The exhibition displays many valuable documents about the non-Cổ Loa cultural heritage.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Vietnam's Cultural Heritage Day (November 23, 2005 – November 23, 2025), on November 19, the Thang Long - Hanoi Heritage Conservation Center and the Co Loa Relic Site Management Board, in coordination with the Dong Anh Commune People's Committee, organized the opening of the exhibition "Echoes of Heritage - Colors of Co Loa's Intangible Cultural Heritage".

Opening of the exhibition "Echoes of Heritage - The Colors of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Co Loa". Photo: Nguyen Thuy.

Co Loa – a land steeped in thousands of years of cultural heritage – is not only famous for its ancient citadel dating back to the time of King An Duong Vuong's founding of the nation, but also for preserving a rich treasure trove of intangible cultural heritage passed down through generations. These values ​​are vividly reflected in traditional festivals, the worship of King An Duong Vuong, folk performing arts, customs, rituals, and the daily life of the local community.

Speaking at the exhibition, Ms. Nguyen Hong Chi, Deputy Director of the Thang Long - Hanoi Heritage Conservation Center, said: Having met many criteria regarding Outstanding Universal Value (OUV), integrity, continuity, and authenticity according to the UNESCO World Heritage Convention Implementation Guidelines, on November 13, 2025, the Hanoi People's Committee officially sent a document to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for consideration and submission to the Prime Minister for permission to prepare a nomination dossier for the Co Loa Relic Site to be submitted to UNESCO for inscription on the World Cultural Heritage List.

Ms. Nguyen Hong Chi, Deputy Director of the Thang Long - Hanoi Heritage Conservation Center, delivers a speech. Photo: Nguyen Thuy.

The exhibition "Echoes of Heritage - The Colors of Co Loa's Intangible Cultural Heritage" is a deeply meaningful activity that continues to honor, promote, and spread the immense value of Co Loa's intangible cultural heritage – a sacred land preserving the legends of nation-building and national defense of the Vietnamese people.

"Through exhibitions and folk art performances, we hope to contribute to fostering pride, love for our homeland, and a sense of responsibility in preserving and promoting cultural heritage so that heritage is not only a memory of the past but also a valuable spiritual resource for sustainable development today and tomorrow," Ms. Nguyen Hong Chi expressed.

Artistic performances during the opening ceremony. Photo: Nguyen Thuy

The exhibition “Echoes of Heritage - The Colors of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Co Loa” is compiled from the dossier of the Co Loa Special National Monument; the dossier of the Co Loa Festival, which is inscribed as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Thang Long - Hanoi Heritage Conservation Center; research works by scientists ; documents and images collected by the French School of Far Eastern Studies (EFEO), the Thang Long - Hanoi Heritage Conservation Center, the Co Loa Monument Management Board, and private photo collections...

The exhibition features over 100 documents and images, divided into three main themes. The opening section, themed "The Colors of Co Loa's Intangible Cultural Heritage," provides an overview of the various forms of intangible cultural heritage at the Co Loa historical site. Through sacred rituals, folk dances, and everyday customs, viewers can perceive a vibrant and comprehensive picture of the cultural and spiritual life of the community in the ancient capital region – a place where culture has been refined over thousands of years of history.

Delegates view the exhibition. Photo: Nguyen Thuy

Theme 2 – “The Quintessence of a Thousand Years” – is a space to honor the most distinctive values ​​in the cultural and spiritual life of the people of Co Loa. Through sub-themes, the public is guided on a journey of discovery from the legend of nation-building to folk activities, from vibrant festivals to daily life.

Theme 3 – “Living on Through Time” – speaks of the journey of integration and development, where amidst the modern pace of life, the intangible cultural heritage of Co Loa – Dong Anh is still preserved, passed down, and continued through generations. This opens up opportunities for the younger generation to learn and be proud of their national roots.

The exhibition will open to visitors from November 21, 2025, at the Exhibition House of the Co Loa Relic Site, Chua Village, Dong Anh Commune, Hanoi.

Throughout its more than 2,000-year history, Co Loa has been chosen as the capital of Vietnam several times during the reigns of An Duong Vuong (3rd century BC), the reign of Ly Nam De (6th century), and the reign of Ngo Quyen (10th century). Not only was it a political and military center in ancient times, Co Loa is also a place where unique values ​​of Vietnamese architecture, military technology, and material and spiritual culture converge.

Besides its vast system of tangible cultural heritage, Co Loa also preserves a rich treasure of intangible cultural heritage, including the Co Loa Festival, rituals, legends, social customs, folk performing arts, cuisine, and traditional crafts. All of these create a vibrant cultural tapestry, reflecting the soul and unique identity of the thousand-year-old Thang Long – Hanoi region.

The intangible heritage of Co Loa serves as an "extended thread" connecting the legend of nation-building to the journey of integration today. Preserving and promoting these values ​​not only helps the local community maintain a deep connection with their roots but also contributes to showcasing the image of Co Loa as a place rich in tradition, dynamic, and creative – a testament to the enduring vitality of Vietnamese culture.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/trung-bay-nhieu-tu-lieu-quy-ve-di-san-van-hoa-phi-co-loa-723934.html