Hoan Kiem Lake (Guom Lake or Sword Lake) is considered as the center of Hanoi, a beautiful symbol of Hanoi Capital in the eyes of Vietnamese people and international visitors. I would like to share with you the complete guide to Sword Lake to prepare yourself a detailed plan in Hanoi.
Sword Lake in Hanoi. Image: Hanoi1000.
Table of Contents
1. Where is Sword Lake?
Hoan Kiem Lake is in the heart of Hanoi Capital. The lake is surrounded by 3 big streets: Hang Khay, Le Thai To, Dinh Tien Hoang. Many people are interested in the name Hoang Kiem Lake. This name is associated with the legend of King Le Loi returning the precious sword to Turtle God. It began to be called in the 15th century and has been keeping until now.
Hoan Kiem Lake is in the heart of Hanoi.
2. Transportation to Sword Lake
To move to Sword Lake you can choose from public or private transport. If you go by bus, you can choose from a variety of bus routes to stop at the lakeshore or around Hanoi Old Quarter.
Some buses you can catch to travel to Guom Lake are buses: 09, 14 stop at the lakeside parking lot, 08, 09, 31, 36 at the Hanoi post office, 09, 31, 36 at the intersection Le Thai To, Hang Trong, 04, 11, 18, 23, 34, 40 at the State Bank of Vietnam. You can book a full package Hanoi tour so that you don’t have to worry about moving.
If traveling by taxi, motorbike taxi, or motorbike, you should pay attention to choose the correct way to Sword Lake, choose reputable car companies so as not to be price squeezed for traveling. Today you can call GrabBike or GrapCar, which has a cheap price and safe.
Sword Lake in Hanoi. Image: Blog Traveloka.
3. Transportation around Sword Lake
To move around Hoan Kiem Lake you can choose motorbike taxi, motorbike, cyclo, and tram. You can rent the transports at many locations near Sword Lake.
Motorbike taxis and motorbike are suitable for personal travel. However, They are banned on Friday, Saturday, Sunday nights because this time is the time to open pedestrian streets. Choosing cyclo is a great suggestion for Guom Lake tourism. By 8cyclo, tourists can admire the lakeside landscape fully. Before renting transports above, you remember to bargain prices with the driver to avoid being “cut”. You can also choose a tram to move around Sword Lake with the number of passengers per trip is 8 people, about 35-60 minutes/trip.
Cyclo around Sword Lake. Image: My Tour.
4. What to do around Sword Lake?
You can choose from many different fun places in Hoan Kiem Lake. You should choose a hotel in Lo Duc to conveniently move to locations near Sword Lake. In which you cannot miss these locations:
Rua Tower (Turtle Tower: The tower is located on the island at Sword Lake. In the past, King Le Thanh Tong built a monument. Here you will see the ancient tower associated with the national history.
Turtle Tower. Image: Tour Du Lịch.
Ngoc Son Temple: Ngoc Son Temple is located on the island in Guom Lake. The temple is classified as a special national relic with ancient architecture.
The Huc Bridge: Coming to Sword Lake, we cannot ignore The Huc bridge connecting the Ho bank to Ngoc Son Temple. The bridge with a bridge deck, wooden wall with prominent red curvature will be a place to check in many beautiful photos.
The Huc Bridge. Image: MeTrip.
But Tower (Pen Tower): is a stone tower in Sword Lake, which is five floors high with the words “Ta Thien Thanh” in the middle meaning “write to the blue sky”.
Dai Nghien: Located next to Pen Tower with the shape of a plate to hold Chinese ink. Uniquely designed, Dai Nghien is a favorite place for many tourists in the Sword Lake area.
Hoa Phong Tower: located on Dinh Tien Hoang Street, southeast of Sword Lake. This is a relic of Bao An pagoda – a famous large pagoda in previous years in Hanoi.
Ba Kieu Temple: in the east of Sword Lake. This is the place to worship the three goddesses Que Nuong, Quynh Hoa, Princess Lieu Hanh.
Ly Thai To Flower Garden: This is the place where the statue of King Ly Thai To is located. Tượng đài overlooks the Sword Lake. This place worships a studious culture, associated with the history of the Ly period with the merits of national construction.
Hanoi Opera House: located at the beginning of Trang Tien Street, quite close to Sword Lake. Hanoi Opera House with French architecture is the place where special cultural and artistic activities of the capital take place.
Trang Tien Trade Center: near Hanoi post office and overlooking Sword Lake. This place is on the list of the largest shopping centers in Hanoi. Here you can go to quality luxury restaurants to enjoy delicious dishes of Hanoi.
Old Quarter of Hanoi: if you come to Sword Lake, please visit Hanoi Old Quarter and enjoy the old Hanoi space with many attractive dishes. Right next to Sword Lake, you can easily move on foot or cyclo.
Thang Long Puppet Theater: next to Sword Lake, on Dinh Tien Hoang Street. You will enjoy a special cultural space here.
Dinh Le Street: near Sword Lake with many bookstores to help you immerse yourself in the unique bookselling space.
Ngoc Son Temple with ancient architecture
5. What to eat near Sword Lake?
Hoan Kiem Lake is a place with many delicious dishes that attract tourists. Traveling to Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi, you cannot miss the specialties that make up Hanoi’s own brand. It includes specialties with delicious flavors from a long tradition such as:
- Noodle soups on Hang Buom Street.
- Noodle soups on Hang Khay bean.
- Boiled snail on Dinh Liet Street.
- Cau Go Noodles with Tofu & Fermented shrimp paste.
- Hang Can 4-season sweet soups.
- Dinh Cafe.
- Trang Tien icecream.
- Thuy Ta icecream.
- Bodega Icecream.
Trang Tien icecream.
