Đền thờ vua Đinh

Ninh Bình is both the homeland and the capital of King Đinh Tiên Hoàng, so this land today still preserves all the relics related to the life and career of this national hero. The system of relics in Ninh Bình, especially those from the Đinh era, bears the marks of the King from his childhood days practising mock battles with reed flags, to establishing a military base at Hoa Lư Cave in Đại Hoàng, Gia Hưng, Gia Tường and other places where the King set up bases and recruited troops such as: Vạn Thắng, Ý Yên, Kim Bảng, Hồng Quang, Lê Hồ, Đồng Văn, Phong Doanh, Liêm Hà, etc., to quell the rebellion of the 12 warlords and then establish the Hoa Lư capital in Tây Hoa Lư ward, thus founding the unified state of Đại Cồ Việt. The relics dedicated to King Đinh are found in the Hoa Lư capital region and are distributed throughout the province, currently being preserved and promoted for their value.

Historical records state that Đinh Bộ Lĩnh was born around the year 924, in Hoa Lư Cave, Đại Hoàng district. Folk legend in Đại Hoàng has the saying: "Đại Hữu gives birth to a king, Điềm Giương gives birth to a saint." The village of Đại Hữu, now part of Đại Hoàng commune, Ninh Bình province, is home to Kỳ Lân Mountain with the Đinh dynasty's ancestral tomb; there is also Bồ Đề mound, said to be the foundation of Đinh Bộ Lĩnh's house. Notably, there is a temple in Văn Bòng hamlet dedicated to Đinh Tiên Hoàng and his four pillars: Đinh Điền, Nguyễn Bặc, Trịnh Tú, and Lưu Cơ.

Because historical records state that Đinh Bộ Lĩnh's homeland was Hoa Lư Cave, this has caused confusion between Hoa Lư Cave, where Đinh Bộ Lĩnh raised his army, Hoa Lư capital, and his native Đại Hoàng, even though these two places are only about 10 km apart. The historical work Khâm Định Việt sử thông giám cương mục writes: "Hoa Lư is the mountain area of the two villages Uy Viễn and Uy Tế in Ninh Bình. The place is surrounded on all four sides by sheer limestone mountains, with a slightly flat, spacious area inside, which the locals call Hoa Lư Cave. According to the An Nam Chronicle, Hoa Lư is in Lê Bình district. Lê Bình is now Gia Viễn; inside the cave is a space about two trượng wide, with a winding stream flowing south to Hoa Lư citadel. The Hoa Lư citadel is also in Lê Bình district. The Đinh family used the terrain to build the citadel, with a circumference of five hundred trượng. The old citadel's traces remain. Thus, Hoa Lư Cave is where Đinh Bộ Lĩnh raised his army; Hoa Lư citadel in the ancient village of Trường Yên is where the Đinh dynasty established its capital. Some say that the two prefectures Yên Khánh and Thiên Quang were both called Hoa Lư in the past, so to claim that Hoa Lư Cave is in Trường Yên mountain is mistaken." Hoa Lư Cave is now in Gia Hưng commune, Ninh Bình province. This relic is confirmed as the initial base of Đinh Bộ Lĩnh.

Historical records also state that Đinh Bộ Lĩnh was orphaned at a young age and had to live with his mother near the Sơn Thần Temple. The Nguyễn dynasty's National History Institute also notes that this place is Long Viên: "Long Viên is in Đề Cốc commune, where the mother of Đinh Tiên Hoàng lived, which was also the old residence of Đinh Tiên Hoàng when he was in hiding; the old house's foundation still exists, so it is called 'Long Viên', facing the river, with the Ngự and Phanh bridges, and to the left of the garden is a flat mound, the place for practising reed-flag battles." In Mỹ Hạ hamlet, Gia Tường commune today, there is still Long Viên Temple dedicated to Princess Long Viên Đốc Khánh, said to have assisted at Đinh Bộ Lĩnh's birth, and Mỹ Hạ đình (communal house) dedicated to Đinh Bộ Lĩnh. Thus, after being orphaned, Đinh Bộ Lĩnh and his mother lived on the right bank of the Bôi River, herding buffaloes for his uncle Đinh Thúc Dự. Legend also says Đinh Bộ Lĩnh practised mock battles with reed flags in the Rộc Xéo fields. Here, there is also Trống field, where drums were beaten; Quân field, where troops assembled; Mổ bridge, where Đinh Bộ Lĩnh slaughtered buffaloes or cows to reward his soldiers; Vội wharf, where Đinh Bộ Lĩnh hurriedly crossed when chased by his uncle... Đinh Bộ Lĩnh also herded buffaloes on the left bank of the Bôi River, i.e., the fields outside Hoa Lư Cave. Today, this area still has the Đinh King's road.

Historical records state that Đinh Bộ Lĩnh also herded buffaloes at Mã Can or Mã Thiên Mountain. In the book Ninh Bình Toàn Tỉnh Địa Chí Khảo Biên, Nguyễn Tử Mẫn writes: "Mã Can Mountain is in Phúc Lai hamlet, Đông Thịnh, 19 miles south of Phụng Hóa district. It is said that when young, Đinh Tiên Hoàng brought herdboys here to practise mock battles, and later generations built a miếu (shrine) to worship him."

