Hoan Kiem Lake
Built in 1886, the ramshackle Thap Rua, on a small island in Hoan Kiem Lake, is topped with a red star on special occasions and is often...
Ngoc Son Temple
Meaning 'Temple of the Jade Mountain', Hanoi's most visited temple sits on a small island in the northern part of Hoan Kiem Lake,...
This photogenic monument depicting a woman with a sword and two men holding guns and a torch was erected as a memorial to those who died...
Hanoi's unofficial and long-standing gay HQ is a tad dingy and can be a bit creepy, but gets very lively on weekend nights. It's popular...
Nestled under a banyan tree near St Joseph Cathedral, this humble stall turns out banh ghoi, moreish deep-fried pastries crammed with...
Hoan Kiem Lake information
Legend claims in the mid-15th century Heaven sent Emperor Ly Thai To a magical sword, which he used to drive the Chinese from Vietnam. After the war a giant golden turtle grabbed the sword and disappeared into the depths of this lake to restore the sword to its divine owners, inspiring the name Ho Hoan Kiem (Lake of the Restored Sword). Every morning at around 6am local residents practise traditional t’ai chi on the shore.
The ramshackle Thap Rua , on an islet near the southern end, is topped with a red star and is often used as an emblem of Hanoi.