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| West Lake in Hanoi |
West Lake is the biggest lake in Hanoi, with an area of 500 ha and circumference of more than 12km. The lake is surrounded by 17 kilometers of Lac Long Quan, Au Co, Nghi Tam, Yen Phu, Thanh Nien and Thuy Khue streets, which run through the famous flower villages of Ngoc Ha, Nghi Tam, Tay Ho, Quang Ba and Nhat Tan.
West Lake - Hanoi
It is dotted with many famous historical, cultural and architectural vestiges of Hanoi. Geographically, West Lake is a remnant of the Red River. It bears many names, each related to a legend. According to one, in a cave in the north of Thang Long citadel lived a nine-tailed fox. It had lived for more than thousand years and could transform itself to a man. At that time, Man people lived at the foot of the Tan Vien Mountain. The spirit of the mountain taught them to grow rice, weave cloth to make clothes and construct house from timber and grass. The people were named The Man people wearing white clothing (Bach Y Man). The fox changed himself into a man and tempted people into the cave. People led a very hard life so they entreated the help of King Lac Long Quan who caused the water to rise, destroying the cave.
The place became a big lake called Fox Carcass Lake (Ho Xac Cao). Another legend has it that in the Ly Dynasty there was a giant who knew magic. He had successfully healed King Ly Than Tong. Then he was invited to China to treat the Chinese king. He was successful again and to thank him the king offered him gold and shiver. He refused, instead asking for enough black bronze to fill his small bag. At first the king agreed, but even his nine stores could not fill the small bag. He demanded his bronze back but the giant took his bag to the coast, used his hat as a boat and his cane as an oar to get home. Then he distributed most of the black bronze to the bronze casting workers, only keeping a small amount to cast a bell. Surprisingly, when he struck the bell, as black bronze is the mother of gold, a golden buffalo from the Chinese king store ran all the way to the south to look for his mother. The place he trampled looking for his mother became Golden Buffalo Lake (Ho Kim Nguu).
West Lake was also named the Foggy Lake (Ho Dam Dam) since it was sometimes foggy. In the XVth century, it was named Lake of Wave (Ho Lang Bac) because on windy days there were sometimes waves. In 1573, it was renamed West Lake (Tay Ho) in order to avoid King The Tong's name. In 1675 it was changed to Doai Ho. West Lake is a famous scenic beauty spot of Thang Long - Hanoi. It became the theme of many poems and songs. In the XIXth century, Nguyen Huy Luong composed a famous essay Tung Tay Ho Phu, praising its beauty. In feudal times, many magnificent palaces were constructed around the lake: the Thuy Hoa Palace in the Ly Dynasty, the Ham Nguyen Palace in the Tran Dynasty and especially Cuu Trung Dai with golden roofs and precious stone steps in the XVIth century during the reign of King Le Tuong Duc. Around West Lake were many cultural, historical and architectural sites such as Quan Thanh Temple, Yen Phu Community Hall, Nhat Tan Community Hall, Kim Lien Pagoda, Soc Temple, Complex of Quan La Pagoda and Community Hall, Thien Nien Pagoda, Tay Ho Palace and Kim Nguu Temple. Today, many modern hotels and villas have been built on its banks as Thang Loi Hotel, Tay Ho Hotel, etc. In addition, the specialties of West Lake such as shrimp cake, rice vermicelli with snails have perfected the tourism potential of West Lake.
West Lake was also named the Foggy Lake (Ho Dam Dam) since it was sometimes foggy. In the XVth century, it was named Lake of Wave (Ho Lang Bac) because on windy days there were sometimes waves. In 1573, it was renamed West Lake (Tay Ho) in order to avoid King The Tong's name. In 1675 it was changed to Doai Ho. West Lake is a famous scenic beauty spot of Thang Long - Hanoi. It became the theme of many poems and songs. In the XIXth century, Nguyen Huy Luong composed a famous essay Tung Tay Ho Phu, praising its beauty. In feudal times, many magnificent palaces were constructed around the lake: the Thuy Hoa Palace in the Ly Dynasty, the Ham Nguyen Palace in the Tran Dynasty and especially Cuu Trung Dai with golden roofs and precious stone steps in the XVIth century during the reign of King Le Tuong Duc. Around West Lake were many cultural, historical and architectural sites such as Quan Thanh Temple, Yen Phu Community Hall, Nhat Tan Community Hall, Kim Lien Pagoda, Soc Temple, Complex of Quan La Pagoda and Community Hall, Thien Nien Pagoda, Tay Ho Palace and Kim Nguu Temple. Today, many modern hotels and villas have been built on its banks as Thang Loi Hotel, Tay Ho Hotel, etc. In addition, the specialties of West Lake such as shrimp cake, rice vermicelli with snails have perfected the tourism potential of West Lake.
- Vietnam Travel Guide
- http://www.vietnamphoenixtour.com
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