On this page
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Weekend walking zone | Usually from Friday 19:00 to Sunday midnight, every week; often suspended or extended for holidays and events Verified 12 Oct 2026 |
| Ngoc Son Temple | On Jade Islet, reached by The Huc Bridge; entry fee charged |
| Heritage status | Special national relic (lake and temple together), since 2013 |
| Time needed | About an hour for the lake loop and the temple |
If Hanoi has a centre of gravity, it is Hoan Kiem Lake. The Old Quarter begins just to the north, and almost every first walk in the city ends up circling its shore at some point. It is free, open to everyone and the easiest way to get your bearings on day one.
The legend of the returned sword
The lake’s name, Hoàn Kiếm, means “returned sword”, and locals often call it simply Hồ Gươm, Sword Lake. According to legend, after King Lê Lợi’s victory over the Ming, he was boating on the lake when a golden turtle rose from the water and asked for the sacred sword that had helped him win. The king gave it back, and the lake has carried the story in its name ever since.
It is a legend, not a historical record, but it explains why turtles appear all over the area, from the small tower in the middle of the lake to the shrine on Jade Islet.
Ngoc Son Temple and The Huc Bridge
Ngoc Son Temple sits on Jade Islet at the northern end of the lake. You reach it by crossing The Huc Bridge, the red wooden bridge you will recognise from many pictures of Hanoi. Its name is usually translated as “morning sunlight”.
Before the bridge, look for the Pen Tower on a small mound and the Ink Slab, both nods to scholarship and writing. On the islet, the temple honours the national hero Trần Hưng Đạo alongside other revered figures, including Văn Xương, a patron of literature. Much of what you see today reflects a 19th-century renovation led by the scholar Nguyễn Văn Siêu.
Inside, a preserved giant turtle from the lake is on display. The lake’s last known giant turtle died in 2016.
Together, the lake and the temple are ranked a special national relic, Vietnam’s highest heritage category.
Local tip Ngoc Son is an active temple. Dress respectfully and keep your voice down near the altars.
Walking around the lake
The path around the shore is an easy, flat walk. Look out for the small Turtle Tower on its islet in the middle of the lake; most visitors see it from the shore. Early morning is a good time for a quieter walk.
The weekend walking zone
On weekend evenings the roads around the lake usually close to motor traffic and become a pedestrian zone, busy with people out for an evening stroll. The schedule changes for public holidays and special events, so check the table above and local news before you plan around it. On the same evenings, several streets in the Old Quarter also become walking streets.
Combining it with other sights
The lake is the natural starting point for a walk into the Old Quarter just to the north, and an egg coffee nearby makes a good break.
Map & directions
Open Ngoc Son Temple, Hoan Kiem Lake in your map app (links open in a new tab):
Sources & verification notes
- Department of Cultural Heritage, Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple (accessed 12 Oct 2026)
- Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, Ngoc Son Temple (accessed 12 Oct 2026)
- Thanh Tra: 14 sites ranked special national relics (11 December 2013) (accessed 12 Oct 2026)
- Tuổi Trẻ: Hoan Kiem Lake's giant turtle dies (20 January 2016) (accessed 12 Oct 2026)
- Hanoi government portal: pedestrian streets around Hoan Kiem Lake (29 June 2023) (accessed 12 Oct 2026)
- Báo Văn Hóa: Hoan Kiem walking street schedule notice (13 March 2026) (accessed 12 Oct 2026)
Prices, hours and routes change. Each fact shows the date we last checked it.
Tell us what has changed and we will check it. Report a correction