West Lake - A big lake in inner Hà Nội

A big lake in inner Hà Nội, it covers an area of hundreds of hectares and the road around the lake is 17km long. Geographers have proved that the lake was once part of the Red River before the latter changed its course. It is perhaps due to such history that there are so many legends about the lake and its names.

For instance, according to the story about the Fox Devil, the lake was called Xác Cáo (Fox Carcass). The legend says that there was a 9-tailed fox hiding itself in the lake, harming the people. Long Quân raised waters in order to destroy the fox’s lair. The lair collapsed and was turned into the lake. According to another legend, the "'Bell-Casting Griant - the lake had another name.”Golden Buffalo".

West Lake in Hanoi

The story says That there was a giant who lived ID the South and collected all the black bronze from the North in order to cast a bell. When struck, the bell echoed throughout the North. As black bronze was believed 10 be the mother of sold, the golden buffalo of the North heard the sound and desperately went south to look for its mother.

It came to this area and trampled on the land so much that the earth sunk and became a lake. However, according to some ancient manuscripts, in the 11th century this lake was called Dâm Đàm (Frosty Lake). By the 15th century. It was called Tây Hồ (West Lake). Another name of the lake is Lãng Bạc which is considered the field where fierce fights between the soldiers of the two Trưng Sisters and the Han troops (in fact, that field is in Tiên Sơn district, Bác Ninh province).

West Lake has for long been a beautiful land-scape. During the Lý and Trần dynasties, many kings had various palaces built around the lake as resorts. Some of these palaces: Thúy Hoa Palace in the Lý Dynasty, i.e. Hàm Nguyên Palace in the Trần Dynasty (Trấn Quốc Pagoda’s site now); Từ Hoa Palace 111 the Lý Dynasty, (Kim Liên Pagoda’s site now); Thụv Chương Palace in the Lê Dynasty (Chu Vãn An School now), etc.

Fishing on the Lake

Taking walk around the lake, one can see many historical sites and beauty spots: Nghi Tàm village, the birthplace of the wife of the Prefect Thanh Quan (a famous poetess who lived around 19th century); Kim Liên Pagoda with its unique architecture; Nhật Tân village with its famous gardens of peaches; Xuân Tảo village, with SÓC Temple dedicated to Saint Gióng; Trích Sài village with Thiên Niên Pagoda dedicated to the founder of the craft of weaving; silk; Kẻ Bưởi village with its traditional craft of making paper and Đồng cổ Temple; Thụy Khuê village with Bà Đanh Pagoda which was once very famous. Quan Thánh Temple, etc. Today, a series of newly-built hotels around the lake adds much diversity to its beauty.

Together with Trúc Bạch Lake, West Lake further enriches the poetic nature of inner Hà Nội while being a source of fish for the City.

Hà Nội Past and Present Nguyen Vinh Phuc - The Gioi Publishers