Co Loa Citadel - Discovering the legendary relic

Co Loa Citadel quietly lies in the land of Dong Anh, about twenty kilometers north of Hanoi's center. This place has no blue sea or white sand, no towering mountains or thundering waterfalls. But as soon as you step through the village gate, it feels as if you've entered a different dimension. A space where every brick, every blade of grass, every gentle breeze whispers ancient tales. A place where time doesn’t pass but seems to stand still within the winding shape of the citadel, where history is not confined to books but is embodied in the sunlight falling on the old soil.

The name Co Loa Citadel evokes a sense of being both near and far. Near, because it is still part of the familiar northern plains. Far, because it was the first capital in Vietnamese history, the birthplace of the Au Lac kingdom in the third century BC. There is no bright colors, no bustling crowds, but it quietly holds an ancient majesty, like a whisper from Mother Earth to the children who have grown too accustomed to modern life and forgotten the echoes of ancient times.

Three concentric earth walls create a strange spiral shape, surrounding the center like a natural and man-made armor. From a modern perspective, it is called the fingerprint of history. An indelible mark, created by the wisdom of ancestors in a time before cement and concrete, using only hands and faith in the land. Each layer of the citadel was not only built for defense but also stands as proof of strategic vision, the ability to adapt to the terrain, and the skill in managing irrigation to maintain the fort.

At the heart of the site stands the An Duong Vuong Temple, lying quietly among rows of betel trees and ancient trees. Next to it is the Ngoc Well, where Princess My Chau left her final trace before sinking into legend. The story of her and Trong Thuy is not just a tragic love tale but a cautionary tale about trust, responsibility, and the cost of being complacent. The sacred crossbow, a treasure given by the Golden Turtle God, lost its power because of human wavering. A moment of mistake led to the fall of the citadel, the loss of the kingdom, and the loss of its people. Yet, from that, Co Loa became a symbol of origin, of loss, and of awakening.

What makes Co Loa Citadel different is not its grandeur or elegance. It lies in the stillness that is full of vitality. Every piece of earth tells a story, every breeze carries a memory. It is a place not for sightseeing but for feeling. When your feet touch the ancient ground that has witnessed so much, your heartbeat slows, your memories open, and your pride is stirred in the quiet.

Co Loa is not a destination for those in a hurry. It is for those who want to live slowly, to see time etched in every inch of land, every layer of moss, and every crack in the city walls. Where the silent walls become the perfect backdrop for a nostalgic photograph. Where the sway of bamboo trees on a summer afternoon makes you want to sit down, lie back, and listen to the history whispering in the wind.

Co Loa is most beautiful in autumn or spring, when the sky is clear, and the sunlight gently illuminates every architectural detail. The road from Hanoi to here is very convenient. Buses, motorbikes, or private cars can easily take visitors to the site. The entrance fee is not high, but what is gained in return are experiences that cannot be measured in money.

If you have the chance to visit on the sixth day of the first lunar month, you will witness the biggest festival of the year. The space is filled with the sound of drums, vibrant clothing, and a sacred atmosphere. Traditional rituals, ca tru singing, and xoan singing are performed right on the ancestral land, making people feel like they’ve traveled back in time to the era when King Lac established the country.

An interesting detail that few people know is that from above, the layers of the citadel appear like a giant shell opening towards the south. Some call this place a masterpiece of Vietnam, not for its height or scale, but because of its profound symbolism. Co Loa is the essence of local culture, of instinctive wisdom, of history and legend intertwined so tightly that they cannot be separated.

The ancient fig tree in the temple still provides shade like it did a thousand years ago. The city walls still stand strong through countless seasons of rain and shine. The landscape here seems unchanged, only the people come and go, leaving behind a very real echo. Not everyone leaves Co Loa with intense emotions, but surely everyone takes away something. A sense of pride. A question mark. A new perspective on the nation's history.

Co Loa Citadel does not need noise to stand out. It does not need tall buildings or bright lights to shine. It is the stillness, the depth, and the endurance of this place that makes it an inseparable part of the memory map of the Vietnamese people. A place to remember, to understand, to love.