Hanoi, Vietnam
hoan-kiem-lake
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Turtle Tower sits as a solitary guardian on its tiny island. [ Licensing & Prints ]
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The Huc Bridge on the still waters of the lake. [ Licensing & Prints ]
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An artist sketches Turtle Tower in the mist. [ Licensing & Prints ]
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The lake's shores are a focus of Hanoi's public life. At night, people flock to the shores, which during the early morning groups do their daily Tai Chi. [ Licensing & Prints ]
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Turtle Tower in the morning mist. [ Licensing & Prints ]
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The Huc Bridge connecting the lake shore to Jade Island and the Temple of the Jade Mountain. [ Licensing & Prints ]
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An early morning summer haze adds a scenic white veil to Jade Island and The Huc Bridge. [ Licensing & Prints ]
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A bronze cast of one of the lake's famous inhabitants on display at the Ngoc Son Temple. [ Licensing & Prints ]
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Some of the trees around the lake are decorated with hanging lights. In the background, The Huc Bridge casts its distinctive red glow. [ Licensing & Prints ]
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Turtle Tower. [ Licensing & Prints ]
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The lake's famous turtles are a common motif in the artwork around the lake, in this case on a gate to Ngoc Son Temple. [ Licensing & Prints ]
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The Huc Bridge is painted red, but the bright red lights at night set it off even more. [ Licensing & Prints ]
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Local residents gather in groups at dawn for Tai Chi. [ Licensing & Prints ]
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Looking back at the bustling Old Quarter from Jade Island. [ Licensing & Prints ]
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The Hope for Love and Peace sculpture on the lake's shore. [ Licensing & Prints ]
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At night, the lake is a popular place for romantic strolls. It's also a popular backdrop for wedding photos. [ Licensing & Prints ]
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One of the cafe's on the lake shore. [ Licensing & Prints ]
- The Lakes of Hanoi
- The Hanoi Hilton
- Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum
- Tran Quoc Pagoda
- Hanoi’s One Pillar Pagoda
- Hoan Kiem Lake, Home of Hanoi’s Giant Turtle
- Quan Thanh Temple
- Vietnam Military History Museum
In the middle of the lake is a small island with a small stone Pagoda. You can’t get to it–there are no bridges or boats to the island.
But you can get to the other slightly bigger island on the lake–Jade Island. To get there, you cross a small bright red wooden bridge (The Huc Bridge) that leads to the entrance of an 18th century Buddhist temple–the Temple of the Jade Mountain.
The glassy waters on the lake at night set off the city lights beautifully, enhanced by more lights around parts of the lake wall and on Jade Island.
And then there’s those turtles. The lake’s name translates as “Lake of the Returned Sword.” It’s based on a legend of a turtle stealing–or, more accurately, reclaiming–a sword from Emperor Le Loi. The story goes that the emperor had been given a magical sword by the Golden Turtle God (Kim Qui) to smite the Chinese Ming Dynasty. After successfully fending off the invaders, the emperor was boating on Hoan Kiem Lake when a giant turtle rose up and snatched the sword from him and disappeared into the depths, never to be found again. It was explained as the Golden Turtle God reclaiming the magical sword.
There are, it turns out, giant turtles in Hoan Kiem Lake, but they’re very elusive and there’s probably only one of the revered creatures left in the lake. Sightings are rare.
But in April 2011, one of the famous turtles was captured for the first time to receive veterinary care. There are only three other living examples in this species known–one other in another lake in Vietnam and a pair in a zoo in China, so the long-term prospects for the species aren’t great, to say the least. The one in Hoan Kiem Lake was estimated at 80 to 100 years old and weighing in around 440 pounds.
