“The moving banyan tree” is the name given by the people of the ancient capital Hoa Lu to the banyan tree located next to Goi Dai Temple – an ancient temple worshiping Thang Dai Vuong (a talented general under the Dinh Dynasty) in Thung Nham Eco-tourism Area, Ninh Hai Commune, Hoa Lu District, Ninh Binh Province.
The Goi Dai Temple is in Ninh Hai Commune in Hoa Lu District, 10 km from Ninh Binh town, the capital of northern Ninh Binh Province.
Thang Dai Vuong was appointed by King Dinh Tien Hoang, the founder of the Dinh Dynasty (968-980), to defend the west gate of Hoa Lu. Hoa Lu was the capital of Vietnam in the 10th and 11th centuries.
When Thang Dai Vuong passed away, the king ordered the construction of a temple just below the banyan tree in his honor.
A plaque in front of the temple reads: "For thousands of years, the banyan tree has moved around the Goi Dai Temple, the worship place for Thang Dai Vuong, a talented general of the Dinh Dynasty. These plants all start life as a seed that germinates on another tree, grows as a vine dependent on the tree for support, and eventually strangles its host tree, subsuming its structure. Later, roots grow from outward-extending branches and reach the ground, becoming trunk-like and expanding the footprint of the tree, sometimes gaining it the colloquial name of a 'walking tree.'"
For local people, the banyan tree is not only a spiritual attraction but also "living" proof for the history of their homeland. As for tourists, it is a fascinating, must-see sight site for anyone who has the opportunity to visit Ninh Binh.