Incomplete statistics show that Ninh Bình has over 300 relics from the Đinh era, of which more than 50 directly worship King Đinh Tiên Hoàng, as follows:

Gia Tường is the homeland of the notable figure Dương Vân Nga of the 10th century and is also the maternal homeland associated with the childhood of Đinh Bộ Lĩnh. According to folk anecdotes, Dương Vân Nga was the daughter of Mr. Dương Thế Hiển, whose family was from the Gia Tường - Gia Lâm area, now in Ninh Bình. The name Vân Nga is a combination of Vân Long (now part of Gia Vân commune), her mother's village, and Nga My, her father's village. The old Nga My village encompassed Nga My, Nga Mai, and Mỹ Hạ hamlets in today's Gia Tường and Gia Lâm communes.

According to historical records, after his father died early, Đinh Bộ Lĩnh followed his mother to live near the Sơn Thần Temple in the cave, which is now Long Viên Temple, and herded buffaloes in the Gia Tường area as well as Gia Hưng on the other side of the Bôi River. Later, as an adult, he established a military base at Hoa Lư Cave, just across the Bôi River. Today, the Gia Tường and Gia Hưng areas have many relics associated with the Đinh dynasty from the 10th century.

Historical records also state that Đinh Bộ Lĩnh was orphaned at a young age and had to live with his mother near the Sơn Thần Temple. The Nguyễn dynasty's National History Institute also notes that this place is Long Viên: "Long Viên is in Đề Cốc commune, where the mother of Đinh Tiên Hoàng lived, which was also the old residence of Đinh Tiên Hoàng when he was in hiding; the old house's foundation still exists, so it is called 'Long Viên', facing the river, with the Ngự and Phanh bridges, and to the left of the garden is a flat mound, the place for practising reed-flag battles." In Mỹ Hạ hamlet, Gia Tường commune today, there is still Long Viên Temple dedicated to Princess Long Viên Đốc Khánh, said to have assisted at Đinh Bộ Lĩnh's birth, and Mỹ Hạ đình (communal house) dedicated to Đinh Bộ Lĩnh. Thus, after being orphaned, Đinh Bộ Lĩnh and his mother lived on the right bank of the Bôi River, herding buffaloes for his uncle Đinh Thúc Dự. Legend also says Đinh Bộ Lĩnh practised mock battles with reed flags in the Rộc Xéo fields. Here, there is also Trống field, where drums were beaten; Quân field, where troops assembled; Mổ bridge, where Đinh Bộ Lĩnh slaughtered buffaloes or cows to reward his soldiers; Vội wharf, where Đinh Bộ Lĩnh hurriedly crossed when chased by his uncle... Đinh Bộ Lĩnh also herded buffaloes on the left bank of the Bôi River, i.e., the fields outside Hoa Lư Cave.

Mỹ Hạ Communal House is actually Mỹ Hạ Temple, located in the centre of Mỹ Hạ hamlet, Gia Tường commune. The đình (communal house) worships Đinh Tiên Hoàng and Empress Dương Vân Nga. The đình was built during the Early Lê dynasty, and it is said that Lý Thái Tổ and Empress Phất Ngân also visited here.

Mỹ Hạ Communal House is a national-level historical and cultural relic. The đình still preserves 14 imperial decrees from various feudal dynasties.

Ngọc Nhị Communal House is located by the Bôi River, almost opposite the cluster of Trai Communal House and Hưng Quốc Pagoda in Gia Hưng commune. The đình worships King Đinh Tiên Hoàng and also has altars for Lý Thái Tổ and the national master Minh Không.

Ngọc Ba Communal House is also known as Duối Communal House. The đình worships King Đinh Tiên Hoàng and also has altars for Lê Hoàn and Lý Thái Tổ, relating to the legend that later kings who established their capitals in Hoa Lư came here to pay respects to King Đinh Tiên Hoàng.

Historical records state that Hoa Lư Cave is the birthplace of King Đinh Tiên Hoàng. Researchers note that ancient Hoa Lư Cave included both the paternal homeland of Đinh Bộ Lĩnh in Đại Hữu village, Đại Hoàng district (now Đại Hoàng commune, Ninh Bình) and the current military base area of Hoa Lư Cave in Gia Hưng commune, Gia Viễn district. After his father died early, Đinh Bộ Lĩnh and his mother lived near the Sơn Thần Temple, now Long Viên Temple (Dragon Garden) in Mỹ Hạ hamlet, Gia Tường commune, Ninh Bình, which is his mother's homeland. Every day, Đinh Bộ Lĩnh herded buffaloes and cut grass for his uncle Đinh Thúc Dự. Legend has it that Đinh Bộ Lĩnh herded buffaloes in Rộc Xéo field, practised mock battles with reed flags in Hoa Lư Cave (Thung Lau), Thung Lá, and Thung Lụi. All these areas are on both the left and right banks of the Bôi River, in Gia Tường and Gia Hưng communes, Ninh Bình province. Because these places are very close to Hoa Lư Cave in Gia Viễn, most historical records state that his homeland was Hoa Lư Cave.

Hoa Lư Cave, also known as Thung Lau in Gia Hưng commune, Ninh Bình, is a national-level historical and cultural relic. Hoa Lư Cave was the first base of warlord Đinh Bộ Lĩnh in his campaign to unify the country in the 10th century. The cave is about 15 km from the ancient capital of Hoa Lư and 20 km by road from Hoa Lư ward to the north.

