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| Hoan Kiem Lake tips and photos posted by real travelers and Hanoi locals. • 180 Photos
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 | Hanoi Hoan Kiem Lake Reviews | 1 - 10 of 89 |  |
This is the little 18th century temple located in the middle of the Hoan Kiem Lake, the one of the red bridge.
Even if you don't wanna enter (2000d) it's a nice walk through the bridge to the center of the lake, under shady trees. It is a very popular place for locals, you will find there many street photographers and groups visiting the place. Leave a Comment
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Hoan Kiem Lake is to Hanoi what Central Park is to New York City. It is a focal point for people to meet and what makes the city such a joy to live in. Early morning is best for a visit as Hanoians come out early to jog, do traditional stretching excercises and play badminton of all things. The name of the lake means Lake of the Restored Sword and comes from the legend about such a magical instrument given the local Emperor to drive the Chinese out of Vietnam. After the war, a giant golden tortoise snatched the sword from him while he was out fishing and took it to the depths of the beautiful lake. Thap Rua or the Tortoise Tower lays scenically on a center island of the lake, making for more reflection photos. Leave a Comment Directions: This is the centerpiece of the Old Quarter and impossible to miss as it is quite large for a city lake.
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You'll probably recognised the red bridge from countless of photographs so it'll compel you to go there and take your own 'expert' shot of it. Keen?
Head for Ho An Kiem Lake, right in the heart of the Old Quarters. Look out for the red laquered bridge attached to a temple.Here's my own crummy shot taken from the side of the temple. Leave a Comment Address: Ho An Kiem Lake, near Old Quarters
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Ho Hoan Kiem means "lake of the returned sword". The story behind the name is a legend. In 1418, the Vietnamese emperor Le Loi fought a war against the Chinese. It wasn't going too well for him so when he walked by the lake one day, he saw a giant tortoise coming out of the water with a magic sword in its mouth. He took the sword and eventually defeated the Chinese army with it. When he was having his victory parade at the shores of Ho Hoan Kiem, the tortoise appeared again and demanded the sword back. Before he could do anything, the sword flew away from his hands to the tortoise's mouth. It disappeared in the water. The emperor had a temple built which can still be seen today.
Now, here's the curious thing: In 1968, a giant tortoise was discovered dead in the lake. Scientists estimate that it's at least 200 years old. It is exhibited in the temple (Jade Hill Temple, located on a small island in Hoan Kiem Lake) and it is really huge: I would guess that it is about 1.5 metres long and weighs probably some 200 kilos or so.
Apart from all that historic stuff (that, btw, can be seen in the water puppet shows in the Water Puppet Theater next to the lake), Ho Hoan Kiem is a wonderful place to relax and watch the wind rippling the water. In the early morning and the evening, hundreds of Hanoians gather at the lakeshore to play badminton or do tai chi. Moreover, when you visit the lake at darkness, the lights of thousands motobikes passing by are beautifully reflected in the water. Leave a Comment Directions: Just south of the Old Quarter - Ho Hoan Kiem cannot be missed!
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Right at the heart of Hanoi is the Hoan Kiem Lake. Here, you find that it is a meeting place for both the locals and tourists. Cafes, shops, bus-stations and other human activities surround the whole lake. In the mornings, you will also see the locals jogging around the lake or doing other forms of exercises.
According to a legend, Heaven sent Emperor Ly Thai To a magical sword, which he used to drive the Chinese out of Vietnam. One day after the war, he stumbled upon a giant golden tortoise swimming on the surface of the water; the creature grabbed the sword and disappeared into the depths of the lake. Since then, the lake has been known as Ho Hoan Kiem (Lake of the Restored Sword) because the tortoise restored the sword to its divine owners.
