In 980, the Regent Lê Hoàn succeeded the throne with support from Đinh Phế Đế's mother "Empress Dương Vân Nga" to lead the country against the Song dynasty invasion.

Also they suspected that he and Dowager Empress Dương Vân Nga had an illicit liaison with Lê Hoàn.

The prince consort Ngô Nhật Khánh fled to Champa, and convinced their monarch, Parameshvaravarman I, to dispatch a naval fleet to attack the Hoa Lư capital.

After being dethroned, Đinh Toàn became "Vệ Vương", a noble title similar to that of landlord or some kin of the emperor.

By the year 1001, when repressing the rebellion of Cửu Long in Thanh Hóa Province, he was hit by an arrow and died immediately at the age of 27.