Hoan Kiem Lake (Lake of the Returned Sword)
Hoan Kiem Lake is a small freshwater body of water located in central Hanoi and is one of Vietnam’s cultural attractions. The beautiful lake appeared over a thousand years ago in the old bed of the Red River. It was originally named Luk Thuy.
. The lake is only 1-1.5 meters deep. It stretches for 700 meters and has a width of 250 meters. The water in the reservoir is very clear and the bottom is clearly visible from the shore. Over time, the river has changed its course. Today it flows sideways – much to the north of the reservoir.
Video: Hoan Kiem Lake
What to see
There are two small islets to the north and south of Hoan Kiem Lake. According to legend, they symbolize the head and torso of the sacred turtle. On one island stands the graceful tower of “Tuyap Jua” or “Turtle Temple” and on the other piece of land is the amazing “Dan Ngoc Son” or “Jade Mountain Temple.”
Near the reservoir there is a park and a cafe. This is a good place for leisurely walks, meditation and relaxation with friends. In addition, on the Hoan Kiem Lake, the water puppet theater shows performances.
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Turtle Temple
The Tuap Jua Tower is associated with the legend of the fearless hero Le Loi, who lived in the 15th century. At that time, the Vietnamese suffered greatly from the raids of Chinese invaders. When Le Loi was fishing in Luk Thuy Lake, a sacred turtle gave him a magic sword. With this weapon the hero fought himself and led other Vietnamese into battle.
The rebellion led by Le Loi ended in complete victory, and he organized a big celebration for his warriors. Le Loi wanted to celebrate his liberation from the Chinese and thank the gods for their help. In the midst of the celebration, the golden turtle appeared near the hero again and asked him to give up his sword. The weapon was in the water, the turtle took it in its mouth and swam away.
.Since the 15th century, the body of water has been called Hoan Kiemili, which means “lake of the returned sword”. And in 1886, the Vietnamese built a beautiful tiered pagoda called “Tuap Jua”. The last turtle that lived in this lake died of old age in 2016. She belonged to the rare species Rafetus vietnamensis and weighed 170 kilograms. Her death greatly saddened Hanoians, and many Vietnamese newspapers wrote about the event.
.Jade Temple
The beautiful temple was erected in the eleventh century in honor of warlord Tran Hung Dao. The fearless Vietnamese general commanded the Vietnamese and defeated an army of Mongols who sought to invade the country. Thanks to the merits of Tran Hung Dao, Vietnam was able to defend its independence.
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The temple has been rebuilt many times. The last time this happened was in the 19th century. In addition to Tran Hung Dao, the patron saint of all men of letters Van Suong, patron saint of doctors La Tho, and famous martial artist Caung Vu are given a tribute here..
The temple is accessed via Kau Thechuk or the Rising Sun Bridge. Today, a stuffed turtle, which was caught in 1968, is on display here. It weighs 250 kilograms..Passage to Hoan Kiem Lake is free, but there is a fee for foreigners to enter Dan Ngoc Son. You can buy a ticket at a kiosk located to the left of the bridge. It costs 20,000 dong. The temple is open to visitors daily from 8:00 to 17:00. To avoid crowds, it is better to come here in the morning or afternoon. You should also keep in mind that there are not as many visitors on weekdays as on weekends.
.How to get there
Hoan Kiem Lake is easily accessible by any form of transportation that runs in Hanoi, such as cabs or city buses. From the Old Quarter, it is not difficult to walk to the historic body of water. Next to Hoan Kiem Lake is the city’s main post office, and it is hard to miss.
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