West Lake is the largest fresh water lake in the center of Hanoi City covering an area of 480 hectares and with a shore length of 17 km. The Lake is bordered with many significant places in history of Hanoi and Vietnam. At a small island in the middle of the lake is The Tran Quoc Pagoda which was the first Buddhist Temple and the oldest pagoda in Vietnam. When it was first built in 6th century during the reign of King Ly Nam Ne (544-548), Khai Quoc was the original name, which means national founder.
As a religious relic nested in a spectacular scenery, Tran Quoc Pagoda is a favorite stop-over of many foreign visitors and pilgrims.
Unlike other tradition structure, the Temple Complex was built with intricacy. Behind the main praying shrine is Buddhist trinity followed by corridors, 10 shrine halls and belfry.
Tran Quoc Pagoda originally was built on the bank of Red River but was removed to Kim Ngu islet in the time of King Le Kinh Tong (1600-1618)due to crumbling of river bank.
The green and luxuriant Bodhi Tree that shading part of the Pagoda's yard was a gift offered by the former India Prime Minister Razendia Prasat during his visit to Vietnam in year 1959. The Bodhi Tree is grafted from the holy Bodhi Tree where Buddha sat for meditation more than 2500 years ago. m2xxxx
Tran Quoc Pagoda, also known as 12-roofed pagoda, has many valuable statues. It is the cultural symbol of Vietnamese Buddhism.
The former names of West Lake were related to many legend. It was first called Fox Corpse Swamp in reference to the saying about the battle between Lac Long Quan and night-tail fox spirit. It was also named as Golden Buffalo Lake basing on the story about a calf mistook the sound of a bell from the Pagoda for his mother's voice and ran away, struggle into a hollow that turned into lake. Due to the lake's misty condition in 11th century, it was once called Foggy Lake but finally changed to West Lake in 1573 as the sound of Foggy conflict with the name of the King.
A small portion of West Lake towards southeast is divided out by Thanh Nien Road to form Truc Bach Lake. Truc Bach Lake is the place where the former pilot of USA, senator John Mc Cain was short down in October 1967..
Thanh Nien Road that divided West Lake from Truc Bach Lake has a length of 992 meter. The road runs round West lake is as long as 12 km. A happy fruit hawker offers me sweet and juicy pineapple.
Hanoi is a city of lakes, brought about over the centuries by the Red River's myriad floods, expansions and diversions.
West Lake was created from a curved part of Red River. It is a very popular place for recreation with many surrounding gardens, hotels and villas.
Truc Bach Lake formed from a small part of West lake is also known as While Silk Lake.
West Lake is rammed with gardens, restaurants, entertainment centers and filled with expensive residences and nearly 300 modern hotels. There are many imposingly large edifices occupied by wealthy Vietnamese and expatriates. The surrounding property is most costly in Hanoi.
West Lake is a good place for Vietnamese specialties either from north, south or central parts of the country.
A costly cozy restaurant and a street store offering varieties of authentic Vietnamese mixed dishes.
We love this prawn noodle most, delicious and special. There are 3 types of noodle for choices. You may have it dried or with soup. The noodle came with large dried shrimp, parsley and fish floss.
Another leading attraction at West lake is Quan Thanh Temple, one of the 4 sacred Temples of Hanoi. It is an important historical and cultural place in Hanoi. The temple, located at the corner of Streets Quan Thanh and Thanh Nien, was formerly known as Tran Vu Temple. It was dedicated to one of the principal deities, Tran Vu or Xuan Wu in Taoism. According to Legend, Tran Vu is a figure who helped the King to chase away the demons. Quan Thanh Temple was established during the reign of Emperor Ly Thai To (1010-1028) and was built in 4 directions to protect the capital city from malevolent spirits.
The principal Gate of Quan Thanh Temple and the large yard that is shaded by a huge banyan tree. Inside the main shrine, there is a 3.72 feet tall statue of Tran Vu in sitting posture. The giant size statue weighs 4 tons and is made from black bronze.
The Garden at the heart of busy streets.
Government offices and Iran Embassy.
Buildings of Malaysia Embassy.
The statue of Emperor Le Loi erected at the garden front and some of colonial buildings at northern side of West Lake.
Flag Tower and Army Museum are next to each other along Hoang Dieu Street
The high end condominium and a colonial structure.
A beautiful home for rent and the nearby Buddhist old temple.
Residential houses in the city are tall and narrow but with artistic design and style.
Scooters are the main transport for the locals and trishaws usually catered for tourists for pleasure or leisure sight seeing
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