Trai Communal House is located in Viến village, Gia Hưng commune, so it is often called Viến Communal House. The đình is made of trai wood. The đình is next to Hưng Quốc Pagoda, following the style: Buddha in front, deity behind. Viến Communal House worships King Đinh and Dương Vân Nga. The đình is built in the "Nội công ngoại quốc" architectural style.

Kính Chúc Communal House was formerly called Gia Khương. The đình was built on an area of 490 m2, constructed before 1945. Besides worshipping King Đinh Tiên Hoàng, Kính Chúc Communal House also worships King Lý and Zen master Nguyễn Minh Không. On 25 March, Gia Phú commune (Gia Viễn) held a ceremony to receive the provincial-level historical relic certificate for Ngô Đồng village communal house and Kính Chúc village communal house.

Thượng Communal House, or Thượng Temple, is located in Ngô Đồng hamlet, Gia Phú commune. The đình worships Đinh Quý Công, that is, King Đinh Tiên Hoàng.

Đinh King Temple (Đền Vua Đinh Tiên Hoàng) is an important monument located within the special protection zone of the Hoa Lư Ancient Capital heritage complex. The temple is situated in the ancient village of Yên Thành, Tây Hoa Lư, Ninh Bình. Its location is at the centre of the Eastern Citadel of the former Hoa Lư capital. This is the only place in Vietnam that simultaneously worships King Đinh Tiên Hoàng, his parents, his sons, and has ancestral tablets for the generals of the Đinh dynasty. Đinh King Temple, together with Lê King Temple, is ranked among the "Top 100 Famous Centenarian Structures in Vietnam". Like other monuments of the Hoa Lư Ancient Capital, Đinh King Temple is part of the Tràng An World Heritage Complex, which was recognised by UNESCO in 2014.

Yên Thành Communal House (đình) is located right at the northern gate of the central area of the Hoa Lư Ancient Capital, about 300 metres from Đinh King Temple. The đình belongs to the ancient village of Yên Thành. Yên Thành Communal House worships both King Đinh and King Lê. The đình shares the same grounds as Nhất Trụ Pagoda. The đình is the venue for the Yên Thành village festival, which takes place at the same time as the Hoa Lư Ancient Capital Festival.

Yên Trạch Communal House (đình) is a monument dedicated to King Đinh Tiên Hoàng in the ancient village of Yên Trạch, Tây Hoa Lư ward. Yên Trạch Communal House is located to the northeast of Đình Hamlet. To the south, it borders the residential land of Đình Hamlet villagers; the other three sides are adjacent to a lake and cultivated fields. The đình stands on a spacious, elevated plot. It is built facing northeast, overlooking the Bên Bến mountain range, with Sách Sẻ Mountain to the right and, in the distance to the left, Rùa Mountain, creating a landscape of mountains supporting the sky. In front flows the Phúc Hầu River, which originates from the Hoàng Long River, passes through Đông Lâm Mountain, and curves around the right side of the đình, gathering water energy. Architecturally, Yên Trạch Communal House was built following the model of Đinh King Temple. On the archway of the Main Hall hangs a horizontal inscribed board: "Nhật nguyệt quang hoa" (the light of the sun and moon shines upon the world like flowers blooming in spring). There is no definitive evidence as to when Yên Trạch Communal House was originally constructed, but according to oral tradition, it dates back to shortly after Hoa Lư became the Ancient Capital. According to the đình's ridgepole inscription, the major restoration that remains today was during the reign of King Tự Đức (1860). In the eighth year of Duy Tân (1914), under the supervision of Chief of the Canton Đặng Văn Hài, the villagers contributed labour to repair the đình. In 1994, the villagers and local authorities restored the đình.

Yên Trạch Communal House is part of the Hoa Lư Ancient Capital historical and cultural site, serving as a place of worship for King Đinh. Therefore, folk cultural activities and traditional festivals held at the site are also part of the annual Hoa Lư Ancient Capital traditional festival programme, organised in the third lunar month. After the water procession from the Hoàng Long River to Đinh Temple comes the offering ceremony of seven villages, including Yên Trạch Communal House. In addition, to commemorate King Đinh's "naval recruitment", a boat racing competition is held on the Sào Khê River. Yên Trạch is one of five villages in Trường Yên participating in the competition.

Trung Trữ Communal House (đình) is located in Tây Hoa Lư ward, about 7 km from the centre of the Hoa Lư Ancient Capital. Trung Trữ is an ancient village established during the Later Lê dynasty. When founding the village, the people of Trung Trữ did not forget their roots in Trường Yên Thượng—the land of King Đinh and King Lê—so they brought incense ashes from the two kings from Hoa Lư to establish a temple. Trung Trữ Communal House worships King Đinh Tiên Hoàng, King Lê Đại Hành, Empress Dowager Dương Vân Nga, the royal families of the Đinh and Lê dynasties, and the Four Pillars of the court. These figures are venerated as the village's tutelary deities. Thus, the objects of worship at Trung Trữ Communal House represent a comprehensive and condensed model of the two temples: Đinh King Temple and Lê King Temple in the Hoa Lư Ancient Capital.

Đại Palace (Phủ Đại) is part of the ancient Tràng An tourist area (Luồn Cave), located right beside the Tràng An Avenue. The phủ worships Nguyễn Bặc and Emperor Đinh Tiên Hoàng. Many Đinh-era artefacts are displayed here, especially a large bronze Thái Bình Hưng Bảo coin.

