Hanoi / Hoan Kiem

Hoan Kiem Lake & Ngoc Son Temple

The lake at the heart of Hanoi takes its name from the legend of a golden turtle that reclaimed a magic sword after victory over Ming invaders; locals jog and practise tai chi along the shore in the early morning. A scarlet bridge leads to Ngoc Son Temple on a small island, dedicated to the scholar Van Xuong and General Tran Hung Dao; the temple stays open until 22:00 on weekends.