Trip Planner:   Asia  /  Vietnam  /  Hanoi  /  Nature  /  Lake of the Restored Sword (Hoan Kiem Lake)

Lake of the Restored Sword (Hoan Kiem Lake), Hanoi

4.1
#1 of 234 in Parks in Vietnam
Water Body Nature / Park
Situated at the rim of the Old Quarter among the city's most popular attractions, the green shores of Lake of the Restored Sword (Hoan Kiem Lake) offer a break from sightseeing and provide a quiet spot for people-watching. Notice the temple--topped with a red star--on a small islet in the middle of the lake. Apart from being the city's emblem, it commemorates a local legend, which involves an Excalibur-like sword. The story goes that a local dragon god gave a magical sword to a 15th-century Vietnamese emperor who used it in an uprising against the Ming Dynasty. When the war was won, a giant turtle emerged from the lake and took back the sword to return it to heaven. The lake is home to a rare species of soft-shell turtles. Using our world travel planner, Hanoi attractions like Lake of the Restored Sword (Hoan Kiem Lake) can form part of a personalized travel itinerary.
Create an itinerary including Lake of the Restored Sword (Hoan Kiem Lake)
map
Related Tours to Book
Private Tour: Hanoi City Full-Day Tour including Cyclo Ride BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $50
Ho Chi Minh's Hanoi Small Group Adventure Tour BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $48
Private Tour: Hanoi City Tour Including Water Puppet Show and Cyclo Ride BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $46
Half-Day Hanoi Motorbike Tour BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $50
Private Hanoi City Half-Day Tour BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $58
Hanoi Old Quarter Half-Day Walking Tour BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $22
Hanoi Full-Day City Tour BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $35
Highlights of Hanoi Full-Day City Tour BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $43
Half-Day Hanoi Food Tour by Motorbike BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $68
Hanoi City Full-Day Private Car Charter and Custom Tour BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $62
Hanoi Full-Day City Tour Including Cyclo Ride and Water Puppet Show BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $45
Private Hanoi Full-Day City Tour with Cyclo Ride BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $45
Amazing Morning Hanoi Bike Tour BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $48
Hanoi City Walking Tour of Old Quarter BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $28
Full-Day Hanoi City Tour BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $49
Full-Day Hanoi Capital City Tour BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $99
Half-Day Hanoi City Tour BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $59
Full-Day Hanoi City Group Tour BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $38
Hanoi Early Morning Private Tour BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $78
Private Tour : Hanoi Food Walking Tour of the French Quarter BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $28
Full-Day Hanoi City Small-Group Tour with Lunch BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $69
Private Full-Day Hanoi City Tour BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $88
Half-Day Tour of Ancient Hanoi BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $49
Private Full-Day Guided Tour of Hanoi Including Lunch BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $37
Private Half-Day Hanoi Walking Tour: Old Quarter, Bach Ma Temple and Bia Hoi Corner BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $28
ESSENCE OF HANOI - MONUMENTS AND ALLEYWAYS FROM HANOI BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $75
Hanoi Street Food Tour BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $30
Explore Old Town by Electric Car from Hanoi BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $39
Hanoi By Night by Scooter BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $62
Full-Day Hanoi City Tour BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $36
View more tours
Reviews
TripAdvisor Traveler Rating
8,521 reviews
TripAdvisor
  • This lake is very nice and it look like the conditioner of the city. the lake has the special history about the king and the sword. it is very interesting to hear it. it was more interesting at the ni...  more »
  • Tranquil and beautiful. This was our first stop in Hanoi and a great introduction to the things to expect in Vietnam. The giant bonsai alone were enough to lure us to visit. They offered a robe servic...  more »
  • Tourist attractions of Hanoi. Around the Lake there are a lot of local people and tourists always. Costumed wedding couple takes a photo back to Lake scene better eyes. Lake was lit up at night are breathtakingly beautiful.
    View original
View more on TripAdvisor »

Plan your trip to Hanoi

  • Get a personalized plan

    A complete day-by-day itinerary
    based on your preferences

  • Customize it

    Refine your plan. We'll find the
    best routes and schedules

  • Book it

    Choose from the best hotels
    and activities. Up to 50% off

  • Manage it

    Everything in one place.
    Everyone on the same page.

