Two royal stone beds at the temple worshiping King Dinh Tien Hoang in the northern province of Ninh Binh have been recognised as national treasure.

The royal stone bed in front of King Dinh Tien Hoang temple. (Source: baoninhbinh.org.vn)

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam announced the Prime Minister’s decision on the recognition at the National Culture, Sports and Tourism Festival 2018 held in Ninh Binh on October 28.

One of the stone beds dates back to the early 17^th century and is the only version created by the royal court of the Le-Trinh Dynasty as an offering.

The rectangular stone bed, which is 127cm wide and 187cm long, weighs about 1.5 tonnes.

The other dating three centuries ago is 188 cm long and 138 cm wide, weighs about 2 tonnes.

In the middle of the beds are carvings of a dragon.

King Dinh Tien Hoang was a national hero who defeated 12 warlords to unite the country. He founded the Dinh Dynasty in 968 and chose Hoa Lu as the capital of the Dai Co Viet state (the former name of Vietnam) - the first independent nation of Vietnamese people and first feudal state of Vietnam.

The Hoa Lu ancient capital was in Truong Yen commune, Hoa Lu district, Ninh Binh province./.

VNF/VNA