Hoan Kiem Lake — The Scenery of Vietnamese Beauties

Hoan Kiem Lake is the most famous scenic spot in Hanoi, Vietnam. The lake is an elongated oval shape stretching north to south, covering an area of about 12 hectares. The shores are surrounded by lush green trees, and the water is clear as a mirror. The environment is elegant and tranquil, earning it the reputation as "Hanoi's Number One Scenic Spot." Vietnamese beauties love to wear Ao Dai, holding fresh flowers, and take photos with the lake scenery as the background.
There is a legend about Hoan Kiem Lake in Vietnam. It is said that in the 14th century, Le Loi, the founding emperor of the Later Le Dynasty, obtained a magical sword during his battle against the Ming army and ultimately won victory with it. Later, while playing in the lake, a divine turtle surfaced and demanded the sword. After Le Loi returned the sword, the turtle dove back into the lake. Hence, the name "Hoan Kiem Lake" (Lake of the Returned Sword).
Today, Hoan Kiem Lake is dotted with historical buildings such as Turtle Tower and Jade Mountain Temple. Around the lake and its surroundings, there are ancient structures like the Pen Tower, Sunken Sun Bridge, Zhenbo Pavilion, and Hefeng Tower. At sunset, the glow reflects on the water, ancient towers, and small bridges, with the towers mirrored on the lake surface, together forming a beautiful scene of lake light and tower shadows.

Post by MICHELLE BALDWIN | Oct 21, 2025