Co Loa Citadel is about to ... disappear

Thuong temple gate, where worship King An Duong.(Photo: SGGP )

Up to now, after 10 years of being renovated and repaired by the Government and Hanoi City, the rare building of the world with the dating from the 3rd century BC has still been badly damaged. .

Risk of wiping out

Co Loa is one of the largest archaeological sites that converges the history of stone, bronze and iron. It is the capital with the most complete and ancient ring system of Vietnam. The only spiral-shaped architecture in the world with the river trench system is the harmonious coordination between tissues, earthen slats, natural and artificial muddy, systematic structures and ancient villages. valuable cultural art history great. But now, the feeling of Co Loa with many visitors is only traces, shrines and shrines, interspersed among modern architecture.

Sharing the situation with many other relics in our country, Co Loa Citadel today is far from the ancient Co Loa figure shown on the map or historical documents. Over the past few years, the authorities of Hanoi have restored some architectural works such as Dinh Ngu Trieu Di Quy, Am My Chau, An Duong Vuong Temple . with greatness and stability; but it was still submerged in the whirlwind of urbanization in this place.

If in the outer city, on a long section of the city wall once considered to be one of the remaining intact traces, it is now 'renovated', with a 'tourist garden' sign. And a stinging point is that the villa is hundreds of square meters wide and has been finished with raw materials, just waiting for completion to occupy the entire rib leg. Led by field visitors, the points that are considered to be the hottest in invading relics, the staff of the management board must be very shy to avoid being "afraid of having revenge". Water trenches in the middle part are also quickly filled and sprouting dozens of solid and modern houses.

A small lane of people walking right in the central area of ​​Co Loa relic.( Photo: SGGP )

But the most painful thing to mention is the hill of land located near the Co Loa Commune People's Committee, which is considered the center of the monument being encroached on land every day. Each meter of hills and hills will be inserted and inserted a new kiosk . If this situation does not change, only a few years later, Co Loa citadel will be wiped out.

Conservation: Too slow

Talking about the progress of preserving, embellishing and promoting the value of the national monument of Co Loa, Mr. Nguyen Van Quang, Vice Chairman of Dong Anh District People's Committee, a member of the Steering Committee of Co Loa Project, commented: "Slow!". And Mr. Nguyen Trong Tuan, Chief of Office of the Steering Committee celebrates 1,000 years of Thang Long - Hanoi, then use two words 'too slow!'.

Since 9/1994, Hanoi City has directed the authorities to conduct a survey of the current status of monuments, planning projects of Co Loa citadel. In mid-1995, Hanoi continued to direct the preparation of a pre-feasibility study report for investment projects on conservation, renovation and exploitation of Co Loa citadel. Those who thought that later, there will be important moves to promote the preservation of the Co Loa citadel. But things are not so true.

In early 2001, Hanoi City People's Committee approved the detailed master plan of Co Loa citadel area to more than 800 hectares, while the approval document of the Government only had over 400 hectares. Therefore, when Ha Noi City submitted to the Government a feasibility study report on Co Loa project, it was not accepted. Since 1999, Hanoi has continued to build detailed projects and consult the relevant ministries and agencies to consider and appraise and then submit to the Government for approval, but up to now, this preparation work is still unfinish.

In the past few years, Hanoi Tourism Department has also invested in upgrading several kilometers of asphalt roads leading to monuments and two car parks, but so far this is still unfinished. So since the Government approved the pre-feasibility study report Conservation project, promote the value of Co Loa citadel and since Hanoi has a policy of preserving and exploiting Co Loa citadel, 10 the year has passed, but all are still "stalling".