Vietnamese people are said to be the offspring of a dragon and a Fairy. Central to the nations founding myth; the dragon is an important symbol in Vietnam.More than 1000 years ago, dragon images were used to decorate the royal palaces of Vietnams Dinh and Early Le courts. According to legend, in 1010, King Ly Thai To saw a dragon ascend from a site in what is now Hanoi. The new king chose this auspicious for the capital of the Dai Viet Kingdom.During the Ly (1010-1225) and Tran (1225-1400) dynasties, dragon images continued to evolve with different forms and features. The dragons of Ly court were slim and had no scales. They looked much like serpents. Under the Tran dynasty, dragons became fatter, grew scales and appeared bolder. Stone carvings and ceramic reliefs from these dynasties are a reminder of Vietnams ancient culture.From the Later Le (1418-1789) onwards, dragons grew more diverse both in terms of form and materials.

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