Top 7 Must-Visit Places When Visiting Co Do Village, Ba Vi, Hanoi

Born in 1920, Sy Tot is considered the nurturer of the art seeds in Co Do village. From a young age, he was passionate about drawing, using pencil or sometimes charcoal to sketch images of his village's temple gates, fields, and landscapes.

While serving in the military, he was fortunate to further develop his artistic talent at the Vietnam Fine Arts College, where he studied under the renowned artist To Ngoc Van.

Upon returning to his village, Sy Tot used his brush to capture the scenes of rural life and the hardworking yet kind-hearted farmers. People in the village would gather to watch him paint, eventually falling in love with art. Seeing the growing interest in painting, Sy Tot eagerly taught others for free, passing on his artistic knowledge. It was through him that the art spirit began to flow through the veins of Co Do villagers.

When talking about Co Do's artists, everyone mentions the esteemed Sy Tot, whose famous works, such as "The Sound of the Solo Stringed Instrument" and "Carrying the Child," are preserved at the National Museum of Fine Arts. Many of his paintings are also held in major museums in the USA, France, Germany, Sweden, Poland, and beyond. With nearly 1,000 paintings (including 100 flower paintings) created throughout his career, Sy Tot's legacy is firmly established in the history of modern Vietnamese art. His mentorship also led to the emergence of many talented young artists from the village, such as Si Tuan, Si Thiet, Ngo Binh Thiem, Sao Mai, Giang Khich, Nguyen Thach, Tran Hoa, and others.

When visiting Co Do village, don't miss the opportunity to visit the Sy Tot Artist Museum to admire a variety of his famous paintings.

On July 8, 1958, President Ho Chi Minh visited Co Do as part of a campaign to eliminate pests, protect agricultural production, and reinforce flood defenses. The entire village of Co Do was immensely proud of his visit.

The tale of his visit, where he personally helped remove pests from the rice fields and inspected the dikes, is true. Many of those who witnessed it could hardly believe it, as it seemed almost surreal. Here was a president, overwhelmed with national duties, yet he took time to join the people in the fields, removing pests by hand and checking every vulnerable section of the dikes. What surprised everyone even more was his simplicity. Wearing a plain brown suit, with gray hair and rubber sandals, he looked like a wise elder or a humble farmer. His words, gaze, and smile made him incredibly approachable and close to the people. From that moment on, the story of his visit spread far and wide. Those fortunate enough to meet him felt blessed and joyous, while others who missed the encounter felt regret. Thanks to his encouragement, the people of Co Do quickly overcame the pest issue, had a fruitful harvest, and successfully maintained the dikes.

In the years that followed, Co Do rapidly established cooperative farming groups. To commemorate the 60th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's visit, the Ba Vi District People's Committee organized a special celebration and erected a historical monument to honor him.

In gratitude for his visit, the people of Co Do built a memorial temple to President Ho Chi Minh at the exact spot where he had spoken to the people. The temple was officially recognized by the Hanoi People's Committee and marked as a historical site commemorating President Ho Chi Minh on the 60th anniversary of his visit to Co Do.

Co Do is known as a prosperous land, where an old saying goes, 'Good land, good people.' Once, a family from Cam Thuy, Thanh Hoa (nowadays Thanh Hoa Province), struggling with poverty, migrated to this area. The husband worked as a duck herder, and the wife was a farmer. They had a son, Nguyen Su Manh, who later became a renowned scholar. Due to their financial hardships and the early death of his father, Nguyen Su Manh did not begin his studies until the age of 27. He eventually passed the royal exams, earning a Doctorate in the third class in the year Giap Thin, during the reign of Hong Duc in 1484. His dedication and achievements led him to a distinguished career as a government official, rising to the position of Minister of Rituals and holding the title of Sung Tin Marquis. The Nguyen family records note that while he was serving as the Minister, he was sent as an envoy to the Ming Dynasty. Upon his arrival, the Ming Emperor, seeing that the Nam envoy's attire was not properly fastened, believed it to be disrespectful and accused him of insulting the emperor. In response, Nguyen Su Manh humbly explained:

'Your Majesty, the envoy from Nam has been traveling for a long time and feared losing his knowledge of the sacred teachings, so he unbuttoned his coat to cool off. Please grant us mercy.' The Emperor, impressed by his quick thinking, wanted to test the scholar. He commanded that Nguyen Su Manh copy a classical text, 'Vi Zhi,' within three months. Nguyen Su Manh spent the first two months leisurely touring Beijing, and when the deadline approached, he quickly copied the text in several nights. Upon review, the Emperor found only a slight variation—an extra dot in one character—but upon comparing it with the original, he realized that it was accurate. Astonished by Nguyen Su Manh’s intellect, the Emperor rewarded him with robes, a seal, and the title of 'Minister of Both Nations,' symbolizing his role as an envoy to both Vietnam and China. This illustrious mission is still commemorated at the Nguyen family’s ancestral temple in Co Do.

