Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre
Hanoi, Vietnam
Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi
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Photo: Bem photography:, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia CommonsFit in nearby today
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Ticket booth
- At the foot of The Huc Bridge on Đinh Tiên Hoàng; you need a ticket to step onto the bridge
- Hours
- Lake open 24/7; Ngoc Son Temple Mon–Fri 7:00–18:00, Sat–Sun 7:00–21:00; walking street Friday 19:00 to Sunday 24:00
- Time on site
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A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes. - 1 h
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- The lake
- Free, open 24 hours
- Ngoc Son Temple
- 50,000 VND per adult under Hanoi’s current fee resolution; older guides still say 30,000
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Children
- Unofficially free under 15; discount for students
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Temple hours
- Mon–Fri 7:00–18:00, Sat–Sun 7:00–21:00 — per travel guides; no official timetable found
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Walking street
- Friday 19:00 to Sunday 24:00: Đinh Tiên Hoàng, Lê Thái Tổ and Hàng Khay closed to traffic; changed around public holidays
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Free temple days
- The 1st of every lunar month, the 20th day of the 8th lunar month and 23 November
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Paying
- Cash in VND; Grab takes foreign cards
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Key facts
≈ 1.7 kmlakeside loop, 25–40 minutes at an easy pace
2 sourcesi
vietnamtourism.comconsistent with the lake’s size on English Wikipedia50,000 VNDentry to Ngoc Son Temple since 2024, up from 30,000
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Nhân Dân and Thời báo Tài chính Việt Nam on the Hanoi People’s Council fee resolutionFri–Sunthe streets around the lake go car-free on weekend evenings, since 2016
2 sourcesi
VnExpress InternationalNgười Quan Sát700 × 250 mmaximum length and width; average depth about 1.2 m
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English Wikipedia1886year the Turtle Tower was built on its islet; no public access
3 sourcesi
English Wikipediatonkosti.ruvietnamtourism.com1865The Huc Bridge, the Pen Tower and the Ink Slab date from the temple’s rebuilding
3 sourcesi
vinwonders.comvietnamtourism.comEnglish Wikipedia (repairs of 1864)January 2016the lake’s last giant softshell turtle died; it is preserved in Ngoc Son Temple
2 sourcesi
English Wikipediavinwonders.comHồ Gươmthe everyday Vietnamese name, “Sword Lake”
2 sourcesi
English WikipediaWikidataFrom 5 amthe shore fills with tai chi groups, dancers and badminton players
2 sourcesi
vietnamtourism.comlocalvietnam.com6 bus routesstop at the lake: 08, 09, 14, 31, 36 and the airport bus 86
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VnExpress InternationalWhat is Hoan Kiem Lake?
Hoan Kiem Lake is the small lake at the very centre of Hanoi — the point most visitors orbit, because the Old Quarter and most backpacker and mid-range hotels sit just north of it. To the south and east run the wide French-era boulevards. It isn’t a ticketed sight so much as the city’s living room, with water in the middle.
Hồ Hoàn Kiếm means “Lake of the Returned Sword”; locals mostly just say Hồ Gươm, Sword Lake. It’s about 700 m long and 250 m wide, and barely over a metre deep on average. Two islets break the surface: one holds Ngoc Son Temple, linked to the shore by a red wooden bridge, and the other the small Turtle Tower.
Hanoians use it all day. Before sunrise the shore is packed with tai chi, aerobics and badminton; by afternoon people sit under the trees; in the evening families stroll, and at weekends the roads around it turn into a big pedestrian street. The central district of the city, Hoan Kiem, takes its name from the lake.
Ngoc Son Temple ticket price
Walking around the lake is free. You only pay for Ngoc Son Temple on Jade Islet: 50,000 VND per adult. Hanoi’s People’s Council set this fee alongside new prices for the Temple of Literature, so blogs quoting 30,000 VND are out of date.
The ticket booth is at the foot of The Huc Bridge on Đinh Tiên Hoàng street, and the bridge itself is inside the paid area — if you just want a photo of it, shoot from the shore. Guides say under-15s go in free and students with a card get a discount; we couldn’t confirm this officially, so ask at the booth.
