subject: The West Lake, Hanois Picturesque Lake [print this page] The West Lake, the largest body of water in Central Hanoi, covers 500 hectares in the Tay Ho district. It holds a distinctive place as one of the primary attractions of the city of Hanoi.
In earlier times, the lake was the favoured exclusive venue for relaxation of powerful mandarins and kings. Numerous picturesque monuments and palaces were constructed in the environs of the lake including Tu Hoa Palace, Thuy Hoa Palace, Kim Lien Pagoda, Ngoc Dam Palace and Ham Nguyen Sanctuary.
A 14 km pathway winds its way around the borders of the lake providing access to many sites of interest, such as the flower villages known as Tay Ho and Nghi Tam, the renowned Tay Ho Temple and the Nhat Tan peach gardens. Cayang Island surrounded by the lake contains the Tran Quoc pagoda, believed to be the most ancient in Vietnam; its towers glimmer strikingly in the waters of the lake. A priceless statue depicting Buddha Sakyamuni entering Nirvana, considered to be a masterwork of the Vietnamese artistic tradition is found within.
An actual sapling from the Bo tree under which the Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment was gifted by the Indian Prime Minister in 1959 and now flourishes in the temple courtyard. Fashioned by an ancient Zen sect and a renowned centre for Buddhist study, the temple comprises of two corridors, a bell tower and a visitors hall. A group of monks still make their home here, carrying out complex rituals on suitable days.
West Lake has also been the scene of several recent residential developments; the east shore of the lake is considered to be Hanois equivalent of Beverly Hills, where the trendiest and most affluent local residents and expatriates have made their home.
The visitor will see the quaint sight of fishermen involving themselves in their source of livelihood, with long bamboo poles and hand reels, operating a large spool with their hands, creating an intriguing sight, particularly when they catch a prize specimen.
Also noteworthy is the Quan Thanh Temple, which contains a 3.6 m statue of a Vietnamese deity who is said to have reigned over parts of the country.
