Cổ Loa Special National Relic

Cổ Loa is known for its system of three concentric earthen ramparts and water moats, which was built, renovated, and used over a long period. The ramparts curve along the natural terrain and combine with the system of moats, rivers, and lagoons to create a structure that had both military value and close ties to the residential and productive life of the community. This is also one of the important traces that helps identify the scale and characteristics of a political, military, and residential center in the early period of Vietnamese history.

Cổ Loa currently retains three ramparts: Inner, Middle, and Outer. Collected photo

From the lake, you step up to the outer gate of Thượng Temple, built on a mound said to be the king's palace. Bend down to look at the pair of stone dragons on either side of the central entrance, carved in 1732. In 1893, villagers repaired the temple, excavated a cache of bronze, and used it to cast the An Dương Vương statue, completed in 1897; the statue is placed in the rear sanctuary and is now a National Treasure. On the 6th day of the first lunar month every year, the temple opens the main Cổ Loa Festival, a national intangible cultural heritage.

People in the past believed the temple stood on a "dragon's head", so the two small wells on either side of the courtyard were called "dragon's eyes".

Directly in front of Thượng Temple is a lake with Giếng Ngọc in the middle, a site associated with the legend of Mỵ Châu – Trọng Thủy handed down through generations. During the Cổ Loa Festival, the palanquin procession often circles Giếng Ngọc before returning to Ngự Triều Communal House. In this area, quan họ singing on dragon boats also used to take place.

According to legend, the water of Giếng Ngọc is said to make pearls brighter. Collected photo

Continuing into the Inner Citadel, Ngự Triều Di Quy Communal House appears as a link between the ancient citadel space and later cultural life. The building is associated with the former royal court hall and features a gate, ceremonial curtains, and carved panels on wooden structural elements.

Ngự Triều Di Quy Communal House was built in 1907 on the foundation of Cổ Loa's former royal court hall

Alongside its tangible relic system, Cổ Loa also preserves many intangible cultural values maintained by the community through generations. The Cổ Loa Festival is a typical traditional cultural activity, expressing remembrance of An Dương Vương and the historical and cultural values associated with this land. Communal houses, temples, shrines, and small temples and community belief practices continue to create a rich cultural life for the relic site.

Today, the Cổ Loa Relic Site is a suitable destination for sightseeing, learning about history and culture, research, heritage education, and exploring traditional Vietnamese village space. From the earthen ramparts and water moats to temples, communal houses, shrines, small temples, and archaeological artifacts, each layer of heritage at Cổ Loa helps tell the story of a land that once held an important position in Vietnamese history.