City of Lakes

  Lakes and Rivers

 Hanoi is a city of lakes and rivers. Six rivers including the Red River run across the city. The sixteen lakes that are scattered around Hanoi provide tourists with boat rides and panoramic views. The majority of the locals are Buddhists and temples and pagodas are found around the lakes.

Slapped in the centre of the city is the Hoan Kiem Lake which today is only a third of its original size.Most of the lake has been reclaimed and the French authorities then used them to build French quarters housing government departments and residences.

Once known as the Navy Blue Lake, legend has it that the lake is home to 2 turtles aged a century years old. Apparently, the demise of one of them was sad to the locals but the other living one is still a sight sought after by the Vietnamese. People sometimes gather around the lake if rumours have it that the turtle has risen from the waters and spending time with human beings. The land is steep in legends and beliefs of the unnatural.

Notice the pagoda-like feature in the middle of the lake.

It used to carry the Statue of Liberty but today the statue is nowhere to be seen.

Who has removed it?

This is the entrance to the Ngoc Son temple.

Many flocked to the place for worship.

Surrounding the lake is a ring of paved walkway which attracts walkers and joggers.

Also, nearby are cultural souvenirs and the puppet-making business reminded me of my childhood days when I used to crave to possess one of them. The colourful plasticine figurines are fun to look at.Given enough time, one might be able to discover more cultural delights.

This is the Red Bridge across the Red River. 

In the nights, it is brightly-lit up and even more beautiful.

You would not guess that this is another lake because they all look the same to me.

This is West Lake; also found in the centre of the city.

Around the lake is one of the oldest Pagodas and temple in Hanoi; the Quan Thanh Temple.

The serene lake is also encircled by a stretch of paved walkway again a haven to joggers.

We looked with curiosity at the lonely boat man and his passenger,later to discover that they were actually cleaners of the lake. They were scooping garbage floating on the lake and made sure that the lake was clean and well-kept. That reminded me of the same scenario in Siem Reap.

While waiting for some of the companions on the trip, I became attracted to this poster.

World Class education in Malaysia.

I wondered how many of them go to Malaysia for tertiary education.

I was glad that home is known to them too.

The City of Lakes; Hanoi.