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Following the three must-visit sights in Hanoi in the previous article, below are also the familiar names associated with the capital of Vietnam. Referring to Hanoi, visitors from all over the world will think of these places. What are they?

Hoan Kiem Lake – One of the most famous sights in Hanoi

If you hear about Sword Lake or Lake of the Restored Sword that they all talk about Hoan Kiem Lake. This is the ideal place for both locals and visitors to get away from the noise and frenetic pace of the city.

The name of Hoan Kiem was officially introduced in the early 15th century with the legend of King Le Thai To returning the sword to the goddess after borrowing it to defeat the Minh invaders that made him officially become the king and built the prosperous Le dynasty. If you are searching for sights in Hanoi to visit, Hoan Kiem Lake should be in the list.

The tale goes that when Le Loi stood up as the leader of the Lam Son rebellion in Thanh Hoa against the Minh army, he came across the Thuan Thien sword. Thanks to this precious sword, he won the battle consecutively and acceded to the throne at the beginning of 1428. On one of his trip to Luc Thuy Lake, a tortoise suddenly appeared and shout: “Please return the sword to the Dragon King”. Without any hesitation, the King return the sword to the tortoise. The tortoise took the sword down the bottom and did not rise again. From then, the lake became Hoan Kiem Lake.

This lake is not only a historic site, the water color of it is also very special – the greenish that you cannot see elsewhere in Vietnam. The lake is especially beautiful at night with the lights. However, you can still admire the astonishing beauty of it in the early morning. Of course, your cameras will be of great help to capture all the scenes.

The Huc Bridge and Ngoc Son Temple

Ngoc Son Temple is one of the destinations not to be missed when visiting Hanoi. Situated on an island in the north of Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple is connected to the shore by the bright red The Huc Bridge.

Coming to Ngoc Son Temple, visitors not only can admire the magnificent architectural works in the traces of nostalgic time, watch the panoramic view of Hoan Kiem Lake but also have the opportunity to learn about the culture as well as little known story associated with the history of the temple.

All the architectures, the system of parallel sentences, lacquered boards and objects arranged in Ngoc Son temple are the harmonious combinations of Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism. This is also one of the must-visit sights in Hanoi.

Along with Ngoc Son Temple, The Huc Bridge is a symbol of the charm of Hoan Kiem Lake in general and Hanoi capital in particular. At the beginning, The Huc Bridge has a curved shape like a shrimp, made of very rudimentary wood and red paint – the color of life and prosperity. Legend has it that at the end of the 19th century the bridge was broken. It was rebuilt with foot made of reinforced cement. But the floor and balustrades are still made of wood and painted in red color.

One Pillar Pagoda – Always on the top of most favorite sights in Hanoi

Hanoi is famous for many unique architectural works including One Pillar Pagoda – the sacred place with thousands of years old. Visitors to the capital are all surprised by the impressive masterpiece of ancient Hanoian. Especially this ancient temple also imprints cultural – history of the nation.

The One Pillar Pagoda was recognized as “The most unique pagoda in Asia” in 2012 by the Asian Record Association. The Guinness Book of Records also recognizes One Pillar Pagoda as “The most unique pagoda in Vietnam”. The pagoda is shaped like a lotus flower on the water – the flower symbolizes the purity and nobility of Buddhism. Therefore, people still called One Pillar Pagoda as Lien Hoa Dai. If you ask a local, you will definitely be suggested to visit this pagoda, because it is one of the most famous sights in Hanoi.

You can visit the pagoda by various means such as bus, motorbike or taxi. When visiting the pagoda, you should pay attention to dress formally and respect the standard regulations.

So, is it the end of the list of places to visit in Hanoi? Fortunately, it is not. There are still some other highlights that you cannot miss when coming to this city. Check them out here.