A loop around Hoan Kiem Lake, from legend to everyday life
According to legend, after defeating the Ming army, King Le Loi sailed on the lake and returned the precious sword to the Golden Turtle. Since then, the lake has been named Hoan Kiem, meaning “returned sword.” In the heart of Hanoi, that story is still remembered through the lake’s name, the shadow of Turtle Tower, and the temple on Ngoc Island.
From the promenade on the east side of the lake, Turtle Tower appears on a small mound in the middle of the water. Along each stretch of the path, branches create a different frame: sometimes the tower stands fully within an open expanse of the lake, sometimes it is only glimpsed behind the foliage.
The structure has tiered arched windows and a small roof on top. Separated from the shore by a stretch of water, the tower stands still amid a constantly moving scene: pedestrians, swaying tree shadows, and ripples running across the lake.
Turtle Tower was built on a mound rising in the middle of the lake and is also known as Quy Son Tower. Collected photo
From the lakeside area, heading toward the entrance to Ngoc Son Temple, you will encounter Pen Tower before reaching The Huc Bridge. In 1865, the scholar Nguyen Van Sieu undertook the renovation of this area and had Pen Tower built on Doc Ton Mountain. On the tower are three Chinese characters, “Ta Thanh Thien,” meaning “writing on the blue sky.”
Going further, you will reach Ink Slab. The inkstone is carved from stone in the shape of a peach, with an inscription above discussing the meaning of literature and the use of beauty to educate people. Pen Tower and Ink Slab are not merely decorative structures at the entrance but also form a story about the scholarship and literature of Hanoi’s nineteenth-century literati.
Pen Tower bears the inscription “Ta Thanh Thien,” while Ink Slab is associated with an inscription about literature and the education of people
Past Ink Slab, The Huc Bridge opens before you with red railings and a curved shape over the water. The bridge was built during the 1865 renovation; its name means to retain the beautiful light of the sun. Through many restorations, it remains the link between the lakeshore and Ngoc Son Temple.
The Huc Bridge consists of 15 spans; its foundation has been changed through successive constructions and restorations
After crossing the bridge, you enter the Ngoc Son Temple complex. The temple is associated with the worship of Tran Hung Dao and Van Xuong De Quan, two figures representing martial achievement and literature in this sacred space.
Take time to look at the layers of architecture instead of walking straight into the worship hall. From the gate, courtyard, and Tran Ba Pavilion to the inner temple area, each transition shows that Ngoc Island is organized as a complete complex.
The Ngoc Son Temple complex comprises multiple layers of architecture on Ngoc Island, within the space of Hoan Kiem Lake.
