Hotels near Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple
Thanh Xuan, Ha Noi, Vietnam
Hoan Kiem Lake (Lake of the Restored Sword) is the geographic and spiritual centre of Hanoi - a 12-hectare green lake ringed by tree-lined promenades right beside the Old Quarter. According to legend, Emperor Le Loi received a magical sword from a golden turtle here in the 15th century to expel Ming Chinese invaders. The iconic red Huc Bridge crosses to Ngoc Son Temple on a small island.
The 18th-century Ngoc Son Temple (entry 30000 VND) houses the preserved body of a 2-metre soft-shell turtle (a species considered sacred and now extinct in the lake). The roads around the lake close to vehicles 19:00 Friday to midnight Sunday for a pedestrian-only weekend market with street performers and games. The early morning (05:30-07:00) sees locals practising tai chi and morning runs. Free to walk the lake.
Pro Tip: Visit early at 06:00 to witness the morning tai chi and badminton games along the eastern promenade - a vivid slice of Hanoi life. Then walk to Cafe Giang on Nguyen Huu Huan for the original egg coffee (ca phe trung), invented in 1946 and still served at 35000 VND.
Hotels (3)
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