Become a Virtual Tourist Member Today!  Sign Up for Free | Sign In

Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi

Search:
email to friend | help
Home » Travel Guides » Asia » Vietnam » Thu Do Ha Noi » Hanoi » Things To Do » Hoan Kiem Lake Reviews

Hanoi Travel Guide

Sponsored Links for Hanoi

Luxury Tours to Vietnam
Enjoy Vietnam in 5 star luxury and see the beauty of Asia.

Luxury Resort
Luxury travel specialists for the South Pacific: Australia, NZ & Fiji

Luxury Condo Alternatives
Consider fractional residences Learn more with our Free Guide

Hotels in Hanoi Vietnam
Check & compare rates, reviews Photos, maps, availability, fast

Luxury Accommodation
Hyatt - Official Site. View Rates, Book Rooms & Get Online Specials.

Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi
See all Hanoi Things To Do
A mural on the gate to Ngoc Son. - Hanoi
A mural on the gate to Ngoc Son.
by worldkiwi
Things to Do in Hanoi: Hoan Kiem Lake tips and photos posted by real travelers and Hanoi locals.
Hoan Kiem Lake
• 159 Photos
• 81 Reviews
All Hanoi Hotels
Check-In Date:
Check-Out Date:
Guests
Hotels by OneTime.com
Hanoi Hoan Kiem Lake ReviewsTips 51 - 60 of 81  
Sort By:  Most Recent | Best Rated
Hoan Kiem Lake: Hoan Kiem Lake
  • Updated By Kate-Me on June 28, 2006
  • Email Me
  • See My Hanoi Page
  • Send to a Friend
  • Part of Hoan Kiem lake - Hanoi
    Part of Hoan Kiem lake
    by Kate-Me,
    1 more photos
    Send Photo to a Friend

    Leave a Comment

  • Directions: marked on maps (which we didn't manage to have a copy of until almost the end of the trip)

    • Add to Your Trip Planner  Post a Question  Write a Tip on Hoan Kiem Lake
    Rate      Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    Hoan Kiem Lake: Hoan Kiem Lake
  • Updated By shintarojon on May 13, 2007
  • Email Me
  • See My Hanoi Page
  • Send to a Friend
  • Jon @ Hoan Kiem Lake - Hanoi
    Jon @ Hoan Kiem Lake
    by shintarojon, 2 more photos
    Send Photo to a Friend
    (last date visited - April 23, 2007)

    Hoan Kiem Lake

    Leave a Comment


    Add to Your Trip Planner  Post a Question  Write a Tip on Hoan Kiem Lake
    Rate      Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    Hoan Kiem Lake: Paz en medio del caos
  • By elpariente on November 24, 2005
  • Email Me
  • See My Hanoi Page
  • Send to a Friend
  • Hoan Kiem Lake - Hanoi
    by elpariente
    Send Photo to a Friend
    Dentro de todo el follon que hay en Hanoi, tienen un estanque que es un remanso de paz

    Leave a Comment


    Add to Your Trip Planner  Post a Question  Write a Tip on Hoan Kiem Lake
    Rate      Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    Hoan Kiem Lake: Respite from the Heat / Morning exercise
  • By akikonomu on August 9, 2005
  • Email Me
  • See My Hanoi Page
  • Send to a Friend
  • Hoan Kiem Lake - Hanoi
    by akikonomu
    Send Photo to a Friend
    Early morning, you will be surprised by the big turnout of early risers exercising at and around the lake. As though the entire Hanoi exercises...

    If you are wilting from the heat, cool yourself off under the shady willows of the lake. However, heat does get refracted off the water so it doesn't solve the problem of humidity.

    It's also a good place to orientate yourself between the French Quarter and Old Quarter and there is no lack of shopping or restaurants in the vicinity.

    Leave a Comment

  • Directions: Between French and Old Quarters

    • Add to Your Trip Planner  Post a Question  Write a Tip on Hoan Kiem Lake
    Rate      Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    Hoan Kiem Lake: Hoan Kiem Lake - Hanoi's landmark
  • By juliewong on December 24, 2006
  • Email Me
  • See My Hanoi Page
  • Send to a Friend
  • Pagoda - Hanoi
    Pagoda
    by juliewong
    Send Photo to a Friend
    Ho Kiem lake is a must-see place in Hanoi, within walking distance from Old Quarters. In the evening, this lake is filled with locals taking strolls or tourists shooting photographs of the famous red bridge, or little pagoda in the middle of the lake.

    Leave a Comment


    Add to Your Trip Planner  Post a Question  Write a Tip on Hoan Kiem Lake
    Rate      Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    Hoan Kiem Lake: The Loch Ness of Vietnam?
  • By worldkiwi on July 21, 2005
  • Email Me
  • See My Hanoi Page
  • Send to a Friend
  • A mural on the gate to Ngoc Son. - Hanoi
    A mural on the gate to Ngoc
    Son.
    by worldkiwi
    Send Photo to a Friend
    Hoan Kiem Lake is a murky, rather toxic green looking body of water at the southern edge of Hanoi's old quarter. The lake has quite a wonderful and intriguing legend attached to it. In ancient times a King threw a great sword into the lake and it was caught and taken down to the bottom by a giant turtle (most versions of the legend say a swimming tortoise). It is supposed to be good luck if one sees a turtle and the last sighting was way back in 2000. There is a lovely little temple (Ngoc Son Temple) to explore at the north eastern corner of the lake and an information room, in the temple complex, has some good photos of that sighting as well as the restored body of a dead turtle from 1969. It's a massive beast. To get to Ngoc Son Temple, you have to cross a fetching red wooden bridge, dating back to the 19th century.

