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Co Loa Citadel is an ancient fortress for what was the first independent capital of the Vietnamese kingdom. Dating back to a time when mythological history was being replaced by more factual history, Co Loa Citadel is believed to have been built in the 3rd century BC by King An Duong Vuong. It fell to the Chinese shortly after it was completed.
Stelae Pavilion, Co Loa Citadel, Hanoi
Author: Tttrung (public domain)
The story of Co Loa Citadel is still part legend part history. It tells of how the son of the Chinese general tricked My Chau, the daughter of King An Duong, into giving him her father's magic crossbow. The crossbow was then used by the Chinese to defeat the king. While that is certainly legend, the citadel itself, and the large quantity of bronze arrowheads discovered at its site, were very real indeed. It shows that a fierce battle had taken place there, a long time ago.
Within the Co Loa Citadel complex, you can also see other temples. There are those dedicated to the king An Duong and his daughter My Chau. Although these temples are ancient, they were in fact built many centuries after the fall of the citadel. Outside the temple dedicated to King An Duong are stylized stone lions.
Once a year, a feast day takes place at Co Loa Citadel to honour King An Duong. During the festival, a statue of the king is paraded through the streets of Hanoi in a palanquin. Also included during the festival are games such as human chess, cockfighting, singing and dancing competitions, all to attract tourists and to give traditional culture a new breath of life.
How to reach Co Loa Citadel
The citadel is located 10 miles (16 km) to the north of Hanoi, in Dong Anh District.Return to Hanoi Travel Guide
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