Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple






Hoan Kiem Lake, or the Lake of the Restored Sword, is located in the heart of Hanoi, just south of the District of the 36 Guilds. The lake takes its name from a legend involving the Emperor Le Loi who celebrated his defeat of the Chinese by a nautical gala. He appeared at the helm of his ship, holding the magic sword which had given him the victory when a giant tortoise grabbed the sword. Since the sword had done its duty--freeing the Vietnamese from the Chinese, the Emperor named the lake after this event.

Today this beautiful lake is surrounded by a lush park--the site for badminton, exercises, and jogging.

 

The Tortoise Tower on an island in the lake



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© 2004 Mary Ann Sullivan. I have photographed (on site), scanned, and manipulated all the images on these pages. Please feel free to use them for personal or educational purposes. They are not available for commercial purposes.

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