Hoan Kiem Lake & Ngoc Son Temple
Just to the south of the bustling Old Quarter streets, is an oasis
of calm right in the centre of the city. This is an enchanting body
of water right in the heart of Hanoi. Legend has it that in the
mid-15th century, King Le Loi found a sword which he used to defend
the country against the Chinese Minds domination. One day after
the war, when he was sailing on Green Water Lake, a giant golden
turtle emerged and moving toward the boat. The King pointed the
sword at the turtle which then held it in its mouth and disappeared
in the depth of the lake. King Le Loi then renamed the lake Hoan
Kiem (Lake of the Restored Sword) because he derived that the sword
was given to him by the Heaven for the sole purpose of fighting
the enemy, now the mission has been accomplished and peace is restored,
the sword is returned to its divine owners the Heaven.
Several of the capitals finest colonial buildings can be found
in the area of Hoan Kiem Lake including the magnificent Opera House,
History Museum and the Metropole Hotel. This small lake is nicely
bordered by age - old trees. In the extreme north is an islet accessible
by a wooden bridge painted red. On this islet located the small
temple of Ngoc Son which is dedicated to General Tran Hung Dao,
a hero who defeated the Mongolians in the 13th century and La To,
patron saint of physicians. In the middle of the lake is the tortoise
tower considered as the contemporary symbol of Hanoi.
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