Đinh King Temple and Phú Lăng Communal House (đình) in the stone village of Ninh Vân, Nam Hoa Lư ward, are two places in southern Tràng An that worship King Đinh Tiên Hoàng.

Trần Temple in Cống Hamlet, Khánh Thiện commune, jointly worships King Đinh Tiên Hoàng along with the following figures: Cống Thủy Thanh Long, Đông Hải Đại Vương, Lực Lộ Đại Vương, and Nguyễn Bật Luân.

According to legend, before establishing the capital at Hoa Lư, Đinh Bộ Lĩnh temporarily set up his court in the Sơn Lai area, so there are many relics here associated with the King, such as: the King's Seat Stone, Đầu Quân Mountain, Rếch Mountain, King's Gate, Lược Ravine, Chùa Valley, Xã Tắc Altar, etc. The relics in the Sơn Lai cluster are currently at risk of significant damage due to the awareness of local people and authorities, as well as weak information and communication about the value of these sites.

The Heaven Worship Altar (Đàn Tế Trời) is a relic located on Thờ Hill, Quỳnh Lưu commune. According to legend, King Đinh Tiên Hoàng once established a Heaven Worship Altar on Thờ Hill. There are several related relics here, such as: Hầu Tomb, King's Pond, Thí Well, etc. On Thờ Hill, there is still a shrine to King Đinh Tiên Hoàng, called Đồi Thờ Temple. There are now plans to upgrade the shrine to King Đinh and to restore the Heaven Worship Altar relic on Thờ Hill.

King's Communal House (Đình Vua) is located in Xát village, Tây Hoa Lư ward, and is therefore also known as Xát Village Communal House. The đình worships Đinh Tiên Hoàng.

Lược Hamlet Communal House (đình) is a place of worship for Đinh Tiên Hoàng. Praising the location of Lược Hamlet as well as the former Sơn Lai commune, poet Nguyễn Thị Kim Khánh wrote the poem "Land of the Ancient Capital" as follows:

The King's Seat Stone, where the Đinh court convened

Silent, it adds to the heroic historical stream

Chùa Valley, Rếch Mountain, the soul of Đại Việt

Lược Ravine, Đầu Quân echo with shadows

White reed flags on the mountain, the soul lingers

Me, Lược, Nho Quan, deep with affection

A thousand years of change still leave their mark

Majestic rivers and mountains, the land of King Đinh

To the west of the Hoa Lư Ancient Capital, along the road connecting to the highland route, there are several relics said to be ancient fortifications protecting the Hoa Lư capital, such as Mã Can Mountain in Đông Thịnh Hamlet, where Đinh Bộ Lĩnh practised waving reed flags as a child and which served as a western outpost of the capital. Today, there is a relic called Hẻo Citadel, and the hamlets of Đông Thịnh, Me, and Lược all have temples dedicated to King Đinh Tiên Hoàng.

Bóng Temple is also located in Me Hamlet, with two chambers facing north towards Me Communal House. Many parts of the temple were destroyed during the war, so few traces remain. The Department of Culture is currently making efforts to restore the temple.

On the 10th day of the 11th lunar month each year, the people of Me Hamlet hold the Kỳ Phúc Festival. Villagers usually carry the palanquin from Me Communal House to Bóng Temple to commemorate King Đinh Tiên Hoàng, who once stayed and established a royal residence here.

Ngọc Mỹ Communal House (đình), also known as Me Communal House, is located in the west of Me Hamlet, Tây Hoa Lư. The đình is bordered on three sides by fields and is separated from the residential area.

The rear hall of Me Communal House worships two people: King Đinh Tiên Hoàng and Mr. Đinh Ngọc Quang, who contributed to the repair and construction of Me Communal House and Me Pagoda. Near Me Communal House is Me Palace (phủ), which worships Đinh Thị Huyền Chân, daughter of Mr. Đinh Ngọc Quang, who was selected as a court lady in the Hoa Lư capital.

The old Lão Cầu Hamlet was formerly called Láo Village, Thanh Sơn commune. According to legend, when King Đinh Tiên Hoàng disguised himself as a commoner and went hunting here, the villagers chased him away, prompting the King to exclaim: "This village is insolent, daring to chase away even the King," and so the village was called Láo Village. Another legend says that the village once had many beautiful women, and when officials came to recruit court ladies for the King, the village men detained them, angering the King, who scolded: "This village is truly insolent," and thus it was called Láo Village.

The temple in Lão Cầu Village was built to commemorate the event of King Đinh coming here to hunt. The old Lão Cầu Temple, now called Nếnh Communal House (đình), is located in Thành Bắc Hamlet, Thanh Sơn commune, and worships King Đinh and Lady Chúa Nghè.

Today, Lão Cầu Hamlet still has Lão Cầu Communal House, or Láo Temple, which is the main temple worshipping the deity Cao Sơn. Every year during the village festival, people often carry the palanquin from Đinh King Temple to Đùm Pagoda and then to Láo Temple to pray for rain.

Lạc Khoái Pagoda, also known as Giao Thủy Pagoda, is located in Lạc Khoái Hamlet, Gia Phong commune, Ninh Bình province. The pagoda is at the entrance to the village, at the confluence of three rivers, hence the name Giao Thủy Pagoda. The structure of the pagoda is built in an ancient architectural style. This architectural style is of great significance and value to researchers of history, culture, fine arts, and painting.

