The resting place of two kings and the story of the "queen of two dynasties".

King Dinh Tien Hoang and King Le Dai Hanh both married Queen Mother Duong Van Nga. Upon their deaths, the remains of the two kings were buried and worshipped in the ancient capital of Hoa Lu, one resting on the mountaintop, the other at the foot of the mountain.

The tombs of King Dinh Tien Hoang and King Le Dai Hành are both located within the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital National Special Historical and Cultural Relic Area (Truong Yen commune, Hoa Lu district, Ninh Binh province). The resting places of the two kings are situated in the Ma Yen mountain area – a mountain shaped like a horse saddle, located within the outer citadel of the ancient Hoa Lu capital.

King Dinh Tien Hoang quelled the rebellion of the 12 warlords, ascended the throne as emperor, and established the Dai Co Viet state - the first centralized feudal state in Vietnam.

King Lê Đại Hành, who built a strong Đại Cồ Việt state, repelled invaders from the North, and secured our country's borders, only moved the capital from Hoa Lư to Thăng Long (present-day Hanoi ) during the reign of King Lý Công Uẩn.

After their deaths, both the Dinh and Le dynasties were buried in the Hoa Lu citadel (now Hoa Lu Ancient Capital). However, there is a difference: the tomb of King Dinh Tien Hoang is located on the summit of Ma Yen Mountain, while the resting place of King Le Dai Hành lies at the foot of the mountain. What makes these two kings particularly special among the feudal dynasties of Vietnam is that they both married the same woman, Empress Dowager Duong Van Nga.

To reach the tomb of King Dinh Tien Hoang, one must climb over 200 stone steps. The king rests atop Ma Yen mountain, offering a panoramic view of the ancient capital of Hoa Lu, with its surrounding mountains, rivers, rice fields, and villages creating a picturesque and romantic landscape.

At the foot of Ma Yen mountain, the tomb of King Le is built in a fairly large compound overlooking the Hau Duong fields, surrounded by a protective wall. The tomb is also built in the vaulted style, decorated with motifs of two dragons flanking Bodhi leaves and tiger faces.

In the 10th century, during the Dinh and Early Le dynasties, Ma Yen Mountain held a strategic position in the capital city of Hoa Lu. It was also a sacred place, and therefore chosen as the final resting place for two national heroes. According to ancient beliefs, the tombs of King Dinh and King Le were both located in what was called the "imperial burial ground."

According to documents preserved at the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital National Special Relic Site, after King Dinh passed away in the year Ky Mao (979), the courtiers brought the coffin of the former emperor to be buried at the top of Ma Yen mountain to honor the king's martial spirit. Dai Viet History Chronicle records: "Bringing the coffin of the former emperor to be buried at Truong Yen mountain mausoleum." When King Le Dai Hanh passed away, the courtiers also buried him to the south at the foot of Ma Yen mountain. The mausoleum is backed against Ma Yen mountain, with two mountain ranges running along the left and right, forming the shape of a throne, so it is also called Hoan Y mountain.

Every year, millions of tourists visit the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital National Special Historical and Cultural Relic Site. Besides visiting the temples of King Dinh and King Le, tourists also visit Ma Yen Mountain to see the tombs of two of the most prominent kings of Vietnam's feudal dynasties.

After suppressing the rebellion of the 12 warlords and ascending to the throne, Emperor Dinh Tien Hoang named the country Dai Co Viet and adopted the reign name Thai Binh . During a royal tour, the emperor met Lady Duong Van Nga and brought her to the capital to be his wife.

In 979, King Dinh Tien Hoang and his son Dinh Lien were assassinated. Queen Duong Van Nga was elevated to the rank of Empress Dowager, and their son Dinh Toan, who was only six years old at the time, was enthroned as King.

Under pressure from the Song invaders, the Empress Dowager made a decision that changed the fate of the country. She handed over all military power to General Le Hoan, promising that upon his return after defeating the Song army, she would bestow the imperial robe upon him and make him king.

After General Le Hoan of the Ten Divisions quelled the Song invaders, Empress Dowager Duong Van Nga personally sailed a boat decorated with a dragon throne to the river junction to welcome Le Hoan back victorious from battle. She bestowed upon him the dragon robe, crowning him king, thus ending the Dinh Dynasty and establishing the Early Le Dynasty.

King Lê Đại Hành later married Dương Vân Nga and bestowed upon her the title of Đại Thắng Minh Hoàng Hậu (Great Victorious and Enlightened Empress).

Source: https://baobacninhtv.vn/bg2/dulichbg/noi-yen-nghi-cua-hai-vi-vua-va-chuyen-hoang-hau-hai-trieu-143422-postid402439.bbg