Co Loa Ancient Citadel: Unmatched Tourist Gem of the Capital
Co Loa Citadel , located about 20 km north of downtown Hanoi, is the oldest building in Vietnam with a long history. Its name “Co Loa” comes from Sino-Vietnamese and means “old spiral”, as the structure is shaped like a spiral. An ideal travel destination in Hanoi The Pearl Fountain or My Chau-Trong Thuy Fountain in Co Loa Citadel from a bird’s eye view. Photo: Vuong Loc Together with the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, the Co Loa Citadel testifies to the thousand-year history of the nation. The ancient citadel is associated with the legends of Vietnam’s ancestors, such as King An Duong Vuong founding the capital and building the citadel, the magic crossbow of Kim Quy (Golden Turtle) shooting down hundreds of invaders at once, or the tragic love story of Princess My Chau and her expatriate husband Trong Thuy. In addition, its wondrous architecture makes it a unique tourist attraction in Hanoi. Known as the largest ancient citadel in Vietnam, the Co Loa Historical Site c...