadel relics effectively and sustainably...

In recent years, on the basis of important legal documents: The Master Plan for the conservation, restoration and promotion of the value of the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital historical and cultural relic site approved by the Prime Minister in Decision No. 82/2003/QD-TTg dated April 29, 2003; Decision No. 56/QD-TTg dated February 7, 2023 approving the task of planning the conservation, restoration and rehabilitation of the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital Special National Monument until 2030, with a vision to 2050; Decision No. 218/QD-TTg approving the Planning of Ninh Binh Province for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050... is the legal basis for Ninh Binh Province to shape the implementation of activities to conserve and promote the value of the Special National Monument heritage in a long-term orientation.

Ninh Binh province has issued many programs, plans, projects and organized the synchronous implementation of many solutions, in which cultural heritage is determined to be the foundation and basis for developing cultural industry and tourism.

In which, Decision No. 577/QD-UBND dated June 8, 2009 of the Provincial People's Committee on approving the adjustment of the detailed planning for conservation, restoration and promotion of the value of the special protection zone of Hoa Lu Ancient Capital is the basic legal basis for the implementation of conservation, restoration and conditions for promoting the value of the relic site.

Based on the approved master plan, up to now, important architectural relics in the relic site have been invested in, renovated, and landscaped such as: King Dinh Temple, King Le Temple, Ngan Pagoda relic, Princess Phat Kim Temple...

The value of the Hoa Lu Citadel heritage is effectively promoted to create diverse tourism products. From here, a new direction is opened in promoting the value of local heritage, so that culture is an endogenous strength in accordance with the spirit of the Resolution of the 22nd Congress of the Provincial Party Committee.

Ninh Binh's tourism and cultural industry have had many improvements and breakthrough developments with many important results: State management of tourism and culture has been strengthened; the quality and efficiency of tourism and cultural industry activities have changed positively; infrastructure and technical facilities serving cultural industry and tourism have been increasingly invested in and improved; tourism and service activities have been gradually organized and managed scientifically, professionally and sustainably; security, order, environmental sanitation and civilization have been ensured.

Many high-quality products with strong brands, imbued with the cultural identity of the land and people of Ninh Binh have been put into exploitation, initially meeting the needs of tourists, such as: Eco-tourism product system, visiting and experiencing natural values associated with Trang An Scenic Complex; spiritual cultural tourism product system; craft village tourism products; traditional festival tourism products; urban tourism products; entertainment tourism; street food cultural tourism...

Ninh Binh is also a locality that coordinates with many units to organize cultural, sports, tourism events, music programs, fashion shows, exhibitions, publishing activities... Thereby integrating the promotion of Ninh Binh's traditional culture to the world, contributing to affirming the beauty of the land of the Millennium Heritage Capital.

Activities of preserving, maintaining, restoring and preserving heritage associated with exploiting historical tourism, spiritual tourism, cultural tourism, and eco-tourism associated with agricultural and rural livelihood models are promoted, attracting domestic and foreign tourists.

The role of the community in preserving and conserving cultural heritage continues to be enhanced, thereby improving the quality of tourism products and creating momentum for local socio-economic development.

Implementing the province's economic, cultural and social development strategy, aiming to build Ninh Binh into a centrally-run city with the characteristics of a Millennium Heritage City and a creative city; in order to continue effectively implementing the Project "Preserving and promoting the historical, cultural and fine traditional values of the people and land of Hoa Lu Ancient Capital", on September 10, Ninh Binh Provincial People's Committee coordinated with the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences and the Vietnam Historical Science Association to organize a scientific seminar "Consulting on strategies to preserve, simulate, restore and promote the heritage values of Hoa Lu Ancient Capital using scientific and technological solutions" .

The seminar aims to gather interdisciplinary scientific research up to now on Hoa Lu Citadel; at the same time, provide new documents and important scientific bases in the reconstruction and restoration of Hoa Lu Imperial Citadel in particular and Hoa Lu Citadel in general.

At the same time, refer to domestic and international experiences, especially the experiences of countries that have been successful in preserving, reconstructing and restoring ancient capitals, to propose feasible ideas and solutions that can be soon implemented to restore Hoa Lu Imperial Citadel in particular and Hoa Lu Capital in general, contributing to the cultural, economic and social development of the province.