Hanoi

Hoan Kiem Lake

Hoan Kiem Lake

Hoan Kiem Lake is considered the center of Hanoi city. This place is not only a place for people to participate in entertainment activities at the weekend but it is also associated with the people of Hanoi with many events from history, culture …

Where is Hoan Kiem Lake?

Hoan Kiem Lake is located in the center of Hanoi capital, the lake is surrounded by big streets including 3 streets of Hàng Khay – Le Thai To – Dinh Tien Hoang.

Moving around Hoan Kiem Lake

Transportation around Hoan Kiem Lake you can choose include: motorbike, cyclo, tram, walking. In which compact motorbike is suitable for personal use, you can rent a motorbike at many locations near Sword Lake. Remember to avoid Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights because this is the time to open the pedestrian street, cars and motorcycles are not allowed.

Cyclo is a great suggestion for Hoan Kiem Lake to help tourists admire the surrounding lake landscape, remember to negotiate a price with the driver in advance to avoid being hacked. You can also choose the tram to move around the Hoan Kiem Lake with the number of passengers per trip is 8 people, about 35 – 60 minutes/trip.

However, we recommend you to take a walking tour of Hoan Kiem Lake and explore nearby places around this area. By walking, you can freely explore many different interesting places, see the life of local people, and easily enjoy a lot of street delicacies that you should not miss when traveling to Hanoi.

Places to visit in Hoan Kiem Lake and surrounding

Hoan Kiem lake

Not only is the beautiful landscape that visitors can not ignore in the list of Hanoi tourist attractions, but this is also a place associated with the historical tradition of the capital. Hoan Kiem Lake has two floating islands: Ngoc Island is located to the north of the lake, with The Huc Bridge connecting to the island. In the middle of the lake is the smaller Turtle Island, above is the hundred-year-old ancient Turtle tower taciturn among the four glittering waves.

On the weekends, the streets around Hoan Kiem Lake will become a walking city with many interesting activities such as street music, folk games… It attracts a lot of tourists.

Ngoc Son Temple

Ngoc Son Temple is one of Hanoi’s famous historical and scenic sites. Around the temple is a complex of architectural relics with many historical values and human meanings including The Huc bridge, But the tower, Nghien station and Tran Ba communal house. The combination of the Ngoc Son temple complex and Hoan Kiem lake has created a harmonious ancient architecture master, between humans and nature.

Hanoi Opera House

Located on Cach Mang Thang Tam Square, designed and built by the French in 1901 in the form of the Garnier Opera in Paris. This is also a familiar and typical place that you cannot miss when traveling to Hanoi.

Thang Long Water Puppet Theater

Being one of the most famous water puppet art venues in Vietnam, it attracts a lot of domestic and foreign tourists. The theater is open all days of the week, the ticket price ranges from 60,000-100,000 VND / ticket.

Hanoi Old Streets

Next to Ho Guom is the old streets such as Hang Ngang, Hang Dao, Hang Duong, … where visitors can visit, explore life, culture, and people as well as unique culinary features of Hanoi.

Trang Tien Plaza

Located at the corner of Trang Tien – Hang Bai intersection, this is the most luxurious shopping center in Hanoi.

Dinh Le Street

If you are a book lover, this street is the place for you. Dinh Le Street is also known by another name which is “book paradise” in Hanoi. When coming to this street, you will see many shops selling many different types of books, especially the price is very reasonable and the quality of books is also quite good.

Ly Thai To monument

Ly Thai To monument is located in the Chi Linh flower garden on Dinh Tien Hoang street. This is the typical cultural architecture in Sword Lake in honor of the king who had publicly established the imperial city of Thang Long.

Hoa Phong Tower

Located on the edge of the lake, Hoa Phong tower is an ancient relic of Bao An pagoda after it was destroyed by the French to take land to build a post office.

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What to eat?

Besides the above tourist attractions, around the lake, especially the old town dubbed the culinary paradise, which is a great place for devouring food lovers. We will suggest you some very famous places to eat and drink which Hanoi people often visit:

  • Dong Xuan Market Alley: This is a small alley but there are many famous dishes in Hanoi including sweet tea, noodles, pho … with quite cheap prices from 15,000 VND – 30,000 VND.
  • “Bun cha” Hang Buom: 43 Hang Buom, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
  • Hang Khay bean vermicelli: alley 31, Hang Khay Street, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
  • Boiled snail in Dinh Liet street: No. 1 Dinh Liet, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
  • “Bun thang” Cau Go: 48 Cau Go, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
  • Beef salad in Hoan Kiem street: 23 Hoan Kiem Lake, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi (Hoan Kiem Lake street is a very small and short street right next to the lake)
  • 4 seasons “Chè” – traditional Vietnamese sweet beverage: in Hang Can street: No. 4 Hang Can, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
    Cafe Dinh: 13 Dinh Tien Hoang, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
  • Trang Tien Ice Cream: 35 Trang Tien, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
  • Thuy Ta Ice Cream: No. 2 Ly Thai To, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi

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What to buy?

Around the area of Hoan Kiem Lake, you will easily find what you need from clothes, backpacks, souvenirs, handicrafts … or even Hanoi’s specialties such as Salted or sugared dry fruits, … as a gift for a friend or relative. Streets such as Hang Ngang, Hang Dao, Hang Bac, Hang Ma … night markets on weekends are places to sell such items.