Lake of the Restored Sword (Hoan Kiem Lake)

Fall is the ideal time to visit Hoan Kiem Lake. When you come to Hoan Kiem Lake on the weekend, you will have the opportunity to visit Walking Street with many unique and interesting activities.

When visiting Hanoi in the autumn, the cool weather is very suitable for walking around the lake and the Old Quarter, as well as witnessing Hanoi's autumn season with yellow leaves all over the streets, street vendors carrying chrysanthemums and green rice flakes, or inhaling the rich aroma of milk flowers, which is a distinctive feature of the capital city during the autumn.

Visitors can use personal or public transportation to get to Hoan Kiem Lake, which is quite convenient. You can take a taxi or motorbike taxi and tell them your destination is Hoan Kiem Lake, and they will take you there. When taking a motorbike taxi or taxi, you should check Google Maps for distance and prices in advance.

Additionally, you can also get to Hoan Kiem Lake by taking bus routes such as 31, 36, 08, 09, 14, ... If you're unsure about the route or where to get off, don't hesitate to ask or seek guidance from ticketing staff or bus personnel.

Hoan Kiem Lake is a free tourist attraction. However, if you want to visit Ngoc Son Temple on the lake, the entrance ticket is 30,000 VND for adults and free for children.

The first place you should go is Turtle Tower. Turtle Tower is located in the heart of Hoan Kiem Lake, a combination of both European and Vietnamese architecture. In the late 1800s, the tower was erected atop a mound known as Turtle Island.

Turtle Tower is three stories high, with small floors at the top. Turtle Tower has become a cultural symbol of Hanoi thanks to its prime location, unique architecture and cultural significance.

Ngoc Son Temple was built in the early 19th century on a high mound northeast of Hoan Kiem Lake. The temple worships Van Xuong De Quan and Hung Dao Vuong Tran Quoc Tuan. Over many generations of kings, the architecture of Ngoc Son Temple has bold religious nuances.

Inside the temple there are many horizontal paintings and parallel sentences with ancient and spiritual beauty. This is one of the architectural achievements that contribute to the splendor of Thang Long's thousand years of civilization. The Huc Bridge has 15 spans and was built in the mid-19th century. The bridge is made of wood and has a dark red color. The bridge connects the shore with Ngoc Son Temple.

Nguyen Sieu designed a vertical pen tower on top of Ngoc Boi Mountain, right in front of Ngoc Son temple. The Pen Tower is engraved with three words "Ta Thanh Thien" which means "Write on the blue sky".

The Ink Slab, which means “pen posture against the sky”, is an architectural work made in conjunction with the Pen Tower. The platform is made of stone, shaped like a fairy peach, 0.97m long, 0.3m wide, 0.3m high.

Unlike Turtle Tower, Hoa Phong Tower is located on the east bank of Hoan Kiem Lake. This is the last remaining relic of Bao An Pagoda, after it was leveled by the French colonialists in 1898. The tower was built with three floors, the first floor opens to four directions.

Ba Kieu Temple is located on the east side of Hoan Kiem Lake, built around the early 17th century. This place worships the holy mother Lieu Hanh and the fairies Que Nuong and Quynh Hoa. Currently, the temple displays many historical treasures such as bronze bells, Hung Cong's ancestor stele, altars, incense burners...

This place not only has historical significance, but also cultural significance, helping future generations learn more about the legends, customs, and beliefs from the Le to Nguyen dynasties.

Ly Thai To Flower Garden, also known as Chi Linh Flower Garden, is located near Hoan Kiem lake on Dinh Tien Hoang Street. During the French colonial period, in the early twentieth century, this place was called Paul Bert Flower Garden, later Chi Linh Flower Garden. The statue of King Ly Thai To was built in the flower garden in 2004. Since then, many people call this place Ly Thai To Flower Garden.

Post Office Hanoi is located opposite Hoa Phong Tower. The French built the first Post Office Hanoi building in 1884. Post Office Hanoi still retains its contemporary 5-storey architecture with a facade running along the lakeside despite the additions in 1943 and new construction in 1976. Post Office Hanoi has a large clock on the roof, a famous place in the capital that people fondly call "Post Office by the Lake".

Dinh Le, a street located next to Post Office Hanoi, is known as the capital's book paradise. Coming to Dinh Le Book Street, visitors will discover books of diverse genres, from philosophy, history, culture, economics, social sciences, specialized literature, children's books... with affordable prices.

