Two legends explains the origins of West Lake, Or Ho Tay in Vietnamese, the West lake is also known as the Lake of Mist and the Big Lake. According to one West lake was created when the Dragon king drowned an evil nine-tailed fox in his lair, which was in a forest on this site, the Other legend relates that in the 11th century, a Vietnamese Buddhist monk, Khong Lo, rendered a great service to the emperor of China, who rewarded him with a vast quantity of bronze from which he cast a huge bell. The sound of the bell could be heard all the way to China, where the Golden buffalo Calf, mistaking the ringing for it's mother's call, ran southward, trampling on the site of Ho Tay and turning it into a lake.
In reality, the West lake was created when the Red River Overflowed its banks, Indeed, the Red River has changed its course numerous times, alternately flooding some areas and causing slip build up which creates new land. The flood problem has been partially controlled by building dikes, The highway along the east side of the west lake is built atop such a dike.
The west lake was once ringed with magnificent palaces and pavilions, These were destroyed in the course of various feudal wars. The circumference of west lake is about 13 KM.
The Tran Quoc Pagoda is on the shore of West lake off Pho Thanh Nien, Which divides West Lake from Truc Bach Lake . A stele here dating from 1639 tells the history of this site. The Pagoda was rebuilt in the 15th century and again in 1842. There are a numbers of monks funerary monuments in the garden. This is one of the oldest Pagodas in all Vietnam and most of the Vietnam Package Tours companies include them to the tour program in Hanoi. Tonkin Visa (VisaVietnam.Pro) has day tour to Tran Quoc Pagoda
On the south side of the West lake is a popular strip of outdoors sea-foods restaurants which the north side has been ear-marked for the developments of luxurious villas and Hotels.
.jpg "west lake photo in dusk") |
| Photo by Wikipedia |
The Tran Quoc Pagoda is on the shore of West lake off Pho Thanh Nien, Which divides West Lake from Truc Bach Lake . A stele here dating from 1639 tells the history of this site. The Pagoda was rebuilt in the 15th century and again in 1842. There are a numbers of monks funerary monuments in the garden. This is one of the oldest Pagodas in all Vietnam and most of the Vietnam Package Tours companies include them to the tour program in Hanoi. Tonkin Visa (VisaVietnam.Pro) has day tour to Tran Quoc Pagoda
On the south side of the West lake is a popular strip of outdoors sea-foods restaurants which the north side has been ear-marked for the developments of luxurious villas and Hotels.
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Nice blog. West lake is another brilliant side of Hanoi and i advice all traveler to take a trip around the lake, a vietnam tour packages could also be included a tour to Hanoi and west lake.
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