5/5 Dina S. 4 years ago on Google • 76 reviews
The
small
park
is
a
charming
spot
across
the
famous
HoanKiem
Lake
at
the
heart
of
Hanoi.
It
is
more
than
a
park
but
also
a
memorial
to
the
first
king
of
the
Ly
dynasty
who
had
moved
his
seat
of
power
to
Hanoi
thus
turning
it
from
a
small
county
to
Vietnam’s
powerful
capital.
Ly
Thai
To
was
born
in
974.
He
joined
the
court
later
under
the
patronage
of
a
powerful
monk-Van
Hanh.
At
the
time,
Buddhism
was
at
its
peak
in
Vietnam
‘society.
Thus,
the
monk
was
a
prominent
power
broker
in
the
court.
With
the
political
capital
and
his
innate
charm,
Ly
Thai
To
quickly
advanced
up
in
his
career
ladder.
He
had
been
the
first
commoner
to
become
the
leading
general
of
the
capital.
Ly
was
in
charge
of
the
siege
of
Hoa
Lu-
the
then
capital.
In
1009,
the
King
that
Ly
had
served
suddenly
died
while
his
popularity
had
been
long
gone
due
to
his
brutal
killing.
All
of
the
legitimate
heirs
were
too
young
to
inherit
the
throne.
Taking
this
opportunity,
Ly
collected
the
support
from
his
allies
which
include
the
powerful
monk-Van
Hanh.
Then,
the
whole
court
issued
the
consensus
of
Ly’s
inheritance
to
the
throne.
The
event
was
rather
once
in
a
blue
moon.
As
it
has
been
the
first
time
that
such
power
transition
did
not
cost
any
blood
or
any
arrows.
In
legend,
Ly
was
taking
a
boat
cruise
in
the
river
near
Hanoi.
There
he
saw
a
cloud
in
the
shape
of
a
flying
dragon.
Thus,
he
decided
to
move
his
seat
to
Hanoi
naming
it
the
capital
of
flying
dragon.
The
legend
must
have
been
composed
in
the
convenience
of
the
king.
Actually,
he
had
had
the
plan
to
move
all
the
time
to
avoid
unnecessary
nostalgia
about
the
last
dynasty.
Furthermore,
the
old
capital
was
surrounded
by
mountains
providing
a
perfect
defense
to
the
central
power
during
the
lords’
war.
Ly
had
defeated
them
all.
Thus
he
sought
out
for
a
well-connected
hub
of
power
and
wealth.
That
was
why
Hanoi
had
been
chosen.
Nowadays,
the
statute
of
Ly
stands
tall
casting
a
view
on
the
eternal
green
of
Ho
Guom.
The
park
becomes
a
spot
for
tourists
to
peek
into
Hanoians’
life.
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