Hoan Kiem Lake is the heart of Hanoi’s tourist centre and, in my opinion, one of the places you shouldn’t miss when visiting the city. There’s a pleasant tree-lined promenade running alongside the lake, and all around you’ll find cafés, restaurants and modern shops.

It’s a very touristy spot, but I still enjoyed it here. I’d recommend coming here for your first stroll around the city and then returning in the evening – the local landmarks are beautifully lit up!

Would you like to stay just a few steps from the lake? 

• For an affordable room with an en-suite bathroom, check out the Little Hanoi Hotel, from where you’re just 1–2 minutes from the water.
• If you’d like a view straight from your room, the Silk Path Boutique Hanoi is worth considering, with its Grand Executive rooms.

You can find more tips and a comparison of locations in the article ‘Where to stay in Hanoi’.

The lakeside promenade

In my opinion, the biggest attraction of Hoan Kiem is simply the walk itself. You can stroll all the way round the lake, sit on a bench or pop into one of the nearby streets for a coffee.

The whole circuit is about 1.7 km long. Without any long stops, you can complete it in 30–40 minutes, but I’d recommend allowing at least an hour.

With a visit to the temple, a coffee and some photo-taking, you could easily spend two hours here.

You can follow this up with a longer stroll through the streets of the old town to the north of the lake, or head from the western shore towards St Joseph’s Cathedral.

What’s more, the surroundings change quite a bit depending on which side you’re on. To the north, they merge seamlessly into the bustling streets of the Old Town, whilst to the south you’ll come across larger shops and more upmarket urban developments. It makes for a pleasantly varied combination for a single stroll.

When to visit: in the morning, in the evening, or at the weekend?

If you have time, do visit the lake at least twice.

• Early in the morning, you’ll see locals exercising and going for their morning walks. During the hot months, this is also a more pleasant time for a longer walk.
• During the day, you can easily combine the walk with a visit to Ngoc Son Temple, a café and a stroll through the surrounding streets.
• In the evening, the illuminated Red Bridge and the Turtle Tower on the little island really stand out.

At weekends, the surrounding streets become a pedestrian zone, usually from Friday evening until midnight on Sunday. As well as the promenade, you can also make use of the roads closed to general traffic. It tends to be livelier here, with street performances taking place and local families coming out to enjoy the atmosphere.

In my opinion, a weekend evening is a good choice if you want to experience the atmosphere of the city centre. Do bear in mind, however, that it will be busier. On weekdays, the promenade remains open, but traffic runs as normal on the surrounding streets.

What to see by the lake

Ngoc Son Temple and the Red Bridge

The most famous landmark by the lake is Ngoc Son Temple, which stands on a small island off the north-eastern shore. It is connected to the mainland by the striking red The Huc Bridge.

The bridge is one of the most photographed spots in Hanoi and looks impressive from the surrounding promenade too. The temple itself has its own admission fee and opening hours, which you can find in the separate guide to Ngoc Son Temple.

The Turtle Tower on the islet

The second striking structure is the Turtle Tower, or Thap Rua, situated on a small island in the southern part of the lake.

This is the very small structure you’ll see in many photographs of Hoan Kiem. It dates from the 19th century and its slightly weathered appearance is a fitting part of the lake’s scenery.

The islet is not normally accessible and there is no bridge leading to it. You can view the tower from the promenade, for example from the southern or western shore. It is well worth a visit even after dark, when it is illuminated.

Why is it called the Lake of the Returned Sword?

The name Hoan Kiem refers to the legend of the ruler Le Loi, who later became Emperor Le Thai To.

According to the story, a magical sword helped him win the war. Later, whilst he was sailing on the lake, a golden turtle emerged and demanded the sword back. The ruler returned the sword, and the lake has borne a name commemorating this event ever since. dsvh.gov.vn

Where to stay near Hoan Kiem Lake

I’d recommend the area around the lake as a base, especially on your first visit to Hanoi. You can set off on foot for walks, to eat or to see some of the sights, and easily return to your hotel in the evening.

When booking, however, make sure you check the actual address. The name ‘Hoan Kiem’ is also used for a wider area of the city and does not in itself mean that you’ll be staying right by the water.

A cheap room with an en-suite bathroom within 5 minutes of the lake

The Little Hanoi Hotel is a specific recommendation I’d start with when looking for an affordable private room in the immediate vicinity of the lake.

The hotel is located at 32 Le Thai To, on a short street by the western shore. The promenade is just a 1–2-minute walk away. The rooms have en-suite bathrooms and air conditioning.

As a rough guide, expect to pay around 800 000 vnd for a double room per night. Please check the final price for your specific dates.

Important detail: the basic ‘Superior Double’ room may not have a window. If natural light is important to you, check the description of the specific room. This is a tip for a low price and a good location; don’t expect a lake view here.

Hotels with a direct view of the lake

With these hotels, be sure to select a specific room category. Simply being situated on the lakeshore does not guarantee a view from the window.

• Silk Path Boutique Hanoi – a hotel directly opposite the southern shore at 21 Hang Khay. For a lake view, choose the Grand Executive room, which has a large window and a separate bath. Only some rooms have a balcony, so please check this separately. Standard rooms do not have a lake view.
• Apricot Hotel – a more luxurious option on the western shore at 136 Hang Trong. For a view from your room, look for the ‘Canvas Lake View’ option, or a corresponding room explicitly labelled as having a lake view. The hotel also has a rooftop swimming pool. A standard room without the ‘Lake View’ designation will not guarantee the same view.

If you’re mainly interested in leisurely walks, staying a few streets away from the water will suffice. I’d only pay extra for a room with a direct view if you want to enjoy the lake from the hotel itself. You’ll find a wider selection in the section ‘Where to stay in Hanoi’.

Admission fees and opening hours

• 💰 Admission: the lakeside promenade is free.
• 🕒 Opening hours: the public promenade is open 24 hours a day.

Admission to Ngoc Son Temple is charged separately.

How to get to the lake

From the Old Quarter, the easiest way is to walk. The entrance to The Huc Bridge serves as a good landmark to the north, whilst Hang Khay Street serves as a good landmark to the south.

If you’re coming from further afield, use Grab. During the weekend pedestrian zone, the driver can drop you off at the edge of the zone and you can walk the rest of the way.

To continue towards the Temple of Literature, take bus 02 towards Yên Nghĩa.

You can board the bus at the south-western tip of the lake at the 6–8 Tràng Thi stop, alight at 92–94 Tôn Đức Thắng and walk to the temple. We describe other options in the chapter on Transport in Hanoi.

What to combine your visit with

From the lake, it’s easy to reach other places in the city centre. Calculate journey times from the nearest shore, not from the opposite end of the promenade.

• St Joseph’s Cathedral – about a 5–10-minute walk from the western shore.
• Hoa Lo Prison – about 15 minutes from the south-western shore.
• Bach Ma Temple – about 10–15 minutes from the northern shore, via the streets of the Old Quarter.

For your first evening in Hanoi, I’d recommend spending it simply enjoying the lake, the surrounding streets and having dinner. You can visit the sights on your next walk.

What to see around

Discover all the places to see in Hanoi.