Ho Hoan Kiem and the red bridge to Jade Islet

Ho Hoan Kiem in Hanoi is a lake edged by stone, trees and a small island with Turtle Tower at its centre. Ngoc Son Temple sits on Jade Islet, reached by the red Thê Húc Bridge, and the setting combines water, masonry and religious architecture.

Lake, tower and island in one view

The lake is also known as Sword Lake, and its historical name links it to the legend of Lê L?i and the returned sword. Lake Hoan Kiem is one of Hanoi’s recognised scenic places, and the water body measures about 115,511 m2.

The shoreline is framed by streets on all sides, and the surface is crossed visually by the tower on its small island. The monument area was formally recognised as a special national monument in 2013, alongside Ngoc Son Temple and the Le dynasty king memorial. special national monument

Ngoc Son Temple on Jade Islet

Ngoc Son Temple occupies Pearl Island on the lake and belongs to an ensemble of gate, tower, halls and bridge. The temple was erected in the eighteenth century and honours Tr?n H?ng ??o, V?n X??ng and Nguy?n V?n Siêu. Ngoc Son Temple

The bridge to the islet, Thê Húc, is painted red and makes the crossing legible from the lakeside. Inside the temple compound, the named elements gather around courtyards, thresholds and roofed halls rather than a single enclosed chamber. temple in the middle

The lake’s name and older layers

The name Ho Hoan Kiem points to the returned-sword legend, while the older names Luc Thuy and Ta Vong record earlier stages in the lake’s identity. The site also carries traces of different religious uses, with present structures from the eighteenth century and repairs associated with Nguy?n V?n Siêu in 1864.

The lake and temple complex sits in Hanoi’s historic centre, where the water, islet and memorials form a compact urban landscape. The English-language name Ho Hoan Kiem is the most direct label for the place, while Sword Lake remains a familiar alternative in print. historical centre of Hanoi

Visiting Ho Hoan Kiem: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The lake lies in the historic centre of Hanoi, close to the city’s oldest streets and public squares. It is reached on foot from the surrounding district streets and by city transport in Hanoi.
• The route to Ngoc Son Temple includes the Thê Húc Bridge and a sequence of gates and halls on the islet. The setting is a level urban waterside rather than a steep landscape.
• Ho Hoan Kiem is a lake, so the main terrain feature is the water edge and the island crossing. Turtle Tower stands apart from the shore as a compact vertical marker.
• The official language is Vietnamese and the currency is the Vietnamese ??ng.

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Frequently asked questions about Ho Hoan Kiem

Where is Ho Hoan Kiem?

Ho Hoan Kiem is in central Hanoi, in Vietnam, where the lake sits among the city’s historic streets. Ngoc Son Temple stands on an islet near the northern shore.

What can be seen on a visit?

The main features are the lake, Turtle Tower, Ngoc Son Temple and the red bridge to Jade Islet. The setting also includes stone edging, trees and the memorial complex linked with the lake and temple.

What makes Ho Hoan Kiem distinctive?

Its combination of water, island temple and tower gives the site a compact profile in the middle of Hanoi. The returned-sword legend and the eighteenth-century temple add historical depth to that landscape.