The mausoleum for Vietnam’s national hero, Le Loi, featuring the Vinh Lang stele.

Visitors interested in Vietnam’s turbulent history should make a trip to Lam Kinh sacred site where national hero Le Loi, the leader of the Lam Son uprising and founder of the Le Dynasty (1428-1788), was buried.

Lam Kinh, which means Blue Capital, was named after the surrounding Lam Son (Blue Mountains).

During the 15th century, Lam Son was a base for the insurrection against the Chinese Ming conquerors. Le Loi led the uprising and later became the Le Dynasty’s first king - Le Thai To.

The site of the old capital contains the Royal Temple and mausoleums for some of the monarchs of the Le Dynasty.

Wars and time have destroyed some of the magnificent architecture of Lam Kinh but thanks to a 10 year government restoration project from 1994-2004 it still a very well preserved site.

Archaeologists have excavated over 3,000 square meters, but it is still to be completely documented.

Experts wonder if Lam Kinh was purely a place of ritual or the center of the nation’s political, cultural and military activities.

Eight royal mausoleums were originally built in Lam Kinh but only three have been preserved. They are believed to belong to the first King Le Thai To, the third Le Thanh Tong and the fifth Le Hien Tong.

Le Loi’s mausoleum contains Vinh Lang, the biggest stele in Vietnam which is nearly three meters in height and two meters wide, to commemorate the former king. There is also a separate tomb for one of the queens – Ngo Thi Ngoc Dao.

Annually, on the eighth month of the lunar calendar, the festival of Lam Kinh is held to commemorate King Le Thai To’s death. It is characterized by traditional performances of the central region, including colorful light and dragon dances.

Reported by Hong Quan