Hoan Kiem lake - the pearl of Hanoi capital

Hoan Kiem Lake is considered the pearl of the capital city, as tourists or foreigners called "flower basket in the heart of the city" located in the heart of Hanoi. Although the temple is a complete new architecture but Ngoc Son temple is a typical space and architectural artifacts. According to scientists they are a residual of the Red River after the river had moved the line as at present. The variability of the river he took a few thousand years ago. Formerly called Luc Thuy Lake has excellent water for four seasons green. 15th century, Luc Thuy lake was named Hoan Kiem lake. Hoan Kiem name associated with the story paid sword for gold turtles of King Le Thai To.

King Ly Thai To statue is in front of Hoan Kiem lake

Ngoc Son island ancient statue known as Tuong Nhi (elephant ears), King Ly Thai To moved his capital to Thang Long named Ngoc Tuong, to Tran dynasty renamed Ngoc Son. Here was erected a temple to worship the heroic martyrs who sacrificed during the resistance war against the Nguyen Mong. Later he collapsed house long, up to the Vinh Huu life - Le dynasty (1735 - 1739), lord Trinh Giang built Thuy Khanh and also covering up the 2 mountain land on the east coast facing the Ngoc Son called Dao Tai and Ngoc Boi mountain. End of Le dynasty, along with Thuy Khanh palace was destroyed by Le Chieu Thong. A charity named Tin Trai, on the same old base have established a temple called Ngoc Son pagoda. In third Thieu Tri dynasty (1843), the pagoda gave up for a charity renamed Tam Thanh temple. The society was removed steeple, rebuilt main palace, the two sides suites, bringing Van Xuong De Quan statue to worship and renamed Ngoc Son temple (Van Xuong the character Kien Vu dynasty, 25-55 after the cause the Chinese, the death was made a client of the scientific literature )





According to " Ha Thanh books " is from Le dynasty on the island, in Ngoc Son Temple had worship Quan Cong, celebrity high life that the Three Kingdoms (China). When King Le and Trinh Lord use lake where hydraulic forces are considered as a martial arts temple shrines. Ha thanh people has brought Duc Thanh Tran statue worship combine with Quan Cong. But "Kham dinh Viet su thong giam cuong muc" for that is the Le Lai statue, the national spirit birth on Le dynasty was discharged body savior.

The way come to Ngoc Son temple

In Tu Duc first eighteen years (1865), Nguyen Van Sieu confucian scholar repaired the temple. At each change covering more land and build stone embankment around, built Tran Ba communal house, a bridge from the north east coast to the bridge called The Huc. Mountain Ngoc Boi old, he built a stone tower, brush tops the summit tower, the tower itself had carved three words "Ta Thanh Thien" (mean: write on blue sky), today commonly called the Tower Pen. Next door is a book called the inkstone estrade, is placed a stone the ink slab halt peach duo vertically, with the team three frogs. In inkstone has engraved a article about the use ink slab philosophical aspects. People born after praise is "Nhat Dai Phuong Dinh But". From port outside the walls into two sides, one side of the table dragon, a tiger inside a table, the table represents the noble named the test passed, makes the artist as try to go through e-education .

Write on blue sky

The Huc bridge name that is retained beautiful light of the sun. The Huc bridge leading to Ngoc Son Temple Gate, also known as Dac Nguyet Lau (floor see moon) under the shade tree with the collection, the trees in the middle of a thickset, like emergence from the water. Temple of connecting together two throne, the first temple to the North was worship Van Xuong and Tran Hung Dao. Van Xuong statue standing, holding a pen is placed in the harem of about 1 meter high stone pedestal, the two sides have two stone stairs. The south has Tran Ba communal house (home-sure waves implies pillar withstand the wave of unfair in contemporary culture). Home eight square roof, roof two floors with 8 column prop, four out of stone columns, four columns of wood. Characters in the temple outside the church down to Van Quan De Vuong, La Dong Tan, Quan Van Truong, Tran Hung Dao, also worship the Buddha Amitabha. This represents the concept of three traditional religion in Vietnam (Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism).

The Huc bridge

The combination of Ngoc Son temple and Hoan Kiem lake has created an overall architecture God - Human merge, creating the ancient beauty, harmony, balanced to the temple and the lake, should suggest the feeling among the people and nature. Temples and lakes have become certified area recall the memories of the old national history, awakening pride, patriotism legitimate, as well as spiritual, a sense of Vietnam before immortal ethnic .

Autumn afternoon Hanoi

For Hanoi people, Hoan Kiem Lake is a place to get some fresh air, a place to play boats but also associated with life in many ways: Eve, many people enjoy the spring walk around the lake. Spring, the lake is a meeting place for good men to women credit ceremony temples nearby. The couple married the day to find the sword lake souvenir photograph. The summer, the muggy afternoon, the lake is an ideal location to get some fresh air. Who had once looked into the lake from above will not fitful before color paintings and poetry of the violet insult trees alternating between red flamboyant trees, golden rice cooled trees, the big trees ferment down, the arms embracing green in color turquoise water specifically. Autumn, Hoan Kiem lake is not only beautiful landscapes with ranges pendulous willow shores, sun sparkling on the water but also the capital where people comes to see the fireworks of the great festival of the people groups as 2-9 (Independent day) and 19-8.

