July 18th, 2006
Ninh binh
Destinations
- Cuc Phuong National Park
Location: Cuc Phuong National Park is located 100km south of Hanoi in Ninh Binh and it is on the borders of three provinces of Ninh Binh, Hoa Binh and Thanh Hoa.
Characteristics: Cuc Phuong National Park is surrounded by several limestone cliffs, the highest being May Bac, meaning “silver cloud,” with a height of 656m.
- Dinh and Le Temples
Location: Dinh Temple is located in Truong Yen Ha Commune and Le Temple is located in Truong Yen Thuong Communce, Hoa Lu District, Ninh Binh Province.
Characteristics: Dinh Temple worships King Dinh Tien Hoang and Le Temple worships King Le Dai Hanh. These temples were built in 17th century.
Location: In the Ngu Nhac Son Mountains, in Dam Khe Village, Ninh Hai Commune, Hoa Lu District, Ninh Binh Province.
Characteristics: King Le Canh Hung said that Bich Dong was the second nicest grotto in Vietnam, after the Huong Tich Grotto in Ha Tay Province.
- Phat Diem Cathedral
Location: Phat Diem Cathedral is in Luu Phuong Commune, Phat Diem Town, Kim Son District, 130km south of Hanoi, and 28km southeast of Ninh Binh Town.
Characteristics: Phat Diem Cathedral is the center of Catholicism in north Vietnam and also a tourist site attracting foreign and domestic visitors.
- Thai Vy Temple
Location: Thai Vy Temple is located to the west of Van Lam Hamlet, Ninh Hai Commune, Hoa Lu District, Ninh Binh Province.
Characteristics: The temple worships four generations of Kings Tran, Tran Thai Tong, Tran Thanh Tong, Tran Nhan Tong, and Tran Anh Tong.
- Hoa Lu Ancient Capital
Location: Hoa Lu Ancient Capital is 13km from Ninh Binh Town, Ninh Binh Province.
Characteristics: In 968, Dinh Bo Linh ascended to the throne and took the name of King Dinh Tien Hoang and reunified the country under the name of Dai Co Viet and Hoa Lu was its capital for 41 years (968-1009).
Festivals
- Yen Cu Festival
Time: 20th day of the eighth lunar month.
Place: Khanh Cu Commune, Yen Khanh District, Ninh Binh Province.
Objects of worship: Tran Hung Dao, his wife and princesses.
Characteristics: Procession of palanquin across Day River to Phu Hao Village.
- Tap Minh Hamlet Festival
Time: The 13th day of the tenth lunar month.
Place: Tap Minh Hamlet, Hoa Lu District, Ninh Binh Province.
Objects of worship: Village’s tutelary god - Ngo Son Dai Vuong (in the reign of Hung Due Vuong) who had merit of fighting Thuc troops.
Characteristics: Offerings are black pig, steamed glutinous rice, rice wine.
- Truong Yen Festival
Time: From the 9th to the 11th day of the third lunar month, the main festival day is on the 10th day of the third lunar month.
Objects of worship: King Dinh Tien Hoang and King Le Dai Hanh.
Place: Truong Yen Commune, Hoa Lu District, Ninh Binh Province.
Characteristics: The procession of water, Chinese character forming.