The citadel was built in a spiral shape called Loa Thanh. It was said that there were 9 rings, deep water trenches surrounded in an outside circle. Nowadays, Co Loa citadel has 3 land rings: outside the citadel (perimeter of 8km), the middle citadel (polygon, perimeter 6.5 km) and inside the citadel (rectangular perimeter of 1.6 km). 

The citadel wall today has an average height of 4-5 meters, and some reach 12 meters high; the citadel’s foundation is 20- 30 meters wide.  

Doors of citadel rings are also cleverly arranged so they are not on a diagonal axis. There are defense emplacements on two sides that caused many obstacles for the enemy when they attacked the citadel.

It is about 18 km from the city center; you will find three citadel’s rings. Archaeologists found thousands of bronze arrows, plows, axes, animal bones, etc.

The village entrance is the entrance of the citadel. Passing through the entrance is Co Loa village. According to legend, it is a meeting palace; hence the village house still has the Horizontal lacquer board “Ngự triều di quy”.

Near the communal house is Princess temple worshipping My Chau princess, located under an ancient banyan root. The temple is quite small; it symbolizes the poor princess who put her trust in the wrong person (her husband). The temple has a human-shape stone without head that people say is My Chau statue.

Through My Chau temple to Thuong temple, it is An Duong Vuong temple (My Chau’s father) that was built in the forbidden citadel’s foundation. The temple was restored in early 20th century with couple of stone dragons (the remains of Tran or Le dynasty). Inside the temple is An Duong Vuong statue that was cast in bronze. In front of the temple is the Pearl well where Trong Thuy (My Chau’s husband) committed suicide because of remorse. If pearls are washed in the well’s water, they will be brighter.

Le Ha