Co Loa Citadel in Hanoi - A Majestic Ancient Fortress

Co Loa Citadel is one of the historical relics marking the heroic exploits of the Vietnamese people. Today, it still preserves its unique beauty and attracts many tourists for exploration and learning.

Co Loa Citadel in Hanoi - A Majestic Ancient Fortress

Co Loa Citadel, built in the 3rd century BCE, served as the capital of Au Lac, associated with the legendary crossbow and the love story of Mi Chau - Trong Thuy. It is one of 21 national heritage sites in need of preservation, located in Co Loa commune, Dong Anh district, Hanoi.

The fortress was designed in a spiral shape, hence its other name, Spiral Citadel. Co Loa Citadel is divided into 3 separate zones including Inner Citadel, Middle Citadel, and Outer Citadel. The Inner Citadel was the residence of King An Duong Vuong and the royal court. The Middle Citadel is larger, with walls averaging 10m high, and has four gates in different directions.

Co Loa Citadel consists of 3 concentric rings, with a total length of 16km and a height of 10m. Legend has it that wherever the citadel reached, walls were built. All three rings are surrounded by moats, with gates and fortresses arranged around them. The Spiral Citadel is mainly constructed from earth, followed by stone and broken ceramics.

Visitors to Co Loa Citadel have the opportunity to admire ancient artifacts such as tombs, bronze axes, bronze drums, arrows, etc., which have been excavated by archaeologists. Additionally, visitors can explore architectural wonders like the Temple of King An Duong Vuong, Am Ba Chua Shrine, and the Ngoc Well.

Co Loa Citadel holds significant value in various aspects:

• Architecturally: The citadel showcases the creativity in constructing defensive ramparts against foreign invaders by ancient Vietnamese. Moreover, the three concentric walls allowed infantry and cavalry to harmoniously coordinate in defending the citadel against enemies.

• Socially: The construction of Co Loa Citadel by King An Duong Vuong involved establishing separate areas for the king, lords, officials, etc., indicating the social class differentiation of that era.
• Culturally: As the oldest surviving citadel, Co Loa Citadel preserves cultural heritage, serving as evidence of the creativity and technical prowess of the Vietnamese people thousands of years ago.

Source: Mytour

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Reference: Travel Guide by Mytour