Co Loa Citadel Festival is held from 6th to 16th day of the first lunar month in the year, just after Lunar New Year Festival. The festival takes place at Upper Temple (“Den Thuong”), Dong Anh District, Hanoi, which is place to worship King An Duong Vuong – the King of Au Lac (the former name of Vietnam in 1st century BC).
The main festival day is the 6th day and begins with a solemn procession of 12 villages in the area. By the time that procession reached Upper Temple, the elderly practice an incense-offering liturgy on the yard right in front of the temple. It’s time to honor contribution of King An Duong Vuong to the cause of national construction and defense. All citizens of 12 villages as well as tourists from all regions in the country burn incense to remember King An Duong Vuong and pray for prosperity and peace.
After the part of liturgy, the festival continues with various traditional games and activities. Both local residents and tourists are attracted by interesting and bustling ambiance of “danh du” (bamboo swings), “nem con” (game of throwing a sacred ball through the ring), rice cooking competition, “ca tru” singing, “quan ho” singing, “cheo” performance. Especially, wrestling and crossbow shooting are the most attractive activities of Co Loa Citadel Festival. These competitions offer great chance for young men in the area to show their powers as well as traditional chivalry of Vietnamese people.
