13 December 2014. Co Loa and the Golden Bell

Today was to be my Co Loa day. It is a citadel outside HaNoi and I planned to take the local bus there. On my way to the bus station I visited the 'Traditional House' in Ma May Street. It has a lovely air of darkened calm about it and is well worth the 30p entrance.!

So then I caught the number 17 bus to Co Loa.

It was all remarkably straightforward and the conductor was helpful in getting off at the right stop.










I was really glad a made the excursion. It is about 15km from HaNoi and a different world. Hardly any traffic; chickens and cows wandering around; children playing football. not entirely a rural idyll but very nearly so.

The site itself is very interesting. In particular, there are some beautiful temples, one of which  stretches back through three layers. There is also an exhibition area that presents the entire 80 hectare archeological site.

Away from the main buildings to visit, I was particularly truck by the tombs amongst the alotments.

All in all, a very worthwhile day out.

In the evening I went to the Golden Bell Show that promised to be a collection of Traditional Art Performances. Unfortunately, it seemed rather like traditional for tourists to me with the women dancers dressed a bit like the Tiller girls. It finished with getting the audience on stage to try dancing through the sticks.