Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi attracts tourists and locals looking to get away from the noise and frenetic pace of the city. Peaceful and quiet, the lake surrounds Ngoc Son Temple, a pagoda sitting in the centre on a small island.

1. Hoan Kiem Lake Overview

Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi attracts tourists and locals looking to get away from the noise and frenetic pace of the city. Peaceful and quiet, the lake surrounds Ngoc Son Temple, a pagoda sitting in the centre on a small island. The lake are probably the most famous places in Hanoi city in which to rest and enjoy the view and are a great place to sit back and watch the locals.

2. Ngoc Son Temple

The temple attracts many visitors and was built in commemoration of the 13th century military leader Tran Hung Dao who was renowned for his bravery in the battle against the Yuan Dynasty. Homage is also paid to scholar Van Xuong and Confucian master Nguyen Van Sieu. The temple are probably the most famous places in Hanoi city in which to rest and enjoy the view and are a great place to sit back and watch the locals.

3. Jade Island

The island on which the Ngoc Son temple is built is known as Jade Island and is accessible by the iconic Huc Bridge or Rising Sun Bridge which is a charming scarlet-painted wooden bridge of classical Vietnamese design. Crossing over the striking The Huc Bridge, an arch of red-lacquered wood poetically labeled the “place where morning sunlight rests”, the secluded Ngoc Son Temple, “Temple of the Jade Mound”, sheltering among ancient trees.

4. Walking & Running Around Hoan Kiem Lake

Walking Street Hanoi officially operates every weekend. Walking street time starts from 19 pm on Friday to Sunday 24 hours in the area around Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter. The runners were mostly the elderly, some were young and some were even foreigners. Most of them wore a head phone and sun glasses.

5. Dancing

Listen! What did that sound come from? Ah hah, a group of people were joining Latin dances over there, under the big tree. They seemed enjoyed the dances very much. The amateur dancers were facing each other: the man positioned his right hand on the lady's left shoulder blade. The lady placed her left hand on the man's right shoulder. And they were moving gently along the music, smiling happily.

6. Do morning exercise

It was 6.30. While many people have just woken up, dressed up or quickly grabbed something before rushing to work, Hoan Kiem lake was crowded with tens of, may I say, “people who love to be healthy”. A number of sports activities were taking place around the lake. Some were running. The runners were mostly the elderly, some were young and some were even foreigners. Most of them wore a head phone and sun glasses. Actually, I wasn’t sure about how many rounds they had been running or intended to run but they seemed to enjoy the running very much.

7. Ride Bike around the Hoan Kiem Lake in the morning

Rent a bike and ride it around the lake in the morning. Watching all the old vietnamese people do tai chi is awesome!

8. Watching Water Puppet Show in Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre

Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre, located along Dinh Tien Hoang Street, comprises 17 short sketches using traditional puppets within a one-hour performance. A Vietnamese orchestra accompanies each story, with musicians playing traditional operatic songs using drums, wooden bells, horns, bamboo flutes and cymbals. Aside from the general admission fee of VND 100,000, there's an additional camera or video fee if you wish to photograph or film the show. Tickets sell out well in advance so it’s worth booking yours as soon as you arrive in town.

Address: 57B, Dinh Tien Hoang Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
Tel: +84 43 824 9494
Price Range: VND 100,000
Opening Hours: Daily 15:00, 16:10, 17:20, 18:30 & 20:00

9. Best spots to take photos

Wandering around Hoan Kiem Lake on a sunny Sunday afternoon, you will catch sight of many young men with their professional cameras stick to their eyes and beautiful young girls in their fancy lothes attractively posing. As a matter of fact, photography is now becoming more and more popular in Vietnam nowadays, and here are five Hanoi’s photogenic spots with their breathtaking natural settings which serve as perfect backgrounds for photographers.

10. The Huc Bridge

The Bridge are probably the most famous places in Hanoi city in which to rest and enjoy the view and are a great place to sit back and watch the locals.