According to legend, Lạc Khoái Pagoda is where King Đinh once went fishing in the Hoàng Long River and stayed overnight. Later, the King even established a royal residence here to enjoy the beautiful scenery with Dương Vân Nga. Today, during the Lạc Khoái Pagoda festival, there is still the custom of launching a dragon boat to commemorate King Đinh Tiên Hoàng. The boat is made of votive paper, quite large. The monks and the ceremonial group, holding incense, ritual flags, or staffs, walk around the boat to perform the ceremony.

Chủ Communal House (đình), Hàm Rồng Hamlet, Quỳnh Lưu commune, jointly worships King Đinh Tiên Hoàng and Trần Hưng Đạo, with the village's tutelary deity being Đinh Cương Dũng.

The King Đinh Tiên Hoàng Temple in Tam Quang hamlet, Vạn Thắng commune, Ninh Bình province, was recognised as a cultural and historical relic in 1987. The temple, together with nearby relics such as Cộng Hòa Temple, Thượng Đồng đình (communal house) and Cát Đằng đình, forms a complex of relics dedicated to King Đinh in the former Nam Định.

The locations of these temples are about 18 km from the ancient capital of Hoa Lư (Ninh Bình). According to legend, this is the very place where Đinh Bộ Lĩnh gathered the people's support and recruited young men to serve in the campaign to quell the chaos of the 12 warlords and unify the country in the 10th century. It is said that Đinh Bộ Lĩnh came to Đồi Thượng hamlet (now Tam Quang hamlet) to recruit more talented generals. Here, 18 men volunteered to follow him (the ancestral hall in the temple now worships the 18 young men from the homeland who followed King Đinh to quell the 12 warlords; the ancient stele still bears the four characters "Đồi Tam Triệu Tổ"). Đinh Bộ Lĩnh rested in the area that later became the King Đinh Temple. Gò Đại Duyệt was the place where Đinh Bộ Lĩnh commanded his troops to train. The Mo field was where the soldiers left so many betel nut sheaths used to wrap rice that they formed large piles... A special feature of this King Đinh Temple is that it also has statues worshipping the four pillars of the Đinh dynasty: Nguyễn Bặc, Đinh Điền, Trịnh Tú, and Lưu Cơ (of the Đinh family).

The festival of King Đinh Tiên Hoàng Temple in Vạn Thắng commune takes place in Tam Quang hamlet on the 16th day of the 8th lunar month every year, and is considered one of the typical festivals in Nam Định.

In the region, folk verses are still passed down:

Nhất đới sơn lâm thiên ấn định

Lưỡng hồ long phượng địa tôn vương

Chân vương nhất thống lưu loan giá

Cổ miếu trùng tân sưởng phượng đầu

Which means:

A stretch of mountains and forests ordained by heaven

Two phoenix-eyed lakes where the land proclaims a king

The true king unifies, leaving his noble carriage

Merit recorded, the ancient temple shines for a thousand autumns

Thượng Đồng đình is located in Vạn Thắng commune. The đình worships Đinh Tiên Hoàng as the tutelary deity. This is the place where the warlord Phạm Bạch Hổ once stationed his troops; later, he submitted to Đinh Bộ Lĩnh. Thượng Đồng đình is classified as a national-level historical relic according to Decision: 84/QD dated 27/4/1990.

Thượng Đồng đình worships King Đinh Tiên Hoàng and the two brothers Đinh Đức Đạt and Đinh Đức Thông from Cát Đằng, who raised troops to follow Đinh Bộ Lĩnh. The area of the đình is exactly where King Đinh once stationed his army. The đình bears strong architectural features of the Nguyễn dynasty in the 19th century and contains a very exquisite carved panel from the Later Lê period – 17th–18th centuries. Around the đình are many well-known localities such as Kiệu field, where the king’s palanquin was placed; Khăm field, where enemy troops fell into the insurgents’ trap; and the Vạn grave area, where enemy corpses were buried...

Cát Đằng đình is a historical and architectural relic, also located in Vạn Thắng commune, according to Decision: 776/QD-BT dated 23/6/1992. Cát Đằng đình is the place where King Đinh Tiên Hoàng once came to subdue the warlord Phạm Phòng Át; later, behind Cát Đằng đình was the Vườn Quan (Officials’ Garden), where Phạm Bạch Hổ once stationed his troops. He built and transformed this place into the 'Famous Cát Đằng Pavilion, a lofty castle full of auspicious energy.'

Cát Đằng đình also worships the two brothers Đinh Đức Đạt, Đinh Đức Thông, and the local lacquerware craft ancestor Ngô Đức Dũng. The đình currently preserves many valuable artefacts such as ancient books, royal decrees from the reign of King Lê Vĩnh Tộ (1619–1628) to King Khải Định (1916–1925), and a bronze statue of King Đinh placed in a large worship cabinet.

Thượng Temple is also known as Cộng Hòa Temple. Thượng Temple is located not far from King Đinh Temple. According to legend, Thượng Temple is the place where King Đinh built his palace.

