Le Temple, Ninh Binh, Vietnam: Photos, Best Things to Do, Tours

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Le Temple, Northern Vietnam

Nearby, tourists can visit the Tomb of King Dinh Tien Hoang, which is located on Ma Yen Mountain, in front of this temple. To reach here, travelers have to pass 150 stone steps.

vietnam, vietnam friendly tourist sights

Le Temple overview

Le Temple is majestically located in the old palace of Hoa Lu Ancient Capital and is a remnant of three feudal dynasties in Vietnam’s history. Don’t miss this famous temple if you have the opportunity to visit Dinh Temple nearby!

How to travel to Le Temple?

The temple is located in Truong Yen Commune, Hoa Lu District, 300 meters from Dinh Temple in Ninh Binh. It is located in the same courtyard as Dinh Temple. These two temples share some architectural, structural, decorative, and art installation characteristics. The reason for this is that they were both built and repaired at the same time. However, if we look closely, we can see that Le Temple has distinct features that are not found in Dinh Temple or any other temple.

It takes about 1.5hour by driving from Hanoi to Ninh Binh.

Travel tips for Le Temple

When we visit the temple, the most obvious impression is one of antiquity and solemnity, with few changes. That could explain why this place still has the original architecture’s beauty. Despite having the same architectural style as Dinh Temple, it has the main entrance to the east and lacks the stone thresholds and massive old stones that Dinh Temple has. As a result, tourists can now admire the temple’s architectural and sculptural styles from the earlier Le Dynasty. Because of recent local government policies, Le Temple is now closer to the road leading to Hoa Lu Ancient Temple than Dinh Temple.

The beautiful wooden architecture with intricate details, high thresholds, and narrow doors are the standout features as you pass through the ancient temple gate before entering Le Temple. The entire temple is situated on a large campus with symmetrical structures on both sides. The fragrance of lotus from a nearby lotus pond fills Le Temple in the summer. There are also many bonsai and old trees with interesting names on campus.

Today, Le Temple, along with many other landscapes, contributes to Ninh Binh Province’s tourism potential. Visitors come to this land to see Trang An Ecotourism Destination, Tam Coc – Bich Dong scenic area, Non-Nuoc Pagoda… and, of course, Dinh and Le Temple. These temples will transport visitors to a completely different world: the world of ancient Vietnam’s history and culture. So, if you plan to visit Ninh Binh, don’t forget to spend time in Dinh and Le Temple to get your own sense of Vietnamese historical landmarks!

Le Temple’s architectural art

Le Temple is divided into three sections: Bai Duong for the community, Thien Huong for the worship of royal mandarins from the earlier Le Dynasty, and the altar in memory of the King. The statue of King Le Dai Hanh is in the center, Queen Duong Van Nga’s statue is on the left, and Le Ngoa Trieu, his fifth son and the third King of the Earlier Le Dynasty is on the right.

The wood carving art of the 17th century displayed here reached a high level of virtuosity. It corresponds to legends or stories about King Le Dai Hanh. Although it is lower than Dinh Temple, it has many large, beautifully decorated walls. It is both a cultural symbol of a previous century feudal dynasty and an architectural structure.

Le Temple, one of Vietnam’s largest temples, is regarded as an important national relic and historical site. This location is always crowded and filled with the scent of incense during the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital Festival. Residents from all over come here to express their gratitude to King Le and to admire the old temple’s unique architecture.

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