Best things to do in Hanoi

Popular
©
Old Quarter
Hanoi
Visit for: 3​h 30​min
©
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
Hanoi
Visit for: 1​h 30​min
©
Food Tours
Hanoi
Visit for: 3​h 30​min
Hidden Gems
©
West Lake
Hanoi
Visit for: 1​h 30​min
©
Vietnam Fine Arts Museum
Hanoi
Visit for: 1​h 30​min
©
Vietnam Military History Museum
Hanoi
Visit for: 1​h 30​min
Shopping
©
54 Traditions Gallery
Hanoi
Visit for: 30​min
©
Phúc Lợi Shop
Hanoi
Visit for: 1​h 30​min
The Bookworm Hanoi
Hanoi
Visit for: 1​h 30​min
Kid Friendly Attractions
Deluxe Vietnam Tours
Hanoi
Visit for: 3​h 30​min
©
Vinpearl Land Water Park - Royal City
Hanoi
Visit for: 4​h
©
Hanoi Zoological Gardens
Hanoi
Visit for: 2​h 30​min
Tours
©
Beer Tastings & Tours
Hanoi
Visit for: 5​h
©
Coffee & Tea Tours
Hanoi
Visit for: 5​h
©
Photography Tours
Hanoi
Visit for: 4​h
Nearby
©
Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre
Hanoi
Visit for: 1​h 30​min
©
Temple of Literature & National University
Hanoi
Visit for: 1​h 30​min
©
Hoa Lo Prison
Hanoi
Visit for: 1​h 30​min
Featured attractions
©
Booking Car
Hanoi
Visit for: 1​h 30​min
©
Amasia Travel
Hanoi
Visit for: 1​h
©
Halong Tours
Hanoi
Visit for: 4​h
Don't Miss a Thing. See & Do More.
©

Where to stay in Hanoi

Hanoi offers abundant accommodation options for all kinds of travelers on all kinds of budgets. Stay in the popular Old Quarter for the closest proximity to main attractions, where mid-range hotels are popping up amid the dozens of hostels overrun with backpackers. If you prefer peace and quiet to proximity, the French Quarter contains numerous guesthouses and hotels. At the luxury end, four- and five-star hotels offer a full suite of extras and services, resort-like options boast views over West Lake, and sleek short-term rental apartments give you extra privacy.
CHECK IN - CHECK OUT
TripAdvisor
Millions of travel reviews
on TripAdvisor

Plans in Hanoi by other users

29 days in Cambodia, Vietnam & Laos BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES October, popular & hidden gems PREFERENCES: October ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular & hidden gems PACE: Medium 14 days in Vietnam & Cambodia BY A USER FROM QATAR March, culture, outdoors, historic sites, popular PREFERENCES: March, culture, outdoors, historic sites ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular PACE: Medium 16 days in Cambodia & Vietnam BY A USER FROM QATAR March, culture, outdoors, historic sites, popular PREFERENCES: March, culture, outdoors, historic sites ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular PACE: Medium 60 days in Asia BY A USER FROM ISRAEL August, popular PREFERENCES: August ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular PACE: Medium 9 days in Hoi An, Halong Bay & Hanoi BY A USER FROM SINGAPORE September, outdoors, popular PREFERENCES: September, outdoors ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular PACE: Medium 5 days in Vietnam BY A USER FROM INDIA October, popular PREFERENCES: October ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular PACE: Medium 14 days in Vietnam BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES August, culture, outdoors, historic sites, popular PREFERENCES: August, culture, outdoors, historic sites ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular PACE: Medium 11 days in Vietnam BY A USER FROM THAILAND December, popular PREFERENCES: December ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular PACE: Medium 3 days in Hanoi BY A USER FROM CANADA May, popular PREFERENCES: May ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular PACE: Medium 23 days in Vietnam BY A USER FROM AUSTRALIA October, popular PREFERENCES: October ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular PACE: Medium 11 days in Vietnam BY A USER FROM SOUTH KOREA September, culture, outdoors, beaches, historic sites, fast-paced, popular & hidden gems PREFERENCES: September, culture, outdoors, beaches, historic sites ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular & hidden gems PACE: Fast-paced 4 days in Hanoi BY A USER FROM THAILAND October, kids, popular PREFERENCES: October, kids ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular PACE: Medium
View more plans