Đằng Động đình, or Lẻ Village Communal House, is located in Ý Yên commune. Đình Lẻ worships Đinh Tiên Hoàng and is a village đình recognised as a provincial-level historical relic in 2014. In addition to King Đinh, the đình also worships General Đinh Đức Nghi. He contributed alongside Đinh Bộ Lĩnh to quelling the 12 warlords and, together with the people, reclaimed land and established five hamlets: Hồng Động, Vạn Điểm, Tống Xá, Ngô Xá, and Trịnh Xá.

Viết đình today belongs to Viết Cổ village (now the hamlets of Hùng Sơn, Việt Hùng, Viết Tiến), Phong Doanh commune. Located in the delta region, it is surrounded by a network of rivers and drainage canals, such as the Bo River, Bố River, Ngõ Mền canal, and canals around Viết đình... The Cầu Giẽ – Ninh Bình expressway with six lanes and Provincial Road 57 run through the area. This is a high, square plot of land shaped like the character 'Viết'. Therefore, the village was originally named Viết Village. Viết đình was built in the early 18th century and received three royal decrees from Nguyễn dynasty emperors. The first decree was in 1857, the 10th year of Emperor Tự Đức, and the last in 1924, the 9th year of Emperor Khải Định. Viết đình worships King Đinh Tiên Hoàng, who contributed to quelling the 12 warlords and founding the Đại Cồ Việt state in 968.

This is where King Đinh Tiên Hoàng and his generals set up camp and trained troops to protect the Thần Phù sea gate, the northeastern gateway to the ancient capital of Hoa Lư during the Đại Cồ Việt era. To commemorate the king and his generals, the people here built a miếu (ancestral shrine) to worship King Đinh Tiên Hoàng. Later, the đình, pagoda, and phủ (palace) were newly built on a larger, more spacious scale in 1805–1815. Next to Viết đình is Viết phủ, which worships Queen Dương Vân Nga.

The memorial area for King Đinh Tiên Hoàng and the warlord Trần Lãm was built in Xuân Trường commune.

Bịch Village Temple is the site of the most numerous spiritual and cultural activities in Minh Tân commune. This is where King Đinh Tiên Hoàng and the couple of famous generals from the Đinh dynasty, who contributed to the development of Bịch village over 1,000 years ago, are worshipped and venerated as saints and deities by the people. They are Khai Thiên Đại Vương and Princess Quế Hoa (i.e. General Lê Khai and his wife Trần Thị Quế). Not only did they reclaim and transform the marshy land into rice fields and help the people with production, but General Lê Khai and Trần Thị Quế also joined the locals in building fortifications and moats as a base, gathering people to join the insurgent army with Đinh Bộ Lĩnh to quell the 12 warlords.

Next to Bịch Village Temple is a shrine and the tomb of Princess Quế Hoa. At Bịch Village Temple, the original genealogical records of General Lê Khai and his wife Trần Thị Quế are still preserved, along with 23 royal decrees from the Vĩnh Trị era to the Tây Sơn period. The Bịch Village Temple festival is held annually in the first lunar month, featuring ritual ceremonies and traditional cultural activities and folk games. Near Bịch Temple is Bịch đình, which also worships General Lê Khai and his wife.

Đại Hoàng commune is identified as the ancestral homeland of Đinh Công Trứ, father of Đinh Bộ Lĩnh, although his childhood was more closely associated with Gia Tường, Gia Hưng, the homeland of Lady Đàm Thị.

The temple dedicated to Đinh Bộ Lĩnh in Đại Hoàng commune is also known as Văn Bòng Temple. According to legend, this is the ancestral homeland of Đinh Bộ Lĩnh. At nearby Kỳ Lân mountain is the ancestral tomb of the Đinh family. The temple lies on the historic road called Vua Đinh Road, connecting the ancient capital of Hoa Lư to the Hoa Lư cave military base.

The temple has three buildings, constructed in the 'front one, rear đinh' style. The temple dedicated to Đinh Bộ Lĩnh has some architectural features similar to the King Đinh Tiên Hoàng Temple in the ancient capital of Hoa Lư, such as the semicircular pond, screen, ceremonial gate, and dragon motifs on the roof. However, here, many details are simpler and the temple space is narrower.

The temple faces west, situated on a spacious plot of land surrounded by brick walls in Vân Bòng hamlet. The temple gate is built of precious wood, roofed with tiles in the traditional đình-chùa (communal house-pagoda) style. Next is the semicircular pond, a water-gathering place planted with water lilies. Near the centre of the pond is a screen to block evil winds according to feng shui beliefs. From the ceremonial gate, one enters the dragon courtyard, with functional buildings on both sides. In the middle of the temple courtyard is a stone dragon bed, symbolising the king’s throne.

The statue of King Đinh Tiên Hoàng is placed in the main sanctuary, lacquered and gilded, nearly 2 metres high. Here, there are also ancestral tablets for loyal officials, the four pillars of the court: Đinh Điền, Nguyễn Bặc, Trịnh Tú, and Lưu Cơ.

Although both worship King Đinh Tiên Hoàng, the manner of veneration and beliefs at this temple and the King Đinh Tiên Hoàng Temple in the ancient capital of Hoa Lư are quite different. Regarding the objects of veneration, Đinh Bộ Lĩnh Temple does not worship his sons Đinh Liễn, Đinh Hạng Lang, or Đinh Toàn, but instead worships other loyal officials who were childhood friends of the king, such as Đinh Điền, Nguyễn Bặc, Trịnh Tú, and Lưu Cơ. The temple is located in the king’s homeland, so the Đinh family and Đinh dynasty descendants contribute offerings, similar to the Đô Temple, Trần Temple, and Lam Kinh Temple in the homelands of other dynasties, which is different from the King Đinh Tiên Hoàng Temple in the ancient capital of Hoa Lư, where the objects of veneration belong to the community.

