Ho Linh Trang Si - Bi An Mo Vua Dinh (The Guardian Heroes: Mystery of King Dinh’s Tomb) is produced by prominent Vietnamese artists - director of photography Nguyen K’Linh, actor Johnny Tri Nguyen, musician Nguyen Quoc Trung and director Nguyen Phan Quang Binh. Photo courtesy of BHD
A historical film inspired by mysterious folk legends about King Dinh’s tomb, the first emperor who laid the foundation for an independent Vietnam after more than 1,000 years of northern domination, is set to premiere in early 2026.
The film, entitled Ho Linh Trang Si - Bi An Mo Vua Dinh (The Guardian Heroes: Mystery of King Dinh’s Tomb) tells the story of seven heroes endowed with extraordinary strength and indomitable spirit. After the death of King Dinh Tien Hoang (924–979), they were entrusted with a top-secret mission.
It is a tale of family love, teacher-student bonds, romantic relationships and unwavering loyalty to serve, embodying the desire to protect the nation's sacred land.
The project brings together many veteran names from both within and outside of the Vietnamese film industry. It is directed by Nguyen Phan Quang Binh, renowned for films such as Vu Khuc Con Co (The Dance of The Stork), Canh Dong Bat Tan (The Endless Field), Quyen, and Bi Mat Cua Gio (The Secret of the Wind). Among these, The Endless Field was the first art film to break box office records in Vietnam, while The Dance of The Stork was the first international collaboration about the American War in Vietnam set in Vietnam.
The 53-year-old director said that this is a project he had nurtured for a decade, following a trip to the ancient capital of Hoa Lu in the northern province of Ninh Binh.
"Starting to make a film, even a historical one, comes with many challenges. But I feel proud of such legends, so creating a film to introduce an important historical issue is something I really want to do," he said.
The Temple of King Dinh Tien Hoang in the ancient capital Hoa Lu in Ninh Binh.
The action and martial arts sequences will be managed by Johnny Tri Nguyen, the number one action star in Vietnam. In his role as the action director, he aims to bring a fresh perspective and new highlights for the audience.
"This is a challenge for historical films and I want viewers to have a lasting impression after watching," the actor said.
Johnny Tri Nguyen is a Vietnamese-American with experience working in Hollywood since the 1990s. He has served as a stuntman in action scenes for series like Mortal Kombat, Spider-Man 2 as Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man, and Clash, and has starred in various Vietnamese films, including Dong Mau Anh Hung (The Rebel) and Bay Rong (Clash).
The music will be composed by Nguyen Quoc Trung, one of Vietnam’s leading musicians and music producers. He previously won a Golden Kite Award for his work on The Endless Field with director Nguyen Phan Quang Binh.
Director of photography Nguyen K’Linh, who has recently collaborated with director Bui Thac Chuyen in the current box office hit Dia Dao (The Tunnel), is also involved in this project. He has experience with visually striking films such as Toi Thay Hoa Vang Tren Co Xanh (I See Yellow Flowers on the Green Grass) and Tro Tan Ruc Ro (Glorious Ashes), both of which have left a mark on Vietnamese audiences.
"Historical topics have always interested me, especially when it comes to action films. Involving a project like this enables a lot of creativity while also creating a playground for us to express ourselves and strive to do our best,” the director said.
“We aim to help young people better understand Vietnamese history and see the strength of the Vietnamese people."
According to the film crew, notable young talents in the field of reviving and recreating traditional Vietnamese costumes will also be consultants for the movie.
The Guardian Heroes: Mystery of King Dinh’s Tomb is expected to take two months to shoot, starting in November 2025 and is scheduled for release in the second quarter of 2026.
