Hoa Lam Vien and the story of reviving heritage in the heart of Hanoi.

Hoa Lam Vien is undergoing a comprehensive reassessment, from its historical value to its potential for developing a heritage industry in the current context.

On January 13th, in Hanoi, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University, Hanoi), the Hanoi Historical Science Association, in collaboration with the Hoa Lam Vien Relic Management Board (Dong Anh commune, Hanoi), organized a seminar entitled “Hoa Lam Vien – The Royal Palace of the Ly Dynasty: Heritage Value and Orientation in the Development of the Cultural Industry Today,” which covered many important academic and practical topics.

Located in Dong Anh district (Hanoi), Hoa Lam Vien is considered a land closely associated with the origins of the Ly Dynasty, the birthplace of the mother of King Ly Thai To. During the Ly Dynasty, it was one of the most important royal palaces outside the capital Thang Long, holding special significance in terms of politics , spirituality, and symbolizing royal power.

Associate Professor Dr. Dang Hong Son - Vice Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (VNU Hanoi) giving a speech. Photo: Minh Vu.

In his opening remarks at the seminar, Associate Professor Dr. Dang Hong Son - Vice Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (VNU Hanoi) - stated that Hoa Lam Vien Royal Palace was not only a resting place for kings and emperors but also symbolized the connection between royal and divine power, between the imperial court and the village community.

According to him, the responsibility today is to breathe new life into the heritage, so that Hoa Lam Vien becomes a source of creative inspiration, a tourism product, and a source of pride for the people of Dong Anh, in line with the current spirit of cultural industry development.

Researchers believe that Hoa Lam Vien was not only a place where the king rested and held court during his tours, but also reflected the aspiration to build an independent and self-governing nation in the early stages of the Vietnamese feudal state.

Although no longer intact, Hoa Lam Vien still preserves many valuable relics such as the Temple of the Departed Souls, the Tomb of Hung Cong, stone artifacts, column bases, and bricks carved with characteristic patterns of the Ly Dynasty. These are valuable documents that contribute to determining the location, scale, and role of the royal palace within the system of Ly Dynasty relics.

At the seminar, many opinions emphasized the need to approach Hoa Lam Vien from a holistic perspective, placing the site in relation to the Red River cultural axis, Co Loa, and Thang Long Imperial Citadel to better clarify the historical and cultural value of this area.

The seminar aimed to fully identify the historical and archaeological value of Hoa Lam Vien; clarify the relationship between the site and the homeland of the Ly Dynasty and the Thang Long cultural space; and propose conservation solutions linked to the development of the cultural industry.

According to experts, Hoa Lam Vien has the potential to become a highlight in the chain of heritage sites in northern Hanoi, contributing to unlocking cultural resources and transforming heritage into assets serving socio-economic development, in line with the orientation of Resolution 09 of the Hanoi City Party Committee on the development of the cultural industry.

Delegates participating in the scientific seminar "Hoa Lam Vien - Ly Dynasty Royal Palace: Heritage Value and Directions for the Development of the Cultural Industry Today". Photo: Minh Vu.

From an ancient royal palace of the Ly Dynasty, Hoa Lam Garden is now facing the opportunity to be "awakened," becoming a living cultural space that both preserves historical memory and harmonizes with the development of the capital in the new era.

Source: https://laodong.vn/van-hoa-giai-tri/hoa-lam-vien-and-the-story-of-awakening-heritage-in-the-heart-of-hanoi-1640180.ldo