Ly Thai To Park

Ly Thai To Park is a pleasant location opposite the famous HoanKiem Lake in Hanoi. It is more than a park; it is also a memorial to the first monarch of the Ly dynasty, who moved the capital to Hanoi, transforming it from a minor county to the mighty capital of Vietnam.

In 974, Ly Thai To was born. Later, he joined the court under the protection of a strong monk named Van Hanh. In Vietnam’s society at the time, Buddhism was at its pinnacle. Therefore, the monk was an influential power broker at court. With his political capital and natural charisma, Ly Thai To progressed rapidly up the career ladder. He was the first commoner to become the capital’s leading general. Ly commanded the siege of Hoa Lu, the capital at the time.

The King that Ly had served died abruptly in 1009, long after his terrible murder had diminished his popularity. None of the rightful heirs were of age to ascend the throne. Utilizing this chance, Ly amassed the backing of his allies, including the formidable monk Van Hanh. The entire court then reached a consensus on Ly’s succession to the king. The occurrence was quite seldom. As this was the first time such a power change occurred without the use of blood or arrows.

According to folklore, Ly was on a river excursion near Hanoi. There, he observed a cloud shaped like a flying dragon. Thus, he relocated his headquarters to Hanoi, dubbing it the capital of the flying dragon. The legend must have been written for the king’s convenience. Actually, he intended to shift constantly to avoid undue nostalgia for the previous dynasty. In addition, the former city was surrounded by mountains, which provided the central government with an ideal defense during the Lords’ War. Ly had defeated all of them. Consequently, he sought out a well-connected center of power and riches. That was the reason why Hanoi was picked.

Today, the statue of Ly stands tall and provides a perspective of Ho Guom’s perpetual green. The park serves as a window for travelers into the lives of Hanoians.