Lake of the Returned Sword

You can find a really nice and cozy place in the center of Hanoi. It is loved by both tourists and locals. This is «Lake of the Returned Sword» or «Hoàn Kiếm Lake» - a huge reservoir with an area of 12 hectares.

You feel very fresh when you stand near the water, because of the light breeze. Walking around Hoàn Kiếm Lake is a great way to refresh yourself after the frenzied rhythm of modern Hanoi, relax, loosen up, or, on the contrary, work out, jog, and have an active time. That's what the locals do. Literally, the entire embankment around the lake is full of lovers of an active lifestyle. There are a lot of athletes, especially in the morning. But they don’t make it uncomfortable for you to enjoy the beauty of the lake.

It is hypnotizing, it makes you focus on the incredible color of the water, the beauty of the trees, and the aroma of incense from the neighboring temple.

There is a very interesting legend connected with Hoàn Kiếm Lake. The Dragon King, a local god, gave the Vietnamese Emperor Lê Lợi his magic sword. The sword blades were found by fishermen as it got tangled in fishing nets. And the handle was found by Lê Lợi himself. When he combined the parts, he got the perfect weapon and with its help, Vietnam won a crushing victory over China.

When it happened and Vietnam was celebrating the victory, the Dragon King asked Lê Lợi to return his sword. One day, Lê Lợi was sailing on a lake in a boat, and a giant turtle came up next to him and told him the request of the Dragon King. The sword was returned to its rightful owner. And after that, Lê Lợi changed the name of the lake to «Lake of the Returned Sword».

In memory of Lê Lợi and the turtle, the three-story Turtle Tower was built on Hoàn Kiếm Lake in the 17-18th centuries. The Turtle Tower quickly became a symbol of patriotism, unity, and pride for its people. Now people do not come to the small island where the Turtle Tower stands, leaving this piece of land to the local turtles, who relax and bask in the sun there.

You should definitely take a walk here in the evening. Hoàn Kiếm Lake begins to glow as lights on the Turtle Tower are lit and garlands on the trees magically flash.