Visiting the King Đinh Tiên Hoàng Temple in Đại Hoàng commune is to visit the homeland of the 10th-century national hero from the land of reed flowers, with many legends about his childhood – the place where Đinh Bộ Lĩnh and his village friends such as Đinh Điền, Nguyễn Bặc, Trịnh Tú, and Lưu Cơ once herded buffaloes and cut grass, nurturing great ambitions to quell the twelve warlords and unify the country.

Every year, during the Hoa Lư ancient capital festival, all relics worshipping kings, mandarins, and generals of the Đinh era participate in the palanquin and incense procession to the ancient capital of Hoa Lư. The people of Vân Bòng hamlet and Đại Hoàng commune also hold a temple festival and participate in the fire procession from the king’s homeland to the ancient capital of Hoa Lư.

The Phát Tích mausoleum of the Đinh family is located in the Kỳ Lân mountain area, Đại Hoàng commune. According to legend, this is where Đinh Công Trứ, the provincial governor (father of Đinh Tiên Hoàng), upon seeing the beautiful scenery, brought the tomb of the king's grandfather to be buried at this site, built a mausoleum, and called it the Phát Tích Mausoleum, which has now been restored as a place of rest. In the book "Bái Đính: A Thousand Years of Spiritual Legend" by researcher Trương Đình Tưởng, the "Legend of the Dragon-Jaw Burial" is mentioned as follows: "The Đại Hoàng River (now the Hoàng Long River) flows close to the foot of Kỳ Lân mountain, creating a whirlpool area that no one dares to swim across.

When the Phát Tích Mausoleum of the Đinh family was renovated and upgraded, the construction team found many stones shaped like animals, of various sizes, seemingly arranged underground. Many stones had to be blasted with explosives, and at a depth of 2.7 metres, they found a solid, flat stone about 3.2m x 3.2m in size, thought to be natural rock, and continued to blast it. Beneath the stone appeared two identical ceramic jars, 1 metre apart, lying parallel to the mountain slope, about 40cm high, with the widest diameter about 22cm, mouth diameter about 18cm, with bulging shoulders, sloping bodies, flat bases left unglazed, and plates covering the mouths. Comparing these artefacts with Tang dynasty antiques, there are many similarities in glaze and shape.

The Kỳ Lân cave is nearly 40 metres higher than the mountain foot. This is a cave about 100 metres long and 40 metres wide, running through the mountain. Inside the cave are many beautiful stalactites, with a path leading to the sky and another descending to the "underworld", as from the middle of the cave there is a high open space reaching up to the mountain peak, and also a deep pit down to the mountain foot, creating a yin-yang balance. Perhaps for this reason, people in the past turned the cave into Kỳ Lân Pagoda, also called Hang Pagoda (Cave Pagoda). In the "pagoda" a platform was built and Buddha statues placed. Today, it has been restored and more spacious buildings have been constructed. Every year, on the 26th and 27th days of the 9th lunar month, ceremonies and memorial rites are solemnly held at Kỳ Lân mountain and pagoda. On this occasion, descendants of the Đinh family, as well as Buddhists from everywhere, flock here as if attending a festival to participate in the memorial ceremonies for the ancestors and generations of patriarchs who contributed to the creation of the sacred and mysterious Kỳ Lân Pagoda.

The old Hà Nam area is where King Đinh Tiên Hoàng marched to suppress rebellions and established military bases for defence and recruitment of soldiers to quell uprisings. Here are the Lăng Temple, Yến đình (communal house) in Liêm Hà; Lạc Nhuế đình, Thượng Temple in Nguyễn Úy ward; Phương Khê đình, Trung miếu (shrine) in Đặng Xá village in Kim Bảng ward; Ung Liêm Temple (Phủ Lý); Đôn Lương đình in Đồng Văn ward; all places worshipping King Đinh Tiên Hoàng.

Lăng Temple is a nationally recognised historical and cultural relic and has been designated as a tourist site in Liêm Hà commune, Ninh Bình province. The Lăng Temple relic complex currently includes: Thượng Temple, Trung Temple, Hạ Temple, Tam Thiên Nhân Temple, the Phát Tích mausoleum of the Tiền Lê dynasty, and other relics.

Thượng Temple at Lăng Temple is dedicated to Đinh Tiên Hoàng and Empress Dương Thị Nguyệt, a native of Kim Bảng. According to legend, the temple was built while Đinh Tiên Hoàng was still alive, so it is called a sinh từ (living temple), established by the king when he returned to recruit talented people in the homeland of Thập đạo tướng quân Lê Hoàn. Trung Temple worships Lê Hoàn and his two sons, Lê Long Việt and Lê Long Đĩnh, i.e. three kings of the Tiền Lê dynasty. Hạ Temple worships the collective of four emperors (Đinh Tiên Hoàng, Lê Đại Hành, Lê Trung Tông, Lê Ngọa Triều) and the three great lords Nguyễn Minh, Thiên Cương, and Nhữ Hoàng Đê, all locals who followed Lê Hoàn in his great cause and became generals of the Đinh dynasty.

