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Top 7 Best Places to Visit in Hanoi

By: Bich Phuong - 23 January 2017

Hanoi is not only the Vietnamese capital but also well-known as a cultural centre of Vietnam during many generations. Almost famous destinations of Hanoi totally reflect a long history of Vietnam which has a close link with fairy tale story, magic myths and daily life of native people. Let’s try to learn about Hanoi culture by experiencing this list of destinations above:

1. Hoan Kiem Lake (Sword Lake)
 
In the past time, the local people called it Ta Vong Lake. Legend has it that the Dragon King (Long Vuong) gave a magic sword for Le Loi- an excellent emperor of Vietnam to battle the Ming army in 1428. Thanks to the support of this sword, Le Loi and his army won the enemy and bring peaceful sphere for their country back. Once, Emperor Le Loi and his courtier were wandering around Ta Vong Lake, a Turtle God surfaced and asked him for the magic sword. From this event, Ta Vong Lake is renamed Hoan Kiem Lake. 
 
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At the centre of Sword lake is the Turtle Tower and particularly, there is The Huc Bridge, a wooden red- painted bridge in connection with the Temple of Jade Mountain (Ngoc Son Temple) which was built from 13th century.
 
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2. Temple of Literature 
 
It is the first university of Vietnamese which had been dated from 1970-1976 under Ly’s dynasty. At first, this temple was used to be honor Confucian, but later it became a desirable place that doctor’s name of feudal period was curved in the turtle backs. All parts of temple still remain the ancient architecture of Ly’s dynasty with mainly wooden materials. Many antiquities of the past time are displayed such as daily objects of students, noble’s clothes, ceramic things.
 
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It is clearly seen that Temple of Literature is not only an naturally historical site but also reflect national spirit about studying culture thousand years ago. Visitors just take 10 minutes to go from Guom Lake to this place.
 
3. One Pillar Pagoda
 
It is one of famous landmark of Hanoi because of its legendary story and its unique structure. This pagoda was derived from night dream of King Ly Thai Tong in 11th century. He saw the Holy Lady (Phat Ba Quan Am) appear and lead him go inside a lotus. Every his courtier consider that it is a bad things but his monk asked him for building a pagoda. After that, this king constructed a lotus-shaped pagoda which is exactly the lotus in his dream before. 
 
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One Pillar Pagoda was finished in 1049 and then, King Ly Nhan Tong added Linh Chieu bond around this pagoda.
 
4. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
 
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum was built from 1973 to 1975. It is an famous tourist attraction of Hanoi to honor the President Ho Chi Minh, the national hero of Vietnam who sacrificed his own life for Vietnam independence and reunification. All materials of mausoleum are donated by Vietnamese people to express the gratitude and respect to Ho Uncle. Outside the mausoleum, there are hundreds of national flowers and bonsais which is precious gifts of all regions of Vietnam. 
 
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Besides, Ho Chi Minh mausoleum is considered as a lively memorable picture about simple lifestyle and pure moral of Ho Chi Minh. Wandering around mausoleum garden, travelers can visit the fish bond where Ho Uncle often came and fed for fish every morning. Or you can visit Ho’s stilt next to garden of trees to enjoy both his working and resting place. This place really creates a perfect harmony between nature and human.
 
5. Hoa Lo Prison
 
 According to CNN, Hoa Lo Prison is on Top 5 cruelest prisons in the Southeast Asia. In the period of French colonialist, thousands of Communist soldiers were sentenced and tortuned brutally in this site. Hoa Lo Prison is a historical mark which reflects the most lively pictures about both extremely harsh life of Communist prisoners and the viciously tortuned tools of French Army at that time.
 
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6. Long Bien Bridge
 
It is a symbol of architecture, history and culture of Vietnamese for a long time ago. Designed by Gustave Eiffel -a French architecture, Long Bien Bridge was built during 1989-1982 to serve for the first colonial exploitation of France in Vietnam. This bridge is made of steel with 1650 meters in length which became the largest bridge in Indo-Chinese at that time. 
 
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This bridge crosses over the Red River that French used it as a main path of transporting materials from Vietnam to China. After that, it turned into a travelling attraction because it has an overwhelmingly magnificent beauty. In the past time, Long Bien Bridge is a favorite destination of French to wander. Nowadays, Vietnamese often visit Long Bien Bridge because of its historical values but also its incredible landscapes. It is really an ideal site to take photos, especially in the morning and in the afternoon. 
Apart from the noisy life in Hanoi, Long Bien Bridge always gives visitors a feeling of peace and experience because of its impressive beauty of nature around Red River, lively daily activities of local people and mouthwatering street foods.
 
7. Bat Trang Pottery Village
 
Located at Gia Lam district of Hanoi capital, Bat Trang became a cradle of pottery art in the period of Vietnamese feudalism. It is only 10 km to go from the centre of Hanoi to Bat Trang. This place created a famous ceramic trademark by supplying high-quality ceramic products for both daily objects and decorations for Vietnam people such as bowl, cup, plate… 
 
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Every ceramic product is painted with special pictures which reflect deeply Vietnamese culture during the past centuries. Visitors can enjoy with Bat Trang artists for making pottery products by themselves or buying ceramic products to present for their relatives.
 
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