Hoan Kiem Lake

Hoan Kiem Lake is like a little oasis in the noisy city, which is situated in the center of Hanoi. It is regarded as a precious pearl of Hanoi capital. Some foreigner visitors sometimes call it the name of “the basket flower inside Hanoi”.

Along time ago, this lake had the name “Luc Thuy” as the water inside was green throughout the year. In the 15th century, that name was changed into “Hoan Kiem Lake” (meaning "Lake of the Returned Sword" or "Lake of the Restored Sword", also known as Ho Guom - Sword Lake). This present name derived from the legend of King Le Thai To handed a Magic Sword which brought him a victory against the Chinese Minh aggressors back to the Golden Turtle God (named Kim Quy) in the lake.

Hoan Kiem Lake is not only an ideal destination for relaxation but also intimately close to the living of Hanoians. Some National Festivals are celebrated around this lake, which attracts a huge number of participants. Typically given is the firework display on Lunar New Year’s Eve or on National Day of Vietnam (2nd September) … Furthermore, in Spring annually, hundreds of flowers are gathered around Hoan Kiem Lake in “Hanoi Flower Festival” – which make an unforgettable impression on both local and foreign visitors.

Wandering around Hoan Kiem Lake, tourists will have chance to visit some historic vestiges such as Tortoise Tower, statue of King Ly Thai To, Ngoc Son Temple, Thap But Tower, The Huc Bridge, Ba Kieu Temple … The picturesque scenery of Hoan Kiem Lake together with Ngoc Son Temple, The Huc Bridge and Tortoise Tower is an image of Hanoi in every heart of Vietnamese people.

West Lake (Ho Tay)

West Lake is one of the attractive parts of Hanoi. It is surrounded by rows of willow and lagerstroemia (“bang lang” trees) and is a “most-wanted place” for young lovers. It is the biggest lake located in the northwest of Hanoi, covering a large area of 500ha in Tay Ho District. From the past, West Lake is associated with many legends, of which the most popular is the legend of the golden buffalo.

West Lake has been a beautiful landscape since Ly – Tran Dynasties. Long ago, some palaces for relaxation and entertainment were built such as Thuy Hoa Palace on Ly Dynasty (now it is the area of Kim Lien Pagoda), Ham Nguyen Temple on Tran Dynasty (at present Tran Quoc Pagoda) … A nice day for taking a boat traveling around West Lake is an interesting activity for every visitor. If tourists intend to spend some hours leisurely walking around West Lake, there are some places which can not be missed. Nghi Tam Village - the homeland of “Ba Huyen Thanh Quan” - is the place where Kim Lien Pagoda with the origin architecture is located. Nhat Tan Village is famous for peach blossom in spring. Xuan Tao Village relates to Soc Temple worshipping Thanh Giong. The most special is Quan Thanh Temple, which is the favorite destination for tourists during spring season.

Besides, West Lake is very popular to both Hanoians and tourists who often come to enjoy some typical delicious dishes such as Ho Tay shrimp cakes, Ho Tay snail noodles and Ho Tay Fish.

Truc Bach Lake

Truc Bach Lake is located in Ba Dinh District, the northwest of Hanoi center. It is one of the most attractive tourist sites of Hanoi. Truc Bach Lake is separated from West Lake by a tree-shadowed Thanh Nien Road, an ideal place for relaxation and entertainment after hardworking hours. Legend has it that in 18th century, Lord Trinh Giang constructed a resort place near this lake – Truc Lam Institute. It used to be the village for local people weaving silk cloth to support their livings. Their silk is so smooth and beautiful that it became famous all over the capital. Truc Silk Village was the name of this village; that explains the reason why the lake nearby was named Truc Bach.

Tourists walking around Truc Bach Lake for relaxation are easily to see many ancient monuments like Quan Thanh Temple, Chau Long Pagoda and Cau Nhi Temple.