Nestled among the jagged limestone mountains and jade waters of the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex in Ninh Binh, lies a silent, sacred space with over a thousand years of history - Dan Kinh Thien.
Dan Kinh Thien, also called Dan Nam Giao, was where emperors performed rituals to worship Heaven.
This place, steeped in solemnity and reverence, marks a pivotal moment when the Vietnamese people officially stepped into an era of independence.
Where Emperor Dinh bowed to heaven and claimed divine rule
Also known as Dan Nam Giao, Dan Kinh Thien was the site where emperors of feudal dynasties conducted the “worship of Heaven” ritual - one of the most significant ceremonies of the imperial court, praying for peace, prosperity, and harmony.
According to Truong Dinh Tuong, Chairman of the Historical Science Association of Ninh Binh, emperors from the Dinh and Tien Le dynasties to later rulers highly regarded this ritual. With Ninh Binh once serving as the capital of three dynasties - Dinh, Tien Le, and Ly - the cultural imprint of Hoa Lu remains deeply embedded in the area.
“Dan Kinh Thien in ancient Hoa Lu was where Dinh Bo Linh held the ceremony to worship heaven before launching his campaign to quell the chaos of the Twelve Warlords. After unifying the country in 968, he returned to offer another ceremonial prayer, proclaimed himself Emperor Dinh Tien Hoang, and established the Dai Co Viet nation - ushering in a new age of sovereign independence,” Tuong explained.
Historical records from the Dai Viet Su Ky Toan Thu state that on the 10th day of the third lunar month in 968, Van Thang Vuong Dinh Bo Linh solemnly declared himself emperor at this very altar. He was acclaimed as the Great Victory Enlightened Emperor - the founding sovereign after over a thousand years under Northern domination.
The name Kinh Thien, meaning “reverence to Heaven,” expresses a spiritual allegiance to cosmic order. But from Dinh’s ritual, the “mandate of heaven” was no longer a foreign decree - it became the declaration of sovereignty by a proud, self-determined nation.
Reconstructed heritage with spiritual symmetry
The reconstructed Dan Kinh Thien sits within the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex in Ninh Binh.
Today, the altar from the Dinh dynasty is located within the Trang An Complex - a UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage site. Dan Kinh Thien sits near Bai Dinh Mountain and Pagoda, in Tay Hoa Lu ward, Ninh Binh province.
In 2018, to commemorate the 1,050th anniversary of Dinh Bo Linh’s enthronement, Ninh Binh authorities reconstructed Dan Kinh Thien. The design followed the traditional Tam Tai concept - Heaven, Earth, and Man - represented in three monumental gates: Nhan Mon (Gate of Humanity), Dia Mon (Gate of Earth), and Thien Mon (Gate of Heaven). Each gate features a central path flanked by side entrances, symbolizing cosmic harmony.
The site is built with faux laterite bricks, and traditional motifs are carved into the stone railings, showcasing the refined craftsmanship of local artisans. Its entire layout reflects Eastern cosmological thought, highlighting the balance between nature and humanity.
Dan Kinh Thien also opens into Moc Hoan Valley, where the crystal-clear Muc Long (Dragon’s Eye) Lake connects to the Trang An cave system - considered a convergence point of water and energy.
Where legend, archaeology, and identity converge
Dan Kinh Thien also opens into Moc Hoan Valley and the clear waters of Muc Long Lake.
Today, the valley also features three traditional Muong-style stilt houses that display local crafts, cuisine, and daily life. These structures honor the Muong origins of Emperor Dinh, whose ancestral roots trace back to Kim Lu in ancient Hoa Lu.
One of Dan Kinh Thien’s most remarkable values emerged during archaeological excavations: evidence of prehistoric human presence dating back 13,000 to 50,000 years.
For scholars, the overlap between a prehistoric settlement and the ceremonial grounds of nationhood reveals a profound spiritual and historical continuity. From early human survival in the forested mountains to Dinh’s founding of a state, the site embodies an unbroken lineage of Vietnamese history.
Thus, Dan Kinh Thien is not merely a political or spiritual monument - it stands at the crossroads of culture, archaeology, and the collective memory of a people.
Sacred simplicity and annual homage
Each year, Hoa Lu Festival and rituals at Dan Kinh Thien are held on the 10th day of the third lunar month.
Unlike ornate temples, Dan Kinh Thien has a humble, restrained beauty. Nature itself is part of the architecture, creating a sacred yet familiar atmosphere. A curved stone staircase of about 50 steps climbs the mountainside to the altar, inviting visitors into a sacred realm.
At the summit, the open-air altar - stone-paved and roofless - symbolizes direct communion with the heavens. A ritual mat and symbolic pillars represent Earth and Sky, aligning with the philosophical triad of Heaven - Earth - Humanity.
Each year, on the 10th day of the third lunar month, the Hoa Lu Festival and related ceremonies are held at Dan Kinh Thien to honor Emperor Dinh Tien Hoang and reenact the nation’s founding moment. This draws crowds of locals and tourists, reinforcing national pride and reverence for heritage.
Ninh Binh’s Department of Tourism has announced that the cultural-spiritual site of Thung Ui, home to Dan Kinh Thien, will officially welcome visitors during the 2026 Lunar New Year. This promises to be a highlight in the region’s tourism offerings and a fitting tribute to its ancient legacy.
Vietnamnet.vn
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