    Leave a Comment


    Add to Your Trip Planner  Post a Question  Write a Tip on Hoan Kiem Lake
    Rate      Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    Hoan Kiem Lake: Hoan Kiem Lake
  • Updated By Ewingjr98 on April 27, 2004
  • Email Me
  • See My Hanoi Page
  • Send to a Friend
  • Hoan Kiem Lake & Tortoise Temple - Hanoi
    Hoan Kiem Lake & Tortoise
    Temple
    by Ewingjr98, 1 more photos
    Send Photo to a Friend
    Hoan Kiem Lake is central Hanoi's premier park, ideally situated between the Old Quarter and the French Quarter. The lake is surrounded by a nice path and souvenir shops. The Temple of the Jade Mound (or Den Ngoc Son) sits at the north end of the lake, while the Tortoise Tower is in the center of the lake.

    Leave a Comment


    Add to Your Trip Planner  Post a Question  Write a Tip on Hoan Kiem Lake
    Rate      Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    Hoan Kiem Lake: The Soul of Hanoi
  • By bsfreeloader on May 22, 2007
  • Email Me
  • See My Hanoi Page
  • Send to a Friend
  • Hoan Kiem Lake - Hanoi
    by bsfreeloader
    Send Photo to a Friend
    Hoan Kiem Lake is considered by Hanoians to be the soul of their city. You can circle the entire lake in thirty minutes without breaking a sweat, allowing ample time for photographs of, among other things, the Tortoise Tower.


    Add to Your Trip Planner  Post a Question  Write a Tip on Hoan Kiem Lake
    Rate      Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    Hoan Kiem Lake: Hoan Kiem Lake
  • By Blatherwick on October 10, 2004
  • Email Me
  • See My Hanoi Page
  • Send to a Friend
  • Hoan Kiem Lake - Hanoi
    Hoan Kiem Lake
    by Blatherwick
    Send Photo to a Friend
    Hoan Kiem Lake is the heart of Hanoi. The lake is always busy with people sitting around, walking, exercising, or selling crap to tourists.

    On the south side of the lake is a three-tiered pavilion on a tiny island in the lake. This is known as Tortoise Tower. Legend has it that a giant golden tortoise reclaimed a magical sword lent to King Le Loi by the king of sea. According to the legend the sword is still in the lake is a reminder of their history in repelling foreign invaders. Giant tortoises have occasionally been spotted in the lake and they say that it is good luck to spot one.

    The north side of the lake has and island where you cross an arched red Hun Bridge to get to Den Ngoc Son (Temple of the Jade Mound). There is a $1 toll to get there.

    Leave a Comment

  • Directions: South of the Old Quarter

    • Add to Your Trip Planner  Post a Question  Write a Tip on Hoan Kiem Lake
    Rate      Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    Hoan Kiem Lake: Hoan Kiem Lake
  • Updated By jujub on August 3, 2004
  • Email Me
  • See My Hanoi Page
  • Send to a Friend
  • Hoan Kiem Lake - Hanoi
    Hoan Kiem Lake
    by jujub
    Send Photo to a Friend
    Hoan Kiem means "the lake of the restored sword," in referral to a legend in which a nobleman who fought against the Chinese, received his sword from a magic turtle living in the lake. One day, the emperor was cruising in the lake, and the magic turtle appeared and demanded the return of the sword. The emperor then, built the Tortoise tower on an island in the lake, in memory of this event.

    Leave a Comment


    Add to Your Trip Planner  Post a Question  Write a Tip on Hoan Kiem Lake
    Rate      Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    1 ... | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | ... 9
    More Hanoi Tips
    Overview
         		General Tips
    Tips: 108 - Photos: 92
    Restaurants
    Tips: 456 - Photos: 304    		Hotels and Accommodations
    Tips: 245 - Photos: 140
    Things To Do
    Tips: 833 - Photos: 759    		Nightlife
    Tips: 95 - Photos: 58
    Off the Beaten Path
    Tips: 133 - Photos: 119    		Tourist Traps
    Tips: 37 - Photos: 16
    Warnings or Dangers
    Tips: 76 - Photos: 36    		Transportation
    Tips: 151 - Photos: 98
    Local Customs
    Tips: 63 - Photos: 58    		Packing Lists
    Tips: 19 - Photos: 14
    Shopping
    Tips: 137 - Photos: 105    		Sports Travel
    Tips: 14 - Photos: 7
    Flights
    Tips: 21 - Photos: 15

    More Sponsored Links for Hanoi

    Luxury Chiang Mai Hotel
    Book a luxury hotel stay w/spacious pavilions overlooking scenic views.

    Boutique Hotels in Hanoi
    Superb Photos, Independent Review and Exclusive Online Specials.

    Luxury Beach Hotel
    Initimate Dining, Top Ranking 5 Star Resort - Playacar Mexico

    Hanoi Deals

    Halong Bay Day Trip - $36/person
    (0 comments, 6:05 PM Mar. 24, 2008)

    $89 to Sapa, $49 to Ha Long Bay
    (0 comments, 10:40 PM Nov. 9, 2007)


    » All Hanoi Deals
    » Post a Hanoi Deal

    Popular Hotels and Accommodations in Hanoi

    » More Hotels and Accommodations in Hanoi

    Popular Things To Do in Hanoi

    » More Things To Do in Hanoi
    Find:        Matching:  Advanced