Hoan Kiem Lake
Hanoi tourists and locals alike head to Hoan Kiem Lake when seeking a place to get away from the noise of the city
Hanoi tourists and locals alike head to Hoan Kiem Lake when seeking a place to get away from the noise of the city. Peaceful and quiet, the lake surrounds Ngoc Son Temple, a temple sitting in the centre on a small island. Vietnam travel packages
The temple attracts many visitors and was built in commemoration of the 13th century military leader Tran Hung Dao who was renowned for his bravery in the battle against the Yuan Dynasty.
Homage is also paid to scholar Van Xuong and Confucian master Nguyen Van Sieu. The island on which the temple is built is known as Jade Island and is accessible by the iconic Huc Bridge or Rising Sun Bridge which is a charming scarlet-painted wooden bridge of classical Vietnamese design. The pagoda is also guarded by two towering posts decorated with Chinese writing. The lake and temple are probably the most famous places in Hanoi city in which to rest and enjoy the view and are a great place to sit back and watch the locals. Halong bay cruise Vietnam
Ngoc Son Temple was built in the 18th century on Jade Island in the centre of the ‘Lake of the Returned Sword’ or Hoan Kiem Lake. Legend describes how an emperor was once given a magical sword which helped him defeat the Chinese Ming Dynasty and in doing so saw the return of the Golden Turtle God to the lake.
Today ‘Turtle Tower’ stands close to the lake in memory of this legend. There are also endangered large soft-shell turtles swimming in the lake, and to see one of these gentle giants is considered very auspicious. The name of the temple translates to ‘Temple of the Jade Mountain’ and is predominately dedicated to war hero General Tran Hung Dao who defeated an armed force of 300,000 soldiers sent by Mongolian Emperor Kublai Khan in the 13th century to invade Vietnam.
Also inside the pagoda are a large bronze bust and other deities. There are altars dedicated to Tran Hung Dao, some ancient artefacts including ceramics and a preserved specimen of a giant turtle found in the lake weighting 250kg.
Good to know
The lake and the temple offer plenty of trees and shaded spots in which to escape the busy city streets. To get there head towards the old town and the main post office which is located next to the lake. Tickets are purchased at a booth located on the left-hand side before you cross the bridge. The temple opens at 08:00 and closes at 17:00 every day and its best to get to the lake as early as possible to watch the locals do their morning yoga and Tai Chi. To get to the temple, walk across the flag-lined bright red Huc Bridge across to Jade Island.
The west lake of Hanoi
With a shoreline of 17km, Ho Tay (West Lake) is the largest lake of Hanoi.
West Lake of Hanoi
With a shoreline of 17km, Ho Tay (West Lake) is the largest lake of Hanoi. Tran Quoc pagoda is Hanoi’s oldest Buddhist temple and dates back to the 6th century. The bodhi tree in the garden is even said to be grown from a cutting of the very tree under which Buddha found enlightenment.
The West Lake originally sited on the Red River, repeated flooding and erosion saw it relocated to its present site on Kim Ngu (Golden Fish) Islet near the south east shoreline of the lake.
Hanoi Travel Guide-Tran Quoc Pagoda
The lake is also steeped in legend and is bordered by several significant pagodas. Vietnam’s oldest pagoda, Tran Quoc, was built in the 6th century and is located on Cayang Island in the middle of the lake, a beautiful setting.
The pagoda is renowned for the intricacy of its design, based on the Buddhist trinity, and contains 10 shrines in all. Look out for the red lacquered statue trimmed with gold representing the Buddha’s nirvana. Created in 1639, the sculpture is considered a masterpiece of a distinctly Vietnamese style of sacred sculpture.
Hanoi Travel Guide-Westlake1
Farther along the lake, Quan Thanh Temple, by the northern gate, was built during the reign of Le Thai To King (1010-28). It’s dedicated to Huyen Thien Tran Vo, the god who reigned over Vietnam’s northern regions. Renovated in the 19th century, the impressive temple has a triple gate and courtyard, and features a 3.6m (12-ft.) bronze statue of the god. West Lake is also a hub of local activity, particularly on weekends, when families go paddle-boating on it.