Personally, the Hoan Kiem Lake is a reference point for me to move around the Old Quarter. Whenever I am lost, I would try to figure out where the lake is and from there, I would trace back my steps! Leave a Comment
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When you go to Hanoi, the favourite destination for tourist and also the local is Hoan Kiem Lake. It is located in the Old Quarter of Hanoi. You can have a pleasant walk around the lake. The area is surrounded by parks and gardens with many large trees. You can stop and have a refreshment in several café located near by. There are many activities surrounding the Lake. In the morning you will see the energetic Hanoians and foreign expatriate jog around the lake, some do tai chi and others played badminton. You will see the local trying to catch fish, while the hawkers selling food and other interesting items.
Walking around the lake you will see the Huc Bridge which leads to the Ngoc Son Temple. In the middle of the lake you will see Thap Rua Tortoise tower. Monument of national hero Le Loi is located on the other side of the road, very close.
Hoan Kiem Lake is in habitat by rare giant fresh water Tortoises, presumably the largest fresh water tortoise in the world. Every now and then the giant turtle do come up out of the murky water. It was sighted this year in November 2007, a month after we left Hanoi. I would love to see it but it wasn’t meant to be.
Many Hanoians believed the legend of Hoan Kiem Lake. In the 15th century there was a nobleman named Le Loi who later became King Le Thaito. Le Loi repelled the invading Chinese from the Ming dynasty and finally won the battle with the help of the sword he found in the lake whilst fishing. After many years of peace, King Le Thaito want to return the sword, he went back to the lake and without any warning a giant golden turtle appeared. The king returned the sword to the giant golden turtle and submerged to the depths. King Le Thaito renames Luc Thuy to Hoan Kiem .The meaning of Hoan Kiem is the lake of the Return Sword. The tortoise has important part in Vietnamese culture, the tortoise promote wisdom.
The legend has similararity to King Arthur legend which also happen to be in the same century. Address: Old Quarter of HanoiDirections: Go to Old Quarter of Hanoi
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In the evenings we would go for a walk near Hoan Kiem Lake located in the middle of Hanoi. Its name means "The Lake of the Restored Sword", referring to a 15th-century legend in which the nobleman Le Loi, who fought for the Vietnamese against Ming China, received his sword from a magic turtle living in the lake. The nobleman defeated the Ming and returned home in victory. One day, the emperor was boating in the lake when the turtle surfaced demanding the sword's return. In memory of this event, the emperor built the Tortoise Tower on an island at the south end of the lake.
Enormous turtles still live in the lake today. When they are spotted, it is supposed to herald the death of one of the country's leaders. Some say the turtles are brought to the lake. What do you think? Leave a Comment
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Walking around the Returned Sword Lake at night is very rewarding too, in the cool air, a bit far from noise, looking at people, joggers again, people walking slowly together, and lots of young couples sitting on the benches; a very quiet relaxing atmosphere.
At night the Ngoc son, lit with green light is a sort of a mystic appearance, specially with the red flag in the background! The lights of the city make some beautiful reflections which can be enjoyed all around. On the main picture is the famous The Huc Bridge, which is also wonderful at day.
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One lake you cannot miss in Hanoi is Hoan Kiem Lake, the lake of the returned sword. The Tortoise Tower (Thap Rua) standing in the center of lake is linked to the legend which gave its name to the lake: this legend says that after a victory against the armies of the Chinese Ming emperors, emperor Le Loi handed back a magic sword to the Golden Turtle God in the lake and hence gave it its present name.
The Ngoc Son Temple (Jade Mountain Temple) sits on another island to the north of the lake and can be reached over a famous red bridge.
It takes less than one hour to walk (slowly) around this picturesque lake, under the trees, among joggers, families, young people on tour, etc. . . This lake is located to the south and East of the old city, easily reachable from most hotels in the old city or the former French district (to the South). On the western shore there are a few open air cafes and terraces from where you can enjoy fresh air and the view over the lake.
A morning walk around the lake is very pleasant, before the noise of the city grows.
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Hoan Kiem Lake is the famous landmark around Hanoi.
If you are lost, just take the lake as your reference.
People are seen doing aerobics, tai chi, exercise, fishing in the day. At night, this turns out to be the favourite dating spot. Leave a Comment Address: Hoan Kiem DistrictDirections: South of Old Quarters
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