Fireworks in Ho Guom lake in new year Eve

The historical uniqueness: Turtle Tower, the King Ly Thai To statue, Ngoc Son Temple, Nghien estrade , Pen tower, Ba Kieu temples, Ba Da pagodas ... architecture and modern, newly built or created but always ensure harmonious combination with the inherent landscape around the lake. Hoan Kiem Lake with Ngoc Son temple, The Huc bridge and Turtle Tower sparkling water balloon is the image of the capital Hanoi in a heart of Vietnam.

Sights and Sounds of Viet Nam

If you've been there, and you watch this wonderful, soothing succession of slides, you'll be nodding in agreement as you recognize all the things you've seen, tasted and experienced. If you haven't been there, you'll want to board the first plane out!
Enjoy...

You'll catch a glimpse of the Museum of Ethnography...have I got a story and pictures for you...coming soon.

Hoan Kiem Lake

The lake seen from atop of the City View Café

This lake is the beehive of Ha Noi's old quarter and is often used as a point of reference for easy orientation. It is considered by Hanoians to be the very heart of their capital, though it isn't the largest, nor the cleanest, nor the most awe-inspiring.

 

Very fancy tai chi for 6:00 am with red fans

As this was our second trip to the capital, we were already familiar with its ambiance, the "hot spots" surrounding it, but we had missed the 6:00am tai chi rituals that occurred every morning. Frankly, I was not that motivated to get myself out of bed to view or participate, so the first time, Chuck went solo with his camera and must have shot himself silly out of photos.

Naturally, after he returned and could hardly contain his excitement, it was very difficult to refuse going. And a great percentage of the 500 or so photos he had originally taken were blurred, so a do-over was in order. Of course, breakfast was on my mind, as this is something one simply cannot miss,-all you need to do is look at the spread laid at our beck and call every morning, and you know what I'm talking about. However, he mentioned that there was a French bakery where one could indulge right at lakeside. Ironically, we did go back to that very spot where we had lunch with a business associate of mine the next day. It was heavenly, and you could not get better views of the lake except if you were on a high floor, which we did as well.

 

So, what is it about this lake and the temple which seems to float on the water? and the inimitable red lacquered Huc bridge which appears to have been crafted from elves borne out of a fairy tale? Yes there is a legend which surrounds Hoan Kiem Lake, and it only adds to the romantic feeling as you meander through the walkways, and splendidly planted nooks and crannies all around this spot of water. 

 

I bet as you look at these photos that you are wondering if this is really Viet Nam. The country has stopped being a "war" a long time ago. It is vibrant, fast, aromatic, colorful and extremely welcoming.

 

 
It's about a warrior called Le Loi and a golden turtle who swallowed his sword, as the turtle had the wisdom to realize that once the Chinese had been driven away, Le Loi didn't need his sword anymore. You'll find Le Loi to be a main artery in Sai Gon, and we'll get to that eventually. I'm sure many other things are named after this 15th century hero of the Viet Namese people.












It is reported that this lake was once part of the Red River (it's huge, and we were there up close when we went west of Ha Noi to a pottery village) and moved eastward through thousands of years' changes in the topography. Originally name Luc Thuy lake, it was changed to Ho Hoan Kiem, which means Lake of the Returned Sword, by Le Loi.






At the north end of the Lake, Lord Trinh Giang built Khanh Thuy shrine on Ngoc island, which was destroyed and rebuilt into a pagoda. It is now referred to as Ngoc Son Shrine. We did not go into the shrine, but did make our way through the huge portal, immediately after which there is a recessed spot onto a rocky hill where one can burn incense and offer a prayer or blessing. This time, I had the camera and took pictures as Chuck negotiated his way up, studied the movements of the woman before him, and repeated her motions and came down. The aroma of incense is quite intoxicating and adds to the spiritual feeling that reigns along the lake. 









the lake at night




Occasionally one will see lovers sitting on a bench, but it's not very often, as Viet Namese, especially in the north, are not quite as emancipated as their brothers in the south, or the West for that matter. There is no public kissing whatsoever, but it is, without a doubt, one of the most romantic places to be and see. Also amazing and inspiring are the scores of older generation Viet Namese either exercising, or speaking French. The younger generation aspires to speak English and many to whom we talked dream of going to America. Hard to believe, isn't it?

soaking the sun at City View Café

Seeing the lake from up high is a treat, as I mentioned before. We were lucky to catch the sun in Ha Noi for lunch one day, and had the most exquisite spaghetti al fresco. The year before, we had dinner at Kim Quy, an elegant restaurant opposite that high building and across the water fountain, and the night views were reminiscent of Paris. You can never tire of Hoan Kiem Lake or what adorns it, no matter what time of day it is.

the fountain taken from Kim Quy Restaurant on the second floor

Vietnam’s Hoan Kiem turtles on brink of extinction

The Hoan Kiem turtle is one of the most famous and rarest species of tortoise globally. There are just four left in the entire world, including two in Vietnam: one in Hanoi’s Hoan Kiem Lake and anther in Dong Mo Lake. The other two are living in a Chinese zoo.

 The tortoise caught in Dong Mo Lake.

 The turtle in Hoan Kiem Lake has been observed rising to the surface frequently since the beginning of the year, said Ha. But scientists worry about the animal’s health and the environmental condition of the lake.

In Dong Mo Lake, the sole turtle is also feared to be in danger as water levels have continued to drop due to drought conditions. According to Dong Mo Lake’s management broad, the lake is losing water by the day because of prolonged hot, dry weather.