The Co Bi out-of-town palace is in Trau Quy commune, Gia Lam district, Ha Noi capital, far from Ha Noi centre about 14km in the East. According to the historical book: "Summary of Vietnam general history written by order of the king" (1727), the Co Bi, in 1727, has been a famous spot with beautiful landscape of Tonkin (Northern Vietnam) and near the mother's village of Trinh Cuong lord. That's why, he chose the Co Bi for building a new palace himself with the name Kim Thanh (golden citadel).
The Co Bi out-of-town palace is in Trau Quy commune, Gia Lam district, Ha Noi capital, far from Ha Noi centre about 14km in the East. According to the historical book: "Summary of Vietnam general history written by order of the king" (1727), the Co Bi, in 1727, has been a famous spot with beautiful landscape of Tonkin (Northern Vietnam) and near the mother's village of Trinh Cuong lord. That's why, he chose the Co Bi for building a new palace himself with the name Kim Thanh (golden citadel).
In addition, he didn't want to build his new palace in Thang Long where was being the capital of Le dynasty. And he also want to changed the Co Bi into his power centre in his capacity as a lord who run the country. In 1755, one more time, a royal temple was built by order of Trinh Cuong lord with his intention of moving the capital to the Co Bi, too.
However, in history, the Co Bi out-of-town palace was distroyed by natural calamities (flood on July 1729) and by Trinh Giang lord (Trinh Cuong lord's son) who gave an order to stop building this palace.
According to folk legend in the middle of 18th century, the Co Bi out-of-town palace was a deliberative field fortification and magnificent palace. On the Co Bi hill, there was a General Headquarter of Trinh lords. It was a magnificent wood palace with a system of large path up to the palace and big stone animals were erected on 2 sides. Headquarters of mandarins were located in around. Together the ancient trees made the Co Bi more magnificent.
However, the Co Bi out-of-town palace, one more time, was distroyed by war in the French colonial period as: the official palace and around headquarters were fired completely. There were only its foudation and two rows of the big stone elephant, lion, tiger statues remained which expressed the typical characteristics of the Vietnam sculpture in 18th century.
Through the historical documents showed the Co Bi has been a magnificent palace. However, the relic scale remain is too small.
In the forthcoming time, on the occasion of the 1000 Thang Long - Ha Noi capital Anniversary, the Co Bi out-of-town palace will be considered as an important point to study, excavate for researching and restoring, rebuilding completely this original relic.
Doan Huy