Vietnamese people very likes lakes and valuate it as very important place. I suppose it is so because lakes are the source of water for people and agriculture and water in lakes more better then river's water. So they created little gardens around every lake in Hanoi . But if lake has a islands or peninsulas it is better and it is divine place. I don't sure these is natural islands or not but as a matter of fact on each little island they built beautiful temples.
Hoan Kiem Lake is one of these lakes. It is placed not far from central part of Hanoi. The word Hồ Hoàn Kiếm is translated into english as Lake of the Restored Sword. This lake has it own legend. It says that long time ago Vietnamese emperor was boating throug the lake and big turtle appear from the water and took his gold sword. Is was supposed this sword was gift from Gods and was a cause of thay victory against Chinese conquiers. People tried to find this sword but without results it was dissapear. Peoples interpreted all these as a word of Gods as: "We halped you in your war against conquers but now you have a freedom from them and you should build your peacefull life and you don't need this weapon anymore"
After that people renamed Lake and built a little temple on central island and named it Tháp Rùa which means Turtle tower.
Ngoc Son Temple is another scenery place here. It is placed on more bigger island and connected with mainland by bridge also you should pass two gates.
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There are a lot of beautiful things: buildings with interesting roofs; rare herbs and trees; different acsessories as a lanterns or bowls for smoking sticks
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Inside temple you could find a place for sacrifices and stuffed turtle which lived in this lake.
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