Photos

Hà Nôi an urban village or a rural city. The Ho Hoan Kiem (Lake of the restored Sword) is the city centre. I was astonished about the fact a lake is the city centre, not a square. It's a placid place. Although around the lake the traffic is terrible, when you are near the lake you feel in another world. In the middled of the lake you can see the Tortoise Stupa. It is built on a tiny islet on the southern part of the Lake where a few giants tortoises sometimes come to bask in the sun. According to the legend, in the 15th century, King Le Thái Tò after his victory against the ming invaders, one day took a pleasure trip on this expanse of water. A giant tortoise came to the surface to claim and retrieve the sword that had been loaned to the king by a deity -hence the name given to the lake: The Lake of Restored Sword. In its water live at present a few giant tortoises whose ages are estimated to be five hundred years.
Very early in the morning, you can see hundreds of persons doing their morning exercises before going to work.
After a visit all along the old quarter it's a pleasure to come here to have a rest.
I like Ho Hoan Kiem; it's a placid place, as you can see in this photograph I captured during my rest time.