Nguyen Su Manh was highly trusted by the Le Dynasty, receiving the imperial surname of Le, marrying a princess, and being appointed to oversee the National Academy and hold the title of Vinh Loc Dai Phu. Despite his high rank, he led a modest life with simple living conditions and little personal wealth. He lived to 82 years. In recognition of his contributions, the Nguyen Su Manh Memorial in Co Do was officially recognized as a National Historical Site by the Ministry of Culture and Information in Decision No. 52/2001/QD-BVHTT on December 28, 2001.

In addition, Co Do is also home to another distinguished minister, Nguyen Ba Lan, the author of the famous 'Nga Ba Hac Phu.' He was originally from Hoai Bao Village, Tien Du District, Bac Ninh Province. According to the genealogy of the Nguyen Ba Lan family, written by Nguyen Ba Lan and his son Nguyen Ba Uong, their ancestors had fled war and settled in Co Do, where they lived as educators and chose to settle there because they loved the people and the land.

Nguyen Ba Lan was born on the 27th of January, 1700, at the time of the Canh Thin year. His father, Nguyen Cong Hoan, was 30 years old when Nguyen Ba Lan was born as his first son. Nguyen Cong Hoan, also known as Mai Hien, was a well-known scholar of the time. He was famous for his literary talents, and people respected him widely, calling him one of the 'Four Tigers of Thang Long.' However, despite his immense talent, his path in the imperial exams was unsuccessful. Instead, he spent his life teaching. When Nguyen Ba Lan turned 15, his father returned home to focus on teaching his son.

At 18, Nguyen Ba Lan passed the first round of the imperial exams, becoming a laureate. Two years later, he passed the second round, and by the time of the Tanh Hoi exams in 1731, he earned his Doctorate and became a third-class official. Over the years, Nguyen Ba Lan held several ministerial positions in the six ministries of the Le Dynasty, eventually being appointed as the Marquis of Le Trach, with the rank of the fifth highest official. He was greatly admired for his integrity, simplicity, and dedication to public service, and was praised by historians such as Phan Huy Chu for his uprightness and commitment to virtue.

On February 18, 2004, the tomb and memorial of Nguyen Ba Lan in Co Do were officially recognized as a National Heritage Site, as per Decision No. 04/2004.

Cam Son Temple has a long history, deeply intertwined with the survival and development of the local village culture. The temple is perched atop the dragon's head of the Cam Son mountain range, facing the land of the Hung Kings, situated on the right bank where the Red River and Da River converge at the 'Nga Ba Hac' crossroads. It is a place steeped in ancient legends from the dawn of time. From the Cam Son mountain, one can view the lush valley of Co Do village, a land blessed by nature. The Red River, rich with alluvial soil, flows in front, while the Cam Son mountains rise behind.

According to Feng Shui principles, Cam Son Temple is located on a piece of land with a good 'dragon vein.' The temple sits on higher ground, symbolizing the 'Yang' element, while the flowing river represents the 'Yin' element. The ancient belief is that the balance and harmony between Yin and Yang are essential for the flourishing and longevity of all things. Throughout Vietnam's long history of struggle and defense, the Tran Dynasty produced brilliant kings and generals who defended the nation. These figures, such as King Phat Hoang Tran Nhan Tong and General Hung Dao Dai Vuong, became revered as saints after their passing, embodying both kingship and Buddhist sanctity.

Cam Son Temple has stood for over 700 years since its establishment, enduring several renovations while retaining its traditional architectural style, a unique artistic blend of successive dynasties.

On March 11, 2018, the Ba Vi District Party Committee and People's Committee of Hanoi awarded the Certificate of Historical, Cultural, and Artistic Heritage Status to Cam Son Temple, a significant honor for the people of Co Do village.

Co Do Village is renowned as a unique artist village, home to over 30 members of the Vietnam Fine Arts Association and two art museums.

The Co Do Fine Arts Museum, which began its professional operations in early 2016, showcases the works of local artists passionate about painting. It also serves as a venue where members of the local art club offer free art lessons to children in the area.

Mr. Do Van Su, Head of the Co Do Art Club, shares that the artists of Co Do mainly focus on rural themes, painted in a realistic style using oil, lacquer, and watercolor. Their artworks often depict scenes from their childhood and homeland, such as rice fields, buffaloes, straw stacks, and garden corners.

Co Do, with its artistic charm, holds all the potential to become a must-visit destination in Hanoi, rivaling the ancient village of Duong Lam, provided it receives the appropriate investment. International visitors are sure to appreciate a place brimming with rich cultural, artistic, and architectural heritage, especially the Co Do Fine Arts Museum.