Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple: Things You Should Know

Hoan Kiem Lake (Vietnamese: Hồ Hoàn Kiếm or Hồ Gươm):

The Hoan Kiem lake and the Ngoc Son Temple offer plenty of trees and shaded spots in which to escape the busy city streets of Hanoi. It is loacated in the Old Quarter, and next to the main post office. It is free for the lake, but you have to purchase the ticket for Ngoc Son Temple at a booth located on the left-hand side before you cross the red bridge.

The Ngoc Son Temple opens at 08:00 and closes at 17:00 every day and its best to get to the lake as early morning as possible to watch the local people doing their morning yoga and Tai Chi. To get to the Ngoc Son Temple, you just need to walk across the flag-lined bright red The Huc Bridge across to Jade Island.

•    Opening Hours: Daily 08:00 - 17:00
•    Location: Old Quarter of Hanoi
•    Entrance Fee: adult 30,000vnd, child under 15yr free

Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi attracts many tourists and locals looking to get away from the noise and frenetic pace of the capital city. Peaceful and tranquil, the lake surrounding Ngoc Son Temple, a Buddhist Pagoda sitting in the centre on a small island.

Ngoc Son Temple (Vietnamese: Đền Ngọc Sơn):

The Ngoc Son Temple attracts many visitors and was first built in commemoration of the 13th century military leader Tran Hung Dao of the Tran Dynasty, who was renowned for his bravery in the battle against the Mongolian.

Ngoc Son Temple is also to pay a respect to scholar Van Xuong and Confucian master Nguyen Van Sieu. The island on which Ngoc Son Temple built is known as Jade Island and is accessible by the iconic The Huc Bridge or Rising Sun Bridge which is a charming scarlet-painted wooden bridge of classical Vietnamese Architecture. Ngoc Son Temple is also guarded by two towering posts decorated with Chinese poem. The lake and temple are tow of the the most famous places in Hanoi city in which to take a rest, enjoy the view and watch the locals.

Ngoc Son Buddhist Temple was first built in the 18th century on Jade Island in the middle of the ‘Lake of the Returned Sword’ or Hoan Kiem Lake. Vietnamese Legend describes about Le Loi Emperor was once given a magical sword by a turtle to help him defeat the Chinese Ming Dynasty in 1428, and then he returned that magical sword to the Golden Turtle God in this lake.

Today ‘Turtle Tower’ is standing close to the lake in memory of this legend. There are also some endangered large soft-shell turtles swimming in Hoan Kiem Lake, and to see one of these gentle giant turtless is considered very auspicious. The name of Ngoc Son Temple translates to ‘Temple of the Jade Mountain’ and is predominately dedicated to Vietnamese hero of War, General Tran Hung Dao who defeated Mongolian invading Vietnam in 1285 & 1288.

Also inside Ngoc Son Temple, there are a large bronze bust and other deities. There are altars dedicated to General Tran Hung Dao, some other ancient items including ceramics and a preserved specimen of a giant turtle found in Hoan Kiem Lake weighing 250kg.

Like many other Religious Buildings in Vietnam. When you go inside the Ngoc Son Temple, you need to dress  up with decent clothes or bring your sarong & scarf to cover your shoulder and knees to show the respect.

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