Hoan Kiem Lake - Hanoi - Vietnam
Located right in the center of the capital of Vietnam, Hoan Kiem Lake Hanoi is famous for its peaceful beauty, cultural as well as historical values. It takes about 5 minutes to walk from Lucky 3 Hotel to the Hoan Kiem Lake.
Many beautiful words are used to describe the beauty of the lake such as picturesque, magnificent, dreamy, mysterious,… Its unique beauty attracts a lot of tourists each year, not only Vietnamese but also many foreigners. That’s why Hoan Kiem lake is always one of the top choices when choosing the places to visit in Hanoi.
If you have a plan to visit Hoan Kiem Lake Hanoi, Vietnam, let’s follow this post and find out about its history and what to do there.
Location: Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi
Area: 12 ha
Shore length: 1.75km
Length: 700m
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History and Legend
Hoan Kiem lake, also known as “Sword Lake,” is a freshwater lake in the center of Hanoi. The legend about the name of the lake is known by all the Vietnamese people. Since they were small, they all learn about the story in their school about the most revered heroes, a giant turtle, and a magic sword.
According to the tale, a long time ago, Le Loi is the King of Vietnam. One time, when he visited his friend, he came across a shining bar that his friend caught it in an attempt of fishing. The King asked for the bar and brought it to his home before turning it into the sword that had two words on it “Thuan Thien” (it means: harmonious with heaven).
He believed that it was a heaven-sent sword, used it in the battle against the occupying Ming army and he gained the victory. He later had a chance to go boating on the lake, but the leisured trip was interrupted. There was a large golden turtle rising above water and asking him to return the sword to the Dragon King. The King gave the sword back to the turtle without any hesitation. To commemorate this event, he decided to change the former name Luc Thuy (meaning “Green water”) into Hoan Kiem lake (meaning the lake of the Returned Sword).
The lake is not only special in its history but also some characteristics that you might not find anywhere else in Vietnam. The water of the lake has different colors depending on the reflection of the sky, it could be green, dark or light.
Hoan Kiem Lake Hanoi is also the home of tortoises. If you are lucky, you will have a chance to see these giant animals rising out of the water, taking a sunbath.
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What to See around Hoan Kiem Lake
There are so many activities happening around Hoan Kiem lake which make it crowded and busy all day, especially during the weekends. Let’s rock it like the locals, and find out what to see and where to visit around Hoan Kiem Lake!
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1. Ngoc Son Temple
Located in the center of the lake, you can easily find the Ngoc Son temple by looking from any side of the lake. The name of the temple means “Temple of the Jade Mountain.”
Built in 18th century in the Jade Island, it is dedicated to Tran Hung Dao, a war hero who defeated 300,000 Mongolian soldiers invading Vietnam in the 13th century. In the temple, you can find the alters, some artifacts and a 250 kg preserved specimen of a giant turtle.
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2. The Huc Bridge
The bridge is a beautiful construction which was built to connect the Ngoc Son Temple and the lake bank. It was constructed by fine wood and stand out by its bright red color.
The Huc Bridge is a famous tourist attraction in Hanoi, a symbol of the Buddhist architecture and well-known as “the bridge where light is absorbed.” Visitors can feel its different elegant beauty and sophisticated architecture at any time of the day.
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3. Turtle Tower
Turtle tower is a significant landmark in the center of Hoan Kiem lake. Standing for almost 150 years, it used to be a resting place when the King went fishing and now the pride of the people of Hanoi.
During the French occupation, the revolutionary flag of Vietnam was hung on the top of the tower which always reminded the Vietnamese people to rise up and fight against the invaders. Though not built in a specific type of Vietnamese style, it is the symbol of patriotism and also the unity of the Vietnamese.
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4. Water Puppet Show in Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre
The 1-hour show is taken place in Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre which comprises 17 short sketches with the use of traditional puppets.
Shows are played by a Vietnamese orchestra that accompanies stories, and musicians playing songs using wooden bells, drums, bamboo flutes, cymbals, and horns.
Puppet performances start with a prelude by the clown Teu, which is a funny-looking puppet featuring sprouting hair. While watching this performance, you will be curious about the secret to how Vietnamese puppeteers make the puppets move flawlessly whilst seeming blind from the screen. This theatre is really a magnet for both Vietnamese locals and foreign tourists who want to understand more about this legendary traditional form of art of Vietnam.
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5. Walking street around Hoan Kiem Lake
Walking Street operates from 7 pm on Friday to 12 am on Monday every week. All vehicles will stop moving in the area surrounding Hoan Kiem Lake, pedestrians can comfortably walk on the sidewalk or on the roadway, and join with many exciting games. This is a very popular place to relax on the weekend.
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How to Get to Hoan Kiem Lake
If you want to get to Hoan Kiem lake from Noi Bai Airport, there are several means of transportation for you: shuttle bus, public bus, and taxi (Grab).
- Shuttle bus: It is recommended to take a shuttle bus and then continue by taxi or walk to your accommodation. The shuttle buses have more stops that can drop you off within walking distance.
- Public bus: This is another choice for those who want to travel like a local and also save money. You can easily find the public bus on the right side of the terminal exit. And it will take you around 1 hour to get nearer to Hoan Kiem Lake. First, you need to catch bus number 17 and then change to Express 86 in Long Bien station.
- Lucky 3 Hotel transportation service: private and safe car will bring you from the airport to hotel or Hoan Kiem Lake directly at a reasonable price. Contact us on email: booking@lucky3hotel.com or phone: +84 24 3938 1988
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Source: collected
