Legendary event: Moving capital from Hoa Lu (Ninh Binh) to Thang Long (Hanoi)

In the early 11th century, Dai Co Viet witnessed a major historical event, marking an important step in the development of an independent feudal state. That was the move of the capital from Hoa Lu to Dai La – Thang Long, and today’s Hanoi. That event is associated with the name and career of Ly Cong Uan, the founding king of the Ly Dynasty (1009 – 1225), one of the most powerful dynasties in the history of the Vietnamese feudal regime.

Choosing a capital was the most important thing in the early days of the founding of the country, but choosing a strategic location for the capital was not easy. To do this, required a talented leader with a clear vision. The move of the capital from Hoa Lu (Ninh Binh) to Dai La by Ly Thai To was a major milestone that opened the history of Thang Long – Hanoi, marking a turning point in the history of the country.

The reason King Ly Thai To (Ly Cong Uan) moved the capital

Hoa Lu was the capital of our country under the Dinh and Le dynasty from 968, just a capital with heavy military-defense significance. It was located in a place with many caves in the middle of a vast field of water, difficult to enter for outside enemies who wanted to look, but not easy to become a place where a large population gathered to build and develop the economy.

By the beginning of the 11th century, when the national unity was consolidated, the central government was strengthened, King Ly Thai To was confident enough in his strength to establish the capital in a new land, to meet the requirements of developing into a powerful nation.

Ly Cong Uan’s decision to move the capital was one of the greatest changes in our country’s history. His great thoughts were expressed through the heroic words in the Royal Edit on the Transfer of the Capital when he chose a location “In the middle of the heaven and earth, with the position of a coiled dragon and a seated tiger, right in the middle of the South, North, East, and West, with convenient mountains and rivers in front and behind. This area has a wide and flat land, high and bright terrain, the people do not suffer from low and dark places, and all things are extremely lush and prosperous. Looking at the whole country of Vietnam, this is a place of victory, truly a place where the four directions converge, truly the place where the capital will be raised forever”.

The stories and meaning of Thang Long city

In July of the first year of Thuan Thien (1010), King Ly Thai To moved the capital from Hoa Lu (Ninh Binh) to Dai La Citadel. Legend has it that when the king’s boat approached Dai La Citadel, a golden dragon appeared and flew up into the sky. That’s why King Ly Thai To changed the name of Dai La to Thang Long (meaning flying dragon). From then on, the capital of Vietnam was Thang Long.

Thang Long (flying dragon) is a beautiful name, full of confidence and pride in the land the king chose to establish the capital. This name evokes the strong rising spirit of the capital. Besides, the name flying dragon also represents the desire for peace, a happy life, and freedom of the Vietnamese people at that time… Moreover, the flying dragon symbol also contains the sacred idea of ​​returning to the Dragon – Fairy origin of the Vietnamese people and the dream of water resources, favorable weather, and wind of the civilized rice-growing agricultural residents.

The decision to establish the capital in Thang Long in 1010 by Ly Thai To was a major milestone that opened the history of Thang Long – Hanoi, marking a turning point in the history of the country. From a wise choice by Ly Thai To in the 11th century, Thang Long, and now Hanoi, has entered the history of the country as an eternal capital.

The meaning of having the new capital

Right in the Royal Edit on the Transfer of the Capital by Ly Thai To, the king showed the importance of moving the capital, because he deeply understood the mutual influence and close connection between the capital of a country and the prosperity of that country. 

Ly Thai To explained the reason for moving the capital by saying that establishing the capital in the center, planning for great things, planning for generations to come for descendants; was following the message of the Gods, following the will of the people. In addition, Thang Long was indeed the land with the most beautiful scenery, truly an important place for the four directions to converge. That was why Ly Thai To was determined to move the capital from Hoa Lu to Thang Long.

Up to now, the sacred land of Thang Long with a thousand years of culture – now the capital city Hanoi – is still developing prosperously. This affirms that this place is a land of convergence of cultures from all over the world, a center of economic, cultural, social, and political development of the whole country. The event of moving the capital is also a historical milestone demonstrating the timeless vision of a wise king thousands of years ago, laying the foundation for development in a land that converges all the elements of a sacred land and talented people.

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