Hanoi Opera House is not far from Hoan Kiem Lake. France began construction on the structure in 1901, using many elements of Southern French architecture.

With its central location and huge construction scale, the Hanoi Opera House has become an important cultural center not only of Hanoi but also of the whole country. This place regularly organizes music, theater, symphony activities... attended by a large number of people and international friends.

Trang Tien Plaza is the capital's major commercial center. This shopping center was built in 1999, located near the Hanoi Opera House and overlooking Hoan Kiem Lake. Trang Tien Plaza, in addition to providing shopping services, also has restaurants and offices for rent on the 5th and 6th floors.

Hanoi with 36 streets has long become an attractive tourist destination. However, this information is not completely accurate. In fact, Hanoi's Old Quarter includes 76 streets divided into 10 wards, all located right near Hoan Kiem Lake.

Tourists visiting Hoan Kiem Lake can explore the traditional trade streets that have been preserved for generations in the Old Quarter, such as Hang Bong Street, famous for its cotton production, Hang Ma Street, known for its various gold and silver items, and Hang Luoc Street, which stands out for its shops selling combs made from different materials (wooden combs, plastic combs, etc.).

Moreover, visitors to the Old Quarter can admire the beautiful architecture of the ancient houses built since the 18th century. This area also boasts numerous historical sites, including temples, pagodas, and shrines.

When talking about ice cream in Hanoi, it is impossible not to mention Trang Tien ice cream. This is an ice cream company with a history of development of more than 60 years with many diverse flavors such as vanilla, coconut milk, green rice...

The Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre is the place where the unique traditional art form of Vietnamese water puppetry is preserved and celebrated. It was constructed in 1969. After 50 years of development, the theater has become an entertainment destination that draws a large number of both domestic and international tourists.

In particular, the form of water puppetry regularly performed by the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre has earned widespread appreciation and affection from audiences all over the world.

The walking street around Hoan Kiem Lake has long been a favorite destination for most Hanoi residents. It is where cultural activities and entertainment events take place, often becoming a familiar gathering spot for people on weekends.

The interesting thing about Hanoi's walking street is that although there are no games or modern technology services, it's still captivating and alluring due to traditional games and activities with Vietnamese national identity and cultural spirit.

Dong Xuan Market is the oldest and largest market in Hanoi. It sells everything from street food to home appliances, textiles, clothing, tech accessories and gifts for loved ones, family and friends.

This is an ice cream company with many locations throughout Hanoi. There are many different types of ice cream for customers to choose from. Popsicle prices range from 6,000 VND - 10,000 VND and about 55,000 VND for a large box of ice cream about 1 liter.

What's better than sipping a cup of coffee while admiring the beauty of Hoan Kiem Lake? Cafe Dinh located at 13 Dinh Tien Hoang near Hoan Kiem Lake will immediately meet your needs. Not only that, but this place also has a famous egg coffee dish that is popular with many diners.

This is one of the best and most famous sweet soup shops in Hanoi. You can choose from various sweet soup options depending on the season. For example, in the summer, the shop will offer enticing cold sweet soups like green bean sweet soup, black bean sweet soup, .... In the winter, they serve hot sweet soups to warm your body, such as floating cake sweet soup, ...

For Hanoi people, kebab rice noodles is a very familiar dish. So, after wandering around Hoan Kiem Lake, don't forget to stop by 43 Hang Buom to enjoy this dish.

Besides kebab rice noodles, noodle and tofu with shrimp sauce is considered "excellent" in Hanoi. This dish cannot be found in any famous or luxurious restaurant but can only be found in small roadside eateries. If you like to eat this dish, you can go to 31 Hang Khay, this is a quite famous address and loved by people in Hanoi.

If you're looking for light and delicious dishes, you should visit 53 Đinh Tiên Hoàng. Besides salads, this place also offers many tasty options such as spring rolls, rice dumpling cake, ... However, the salad is still the most popular dish here. The crispy texture of the green papaya combines with the rich flavor of fish sauce and dried beef to create a delightful meal.

• The best way to explore Hoan Kiem Lake is on foot. The attractions around Hoan Kiem Lake are not far away, so walking is not only convenient but also beneficial for your health.
• If you want to fully explore the lake, the Old Quarter, and the various points of interest, it's a good idea to allocate a whole day.
• Before buying or selling anything around the lake, you should ask the price first.

Hoan Kiem Lake is a gem in the heart of Hanoi. With the information shared by Justfly, it is hoped visitors will be able to fully explore Hoan Kiem Lake.