The city of Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, was founded in 1010 and was called Than Long, which means "flying dragon". The current name of Hanoi is translated as “the city between the lakes”. Hanoi is the political, economic and cultural center of the country. It combines East and West, Chinese traditions and French architecture.
Many tourists underestimate Hanoi and use it as a starting point for further travel to Vietnam and other countries of Southeast Asia. Of course, the city is not a resort city, here you will not find the sea and beaches, but Hanoi has its own charm, stay here for one or two days and you will see for yourself.
Lake of the Returned Sword
The Lake of the Returned Sword is located in the city center, close to old Hanoi, where most of the hotels, restaurants and attractions are concentrated. There is a wonderful park around the lake, which is a favorite vacation spot for both locals and tourists. There is an old legend that explains the name of this reservoir.
Legend has it that a giant turtle has lived in the lake for many centuries, which, during the war with China, came ashore and gave the sword to Le Loy, the national hero of Vietnam. This sword helped to win the war against the Chinese and free the city from invaders. After the victory, the turtle came out of the lake again and took the sword. Locals believe that the turtle still lives in the Lake of the Returned Sword. Strange, but the water in the lake is always green.
Turtle tower
The Turtle Tower sits on a tiny island in the middle of the Lake of the Returned Sword. The tower was built in honor of the same turtle that lives in the lake in the 19th century by order of the influential mandarin (). Later it turned out that the mandarin had built the tower with a secret intent - to bury the ashes of his father on the island. The scandal was huge, but the tower was still left. There is no passage to the tower, but you can see it from any shore of the lake.
Temple of the Jade Mountain
The Temple of the Jade Mountain is also located on an island in the Lake of the Returned Sword. You can get to the temple by walking along the red "Rising Sun" bridge. The temple was built at once in honor of three very important persons - the national hero of the XIII century, the scientist - the patron saint of literature and the person who made a huge contribution to the construction of the shrine. The Temple of the Jade Mountain is very symbolic, absolutely all interior details have their own special meaning.
Hanoi Fortress or Hanoi Citadel
The Hanoi citadel was opened to the public quite recently; until 2010, the fortress was an active military facility. The citadel was built as an imperial fortress in 1010 and remained so until 1810. In the 19th century, under the French, the citadel was completely destroyed; work on its restoration began only in the 21st century. There are several museums and an archaeological park on the territory of the fortress. In 2010, the Citadel of Hanoi was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Flag Tower is well preserved on the territory of the fortress. Its construction dates back to 1812.
One Pillar Pagoda
The pagoda was erected in 1049 by order of Emperor Li Thai Tong based on his dream. The pagoda is a unique example of Vietnamese architecture and was built in the form of a blooming lotus. In 1954, during the retreat, the French destroyed the pagoda and only after many years it was possible to restore it.
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Museum
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum - here in a glass sarcophagus rests the body of the great leader. Admission is free, but there are strict rules inside the mausoleum. There is a small, but very cozy and beautiful park near the mausoleum.
Nearby is the Ho Chi Minh Museum, where you can view photographs and documents that testify to the enormous contribution of President Ho Chi Minh to the country's history.
You can still list the sights of Hanoi for a very long time. In addition to the ones I have already mentioned, you can see:
- Vietnamese Army Museum
- Museum of the Vietnamese Revolution
- Presidential Palace (only the part of the palace where President Ho Chi Minh lived and worked is open to the public. It is strictly forbidden to photograph the palace, the soldiers guarding the palace are watching this).
- Temple of Literature
- Quan Thanh Temple
- St. Joseph Catholic Temple
- Tran Quoc Pagoda
- Fragrant Pagoda (located 60 km from Hanoi)
- Hoa Lo Prison
- Hanoi from a height of 72 floors. The observation deck is located in the Landmark skyscraper
- Bao Sean Park. The park has an oceanarium, a zoo and numerous attractions.
Also in Hanoi, you can visit one of the performances of the famous Vietnamese water theater.
And this is also far from all the attractions of Hanoi. Walk through the narrow streets of the old city, plunge into the atmosphere of the modern and you will understand that Hanoi is wonderful.
