The achievements and loyalty of Tô Hiến Thành to the infant emperor Lý Cao Tông made him a highly praised figure in the history of Vietnam.
According to Từ điển bách khoa toàn thư Việt Nam, the birth date of Tô Hiến Thành was on November 01, 1101; he was born in the Hạ Mỗ village (now Đan Phượng, Hanoi).
[9] After the death of Đỗ Anh Vũ, in 1158, Tô Hiến Thành became the most prominent figure in the royal court who helped the emperor successfully rule the country.
[9] In the fifth month of 1159, Tô Hiến Thành put down the revolt of Ngưu Hống and Ai Lao in the western border and was promoted to the position of commander-in-chief (Thái úy) of Đại Việt army.
[11]: 77 [12] Originally holding a military position in the royal court, Tô Hiến Thành helped the emperor improve the efficiency of the Lý army and paid attention to the development of Confucian learning in the country.
[17] According to Đại Việt sử ký toàn thư, when he was ill, Tô Hiến Thành was thoughtfully cared by the official Vũ Tán Đường while the mandarin Trần Trung Tá did not visit the regent due to busy work.
Nevertheless, when the Empress Mother personally visited and asked Tô Hiến Thành in his dying moments about a successor for his position, the regent at once recommended Trần Trung Tá.
"[1][19] However, after Tô Hiến Thành's death, the Empress Mother did not follow his advice and the Lý dynasty began to fall into a turbulent time and finally collapsed in 1225.