A delegation of Hanoi leadership led by Secretary of the city Party Committee Vuong Dinh Hue offered incense to King Ly Thai To, who relocated Vietnam’s capital city from Hoa Lu, Ninh Binh province to Thang Long (Hanoi today) 1,010 years ago, Kinh Te & Do Thi reported.

Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Vuong Dinh Hue offers incense to King Ly Thai To, who relocated Vietnam’s capital city from Hoa Lu to Thang Long. Photo: Thanh Hai

The officials also paid tribute to the first Ly dynasty monarch’s predecessors: Kings Dinh Tien Hoang and Le Dai Hanh in the former capital of Hoa Lu, Ninh Binh province, about 100 kilometers to the south of Hanoi.

King Ly Thai To was born as Ly Cong Uan in 974 in Kinh Bac, today’s Bac Ninh province and later became a military commander under the early Le dynasty.

In November 1009, he assumed the throne and founded the Ly dynasty, which would last for more than 200 years.

The following year, he decided to transfer the capital city from Hoa Lu to Dai La and renamed it Thang Long, which means "ascending dragon", opening a glorious era for Vietnam’s capital city.

In the solemn atmosphere at the old capital of Hoa Lu, Hanoi's leaders expressed their gratitude to the kings who were credited with building and defending the nation.

They pledged to promote Thang Long’s traditions and make Hanoi increasingly wealthy, beautiful and civilized.

The same day, Ngo Thi Thanh Hang, member of the Party Central Committee and Permanent Deputy Secretary of the municipal Party's Committee, paid tribute to King Ly Thai To at Do shrine, which is dedicated to the eight emperors of the Ly dynasty.