Known as the second imperial city of the later Le dynasty, the Lam Kinh area in Tho Xuan district, Thanh Hoa is a special national relic that has kept mysterious tales about the most flourishing feudal reign in Vietnam’s history.

Lam Kinh was originally Lam Son, the homeland of national hero Le Loi (1385-1433). He led the Lam Son uprising to fight the Chinese Ming invaders (1418-1428). Le Loi came to the throne in 1428 and was given the title Le Thai To, becoming the first king of the later Le dynasty. In 1430, Le Thai To renamed Lam Son as Lam Kinh (alias Tay Kinh) and built royal temples and tombs there. Kings of the Le dynasty (1428-1788) annually made a pilgrimage from Thang Long citadel to Lam Kinh to pay tribute to their ancestors.

Lam Kinh has the tombs of the kings of the Le dynasty, including Huu Lang - the tomb of King Le Thai Tong; Lang Khon Nguyen,- the tomb of Queen Ngo Thi Ngoc Giao, (mother of King Le Thanh Tong); Chieu Lang- King Le Thanh Tong; Du Lang- King Le Hien Tong; and Kinh Lang-King Le Tuc Tong. Each tomb has its own architecture and different flanking statues. Particularly, the tomb of Queen Ngo Thi Ngoc Giao is flanked by women statues.

By Trinh Bo