The Lakes of Hanoi

Hanoi is Vietnam's capital, lies on the banks of the Red River. It is cosy with tree-lines, boulevards, lakes, parks, French colonial buildings, elegant squares..

Hanoi is considered to be the cultural centre of Vietnam, where every dynasty has left behind their imprint. Even though some relics have not survived through wars and time, the city still has many interesting cultural and historic monuments for visitors and residents alike.

Hanoi has a lot of lakes. The city, built on lowlands between rivers, is even sometimes known as the “city of lakes.” They provide a scenic and tranquil respite from the crushing traffic and incessant bustle in other parts of the city.

Hoan Kiem Lake sits in the middle of Hanoi’s Old Quarter, the cultural and historic heart of the city.

“Ho Hoan Kiem” translates literally as “Lake of the Restored Sword”. The lake takes its name from an ancient legend, in which the emperor Le Loi returned a magic sword to the Golden Turtle God who resided in the lake. Today, the lake holds a small pagoda in its centre known as Turtle Tower (or Thap Rua) in honour of the sword's return.

Besides the legend, real soft-shell turtles can sometimes be spotted in the lake. These large turtles are critically endangered animals, so spotting one is a real treat.

Near Hoan Kiem's northern shore is Jade Island, home to the Jade Mountain Temple (or Ngoc Son Temple). Erected in the eighteenth century to honour a thirteenth century military leader, you can reach the temple by crossing a bright red wooden bridge.

Not far from the Old Quarter, West Lake, Hanoi’s largest lake, is picturesque in a different way. Surrounding West Lake are well-tended gardens, high-end hotels, and villas. A popular place for recreation, West Lake has long been a central part of life in Hanoi. The Vietnamese have several legends surrounding the creation West Lake, including a story of an evil, nine-tailed fox who wanted to harm local residents, and a giant whose bronze bell brought a rampaging golden buffalo to the area. In actuality, however, the lake was formed when the red river changed its course.

Throughout history, West Lake has been a key feature of Hanoi. Kings built palaces and temples around the lake, and today's “modern palaces” of high-end villas, hotels, and restaurants continue that tradition. Points of interest for history buffs are the Tran Quoc Pagoda (the oldest pagoda in all of Vietnam), and the Quan Thanh Temple.