A mirror of Hanoi’s sky
For the people of Hanoi, West Lake is more than somewhere to enjoy the breeze and watch the sunrise and sunset. Enveloped in legends, West Lake acts as a cultural repository that safeguards the spirit of the ancient land beside the imperial city of Thang Long. Here, stories of the nine-tailed fox, the legend of the golden buffalo, and more come to life. The misty, dreamlike waters recall the tale of Grand Preceptor Le Van Thinh, who was wrongly accused of transforming into a tiger but later vindicated by history. Ancient pagodas peek out from beneath lush trees, adjoining ponds are devoted to cultivating lotus flowers, and the banks are home to a water park and flower gardens, all adding to West Lake’s allure and attracting visitors on rain-free days.
The best feature is the small road that circles the lake, where countless people cycle and jog each morning and afternoon. Young men and women stroll by the lake and enjoy refreshing drinks. This area entices foodies with a selection of street foods and grilled dishes. For sports enthusiasts, it provides a perfect space for daily training.
And for photography lovers, this large area is ideal for exploring the ever-changing beauty of nature. Circling the lake, this vast expanse of water embraced by lush trees appears serene. Seen from a bird’s-eye perspective, the lake takes on diverse and visually captivating forms.
It is interesting to wander along the small lakeside road and explore each interconnected yet distinct area. If the small pond by Kim Lien Pagoda hints at a meditative atmosphere, inviting the human mind to tranquility, then Dam Tri, specifically used for lotus cultivation, suggests the elegant pleasure of enjoying lotus tea. In the summer, the lotus pond is always bustling with visitors who come here to take pictures. Tea connoisseurs and wine enthusiasts often gather here, leisurely observing the tea-makers delicately plucking flowers amidst hundreds of lotus blooms still adorned with the night’s dew.
The narrow road that cuts through the pond is an ideal spot to bike in the cool breeze, offering splendid views of kayakers, rowers, and stand-up paddleboarders on the lake.
