Hoan Kiem Lake

We arrive at Hoan Kiem Lake, also known as Ho Guom, the “Lake of the Returned Sword,” a central place where Hanoi’s everyday life, history, and legends meet. Covering about 12 hectares, the lake can be easily walked in a 1.6-kilometer loop and has been one of the city’s key landmarks for centuries. Its name comes from a famous Vietnamese legend: in the fifteenth century, the hero Lê Lợi was said to have received a magical sword to defeat the Chinese Ming invaders, and after his victory, a sacred turtle appeared here to take the sword back, reminding him that power was only meant to be temporary. In the middle of the lake stands Turtle Tower, built in the late nineteenth century and now one of Hanoi’s best-known landmarks, visible only from the shore. The atmosphere changes over the course of the day: mornings are calm, with locals practicing tai chi or jogging, while evenings and weekends bring street performances and night markets as the area becomes pedestrianised.