Tam Chúc đình (communal house) is located in the middle of Tam Chúc lake. The ancient Tam Chúc village đình worships King Đinh Tiên Hoàng, Empress Dương Thị Nguyệt, and the deity Linh Lang Bạch Mã. According to old stories, when suppressing the 12 warlords, Đinh Bộ Lĩnh came to the present-day Kim Bảng area to recruit troops, store provisions, and went to the Linh Lang Bạch Mã deity temple to pray. After ascending the throne, he ordered the people of Kim Bảng to build a temple to worship the deity Linh Lang Bạch Mã. Later, the people also worshipped King Đinh Tiên Hoàng and Empress Dương Thị Nguyệt.

Yến đình, formerly of Ứng Liêm village, now in Liêm Hà commune, Ninh Bình province, is a place worshipping the kings of the Đinh and Tiền Lê dynasties: Đinh Tiên Hoàng, Lê Đại Hành, Lê Trung Tôn, Lê Ngọa Triều; and jointly worshipping five great lords: Đông Thành Vương, Kình Thiên Vương, Thánh Giám Đô Đức, Thái Giám Cương Nghị, Thái Giám Đô Quang, as well as Bảo Quang Empress Dowager, Consort Lĩnh Ứng Phu Nhân, and Princess Thủy Tinh Phu Nhân.

Lạc Nhuế village đình, Lê Hồ ward, Ninh Bình province, worships King Đinh Tiên Hoàng and two sisters from the Mường ethnic group in Thanh Hóa: Ả Lự nàng Lành and Ả Anh nàng Đê, who contributed to helping the king suppress the 12 warlords and unify the country, founding the Đại Cồ Việt state. During the time when the country was divided by the 12 warlords, Đinh Bộ Lĩnh raised the flag of insurrection at Hoa Lư cave – Ninh Bình. He recruited troops, selected talented generals, stockpiled food, and forged weapons, waiting for the opportunity to quell the chaos. One day, he led his army to Ấp Lạc, Kim Bảng district, Sơn Nam region, and ordered his troops to rest. He surveyed the terrain, saw that the land had the form of a dragon bowing and a tiger crouching, and had the soldiers and villagers build a military camp on a high plot to the west of the hamlet. At that time, more than 60 people from the hamlet became his retainers, and tens of thousands of strong men from the surrounding districts joined the insurgent army.

Thượng miếu (Upper Shrine), also known as Thượng Temple, Đồng Lạc, is a famous historical and cultural relic in Lê Hồ ward. Thượng Shrine in Đồng Lạc village worships King Đinh Tiên Hoàng, who came here to recruit talented people to suppress the 12 warlords. The Văn Chỉ (literary shrine) and Thượng Shrine of Đồng Lạc village were recognised as historical and cultural relics in 2006. In 2010, Thượng Shrine was restored and made more spacious and imposing to serve the annual Đồng Lạc village festival.

Phương Khê đình in Kim Bảng ward is a relic worshipping Emperor Đinh Tiên Hoàng and Empress Dương Thị Nguyệt. According to legend, the Kim Bảng area was where the king set up camps and recruited soldiers during the campaign to suppress the 12 warlords and is the homeland of Empress Dương Thị Nguyệt of the Đinh dynasty. In 2025, Phương Khê đình was inaugurated after restoration, with statues of King Đinh and the national matriarch Đàm Thị.

Trung miếu (Central Shrine), together with Đặng Xá Pagoda and Bà Temple-Shrine, forms a typical cluster of Đinh-era relics in Kim Bảng ward. When Đinh Bộ Lĩnh recruited talented people to suppress the 12 warlords, he was given in marriage the daughter of the local chief Dương Đỉnh and Đặng Thị Kính (from Đặng Xá, Kim Bảng, a wealthy and reputable couple), named Dương Thị Nguyệt, who bore a first daughter named Đinh Thị Ngọc. Đinh Bộ Lĩnh came to Đặng Xá to set up a camp and issued the Cần Vương proclamation to suppress the enemy, and over 600 people responded, along with 180 strong men from Đặng Xá, Đồng Lạc, and Khê Vĩ. After defeating the 12 warlords and unifying the country, he brought Dương Thị Nguyệt to the capital Hoa Lư and made her empress. The empress from Kim Bảng taught the Xuân Phả dance, which is still preserved and passed down today at Đại Hải Long Vương Temple (Thọ Xuân, Thanh Hóa). Later, when Lê Hoàn ascended the throne, he honoured Đinh Tiên Hoàng, issued an edict for Đại Hoàng commune to build a shrine, and decreed that wherever King Đinh had set up camps, the local people could receive the royal edict to establish temples for worship. The people of Đặng Xá went to the capital to receive the edict and built a shrine called Trung miếu. Today, in Đặng Xá hamlet, there is the Trung miếu relic near Khánh Hưng Pagoda, worshipping King Đinh Tiên Hoàng and Empress Dương Thị Nguyệt; the Bà Temple-Shrine and Bóng Bà Shrine worship Princess Ngọc Nương.

The historical relic of Đôn Lương village đình in Đồng Văn ward is a place worshipping Emperor Đinh Tiên Hoàng. According to legend, this area was where the king set up camps and recruited soldiers during the campaign to suppress the 12 warlords.