Hoa Lu was for several decades the capital of an independent Vietnamese state located in the Ninh Binh region in the 10th century. Today, the site of the former capital is a huge complex of temples and palaces.

The Hoa Lu area is huge and can be explored on foot or by bicycle. It depends on how many places you want to visit in the area, but you can easily spend half a day here.

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What to see in the Hoa Lu complex?

When you arrive at the complex, you will see for yourself that the premises are quite extensive and the area includes many interesting places.

Some of the best ones to visit include the following:

King Dinh Temple - The small complex of a temple and three shrines is half hidden in the surrounding forest and gives a very pleasant and mystical impression.
King Le Temple - The most famous temple in the complex dates back to the 17th century. It can be found near the entrance.
Tomb of the First Emperor - The tomb can be found on the hill to the left of the entrance to the complex. After a steep climb up many stairs, you will also reach a beautiful viewpoint from which you will have the karst landscape of Ninh Binh in the palm of your hand.
Nhat Tru Pagoda - A beautiful 10th century pagoda, otherwise known as the one pillar pagoda. The pagoda can be found outside the official grounds of the historic city.