Just south of the old quarter in Hanoi lies Hoan Kiem Lake (or Lake of the Returned Sword), a little oasis among the hustle and bustle. This is the place to take a break from shopping, eating, and dodging traffic (though you will have to cross a busy street to reach it). At the center of the lake is Turtle Tower (above). According to legend, the emperor Lê Lợi took a sword from the Golden Turtle God who lives in the lake and achieved victory against the Chinese Ming Dynasty.
At the north end of the lake is Jade island, home of Ngoc Son Temple; it is connected to the mainland by the red wooden Huc Bridge. A preserved specimen of a large tortoise from the lake is on display and supposedly more of its kind are still occasionally spotted in the waters. The temple area was a busy tourist site, but the courtyard area also seemed to be a popular game spot for the locals.
We also came by the lake at night, which is even more scenic with the Turtle Tower lit up and the background of city lights. A nice time for a romantic stroll (if OD wasn't so busy taking photos).
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