LE DAI HANH (980-1005)
The Chinese Song Dynasty menaced Dai Co Viet, with the heir to the throne an infant, the regent empress Duong Thai Hau threw rule of the country to Le Hoan (940-1005). Le Hoan then proclaimed himself emperor Le Dai Hanh Hoang De in 980. He then went with his general, Pham Cu Luong, to meet and battle the coming Song army. One of his victories was at the mouth of the Bach Dang River. After the victory, Le Dai Hanh sent out emissaries to negotiate for peace. Thus the annual show of homage, and offerings to the Celestial Emperor of China is resumed. With Le Dai Hanh, the southward expedition to Champa began in 990 and again in 994. Che Dong and Che Cai, the 2 successive Cham kings, negotiated with Le Dai Hanh for peace and agreed to be a Vietnamese vassal state. The Le Dai Hanh Emperor committed the same error as his predecessor Dinh Tien Hoang in that he repudiated his oldest son Le Ngan Tich as heir to the throne. In his will, he gave preference to a younger son, Le Long Viet. Le Dai Hanh died in 1005, at the age of 65 and after 25 years of rule.

LE LONG VIET (1005)
Le Long Viet's reign was very brief. He was assassinated by a coalition of his brothers Le Ngan Tich, Le Long Kinh, and Le Long Dinh who refused to recognize him and out of jealousy. Le Long Viet's emperor-name was Le Trung or (Trang) Ton. After the assassination, all three brothers vied against one another for one throne. Le Ngan Tich was captured and beheaded while attempting to flee the country. Le Long Kinh "disappeared" and was never heard from again. The last remaining brother, Le Long Dinh, took control of the realm and proclaimed himself emperor.

LE NGOA TRIEU (1005-1009)
Le Long Dinh's reign and court was famous for its "lying sessions" when presiding, giving reception etc... gaining him the Le Ngoa Trieu. Le Long Dinh's rule was characterized by debaucheries, wild orgies and decadence. Historians compare him to the Roman Emperor Nero as he was well known for his cruelties, not the least of which were sadism and torture (of relatives, prisoners, thieves, beggars, traitors, etc.) in which he loved to participate. The only person under his rule who did not fear or run away from him was Ly Cong Uan (973-1028), a high-ranking mandarin counselor in the court.

END OF PRE- LE DYNASTY
Never before in Vietnam's history had an emperor's rule been so hated as Le Long Dinh. The people and peasants at that time were sick and tired of the cruelty which marked his rule. A few counselors and monks were plotting to install a new ruler. When Le Long Dinh died he left an infant son who was to succeed him, but the court, now heavily under the influence of monks and Buddhism, agreed to enthrone Ly Cong Uan as the new emperor. As the first emperor of the Ly Dynasty, Ly Cong Uan would take the emperor-name Ly Thai To, inaugurating a new era in Vietnam's history.