WEST LAKE

West Lake, Ho Tay in Vietnamese, is the largest lake in central Ha Noi, covering 500 ha of the Tay Ho District. In the past, West Lake used to be part of the Hong River.

One of the more beautiful spots in Ha Noi, the lake was once a resort for mandarins and kings. Many sites including the Thuy Hoa Palace, Ham Nguyen Sanctuary, Tu Hoa Palace, Kim Kien Pagoda and Ngoc Dam Palace were built along its banks.

A 14 km- long path around the lake leads to Nghi Tam Flower Village, Nhat Tan, Peach Garden and Tay Ho Temple, built in honour of Princess Lieu. Today many hotels of all sizes surround the area. Visitors can go sightseeing and also enjoy typical dishes such as Ho Tay shrimp cakes, snails and fish dishes.

HOAN KIEM LAKE AND NGOC SON TEMPLE

Hoan Kiem Lake, or the Lake of the Restored Sword, is located directly in the center of Ha Noi. The name is derived from a legend involving Emperor Le Thai To, in which he came across a giant tortoise while cruising on the lake. The tortoice took his sword that had secured victory against the Chinese aggressors of the Minh Dynasty. The emperor named the lake after this episode.

Hoan Kiem was already considered the most beautiful lake in Ha Noi when Ngoc Son Temple was built on a small island during the 19th century. Saint Van Xuong, considered one of the brightest stars of Vietnam’s litrature and intellectual circles, was worshipped here. National hero Tran Hung Dao was also worshipped after he led the Vietnamese people to victory over both Mongolian and Chinese invaders. The temple as it is seen today is the result of renovations made by Nguyen Van Sieu in 1864.

A great Hanoian writer, Sieu has a large pen-shaped tower built at the entrance of the temple. On the upper section of the tower are three Chinese characters: Ta Thanh Thien, which means that to write on the blue sky is to imply the height of a genuine and righteous person’s determination and will.

Also at the entrance are: a dai nghien, or ink stand, carved from stone and resembling a peach, which is placed on the back of three frogs on top of the gate to the temple; and The Huc, or the place where the first rays of morning sunshine touch.

On the way to the temple are several cau doi, parallel sentence boards, placed on the wall. Cau doi were part of traditional word puzzles played by Hanoi’s intellectual class.

DONG MO LAKE

Dong Mo Lake is located at the foot of the Ba Vi Mountains, in Ha Tay Province.
Approximately 50 km from Ha Noi, this artificial lake has long supplied water for the whole Son Tay area. More than 20 islands emerge from the surface of lake. With a total area of 1,500 ha, it is an ideal spot for camping, Sunday picnics or vacations. An international 18-hole golf course also opened for business in 1995.

It is in the Dong Mo – Ngai Son region that a cultural village illustrating Vietnam’s ethnic minorities will be set up.

BAN GIOC WATERFALL

The Ban Gioc Waterfall can be found in Trung Khanh District in Cao Bang Province, near the Chinese border. The echo of the fails can be heard kilometers away from Trung Khanh.

Water from the Quy Xuan River crashing down into the stone has created deep crevices that can also be seen from a distance. The temperature near the waterfall is remarkably cool, thanks to the fine most from the violent action.

At the foot of the waterfall is a large river surrounded by many precious kinds of flowers. In the early 1920s, the French built cottages on the river’s banks. Colonialists would come here to relax, fist and hunt.

BA BE LAKE

Ba Be Lakes-Pelam, Pelu and Peleng lakes- are situated in Ba Be District, Bac Kan province, approximately 230 km north of Ha Noi. The area has a lot to offer: Waterfalls, rivers, valleys, lakes and caves-all set amidst. Picturesque landscape. The lakes themselves, located 145m above sea level, are among the largest natural lakes in Vietnam with a total surface area of 500 ha. The area was established as a national preserved forest and tourist center in 1978. The lakes are surrounded by many ancient trees, , from which several varieties of precious wood are obtained. Up to 30 species of animals and birds inhabit the area.

From Ba Be, tourists can visit other neighbouring scenic attractions such as Dau Dang Falls, Puong Cave and Tien Pond The climate is cool with an average temperature of 22OC. the best time to visit is during the dry season (winter and spring).

MY LAM SPRING

My Lam Spring is located 15 km west of Tuyen Quang town, and travel and transportation here is extremely easy. The source of mineral water maintains a temperature of 62oC, with much sulfur, magnesium, calcium and minerals good for the treatment of illnesses.

CAM SON LAKE

The lake is situated on Luc Ngan territory bordering Lang Son. Ordinarily, the lake covers 2,600 ha, but during the rainy season, it occupies 3,000 ha. The 300 – km lake is 7 km wide at its broadest point and 200m at its narrowest one.

It should not be long before Cam Son Lake Area becomes an attractive summer resort, given the various tourism projects for the area. Boating, hiking, fishing, as well as visiting ethnic minority hamlets will be available for visitors.

How to get there drive from Ha Noi to Bac Ninh (31 km), then to Bac Giang (51 km). Continue until the Hoa river (98 km), and turn to Cam Son.

KIM BOI HOT SPRING

A 30 km drive from Hoa Binh will lead to a rest house named Kim Boi. The house was built near a large mineral water pool. Visitors sitting inside the house can hear the water, which is at a constant temperature of 36OC, spouting out continually. Scientific tests have shown that the mineral water at Kim Boi is suitable to drink, bathe, and use in treatment of rheumatism, intestinal diseases, stomachache, and high-blood pressure.

Kim Boi mineral water is bottled for refreshment. It has almost the same composition as certain well-known foreign brands of mineral water.