Under the same resolution the temple is free on the 1st day of every lunar month, on the 20th day of the 8th lunar month — the anniversary of Tran Hung Dao — and on 23 November, Vietnam’s Cultural Heritage Day. Expect crowds of local worshippers with incense on those days.
Bring cash in Vietnamese dong, in small notes; no source says the booth takes cards. Foreign Visa and Mastercard work in hotels and bigger restaurants, but street stalls and small ticket desks run on cash.
Opening hours and the weekend walking street
The lake never closes — the shore is a public street. Ngoc Son Temple, according to travel guides, opens 7:00–18:00 on weekdays and 7:00–21:00 on Saturdays and Sundays. We couldn’t find an official timetable, so treat those times as a guide.
The walking street runs every week from 19:00 on Friday to 24:00 on Sunday. It covers Đinh Tiên Hoàng, Lê Thái Tổ and Hàng Khay around the lake plus the nearby blocks, with no cars or motorbikes allowed. Hoan Kiem’s local authority regularly extends or shifts it for public holidays and major events.
Things to do at Hoan Kiem Lake
- Cross The Huc Bridge (Thê Húc) — the vermilion wooden bridge to Jade Islet, poetically “Perch of the Morning Sunlight”. It looks best from the north-east shore.
- Visit Ngoc Son Temple (Ngọc Sơn, “Jade Mountain”) — it honours Van Xuong, patron of scholars, and the national hero Tran Hung Dao. Incense, old trees and a view back across the water.
- See the preserved giant turtle in a glass case inside the temple. Giant softshell turtles lived in the lake for decades; the last one died in January 2016.
- Look for the Pen Tower and the Ink Slab at the entrance to the bridge — a stone tower shaped like a writing brush and a gate holding an ink stone, both from the 1865 rebuilding.
- Spot the Turtle Tower (Tháp Rùa) — a three-tier tower from 1886 on an islet in the middle of the lake. You can’t visit it; it’s lit up at night and is the classic Hanoi photo.
- Walk the loop — about 1.7 km under willows and banyans. From here it’s a short walk north into the Old Quarter, west to St Joseph’s Cathedral and on to the train street, and to the water puppet theatre on the north-east shore.
The legend of the returned sword
The story goes that Emperor Lê Lợi was out boating on the lake when a Golden Turtle God rose from the water and asked for the magic sword he had been given. The emperor handed it over, the turtle sank with it, and the lake was renamed Hoàn Kiếm — the Lake of the Returned Sword.
Every Vietnamese child knows the tale, and the turtle is the lake’s emblem: the Turtle Tower went up on its islet in 1886. Real giant softshell turtles lived in the lake for generations and were treated as its guardians. The last known one was found dead in January 2016; it was preserved and now sits in Ngoc Son Temple next to an older specimen.
How to get to Hoan Kiem Lake
Tap a route to highlight it on the map.
Where are you starting from?
We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.
On foot
- Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre is about 4 min away on foot.
- St Joseph's Cathedral is about 14 min away on foot.
- Hoa Lo Prison is about 17 min away on foot.
More tips
- Walk from the Old Quarter — 5–15 minutes. Hàng Đào runs straight north from the top of the lake into the quarter. If your hotel is there, you won’t need transport at all.
- Airport bus 86 from Noi Bai — the express to Hanoi Railway Station passes the lake; useful stops include Hanoi Central Post Office (Bưu điện Hà Nội) on Đinh Tiên Hoàng on the east shore and the Opera House. Allow about an hour. Unofficially 45,000 VND, cash on board (older guides say 35,000).
- Taxi or Grab from the airport — 45–60 minutes; unofficially 300,000–450,000 VND to the Old Quarter. Grab takes cash or a foreign card linked in the app.
- City buses 08, 09, 14, 31 and 36 also stop at the lake; check stops in the Tìm Buýt app.
- Grab across town — about 10 minutes from the Temple of Literature. On weekend evenings set the drop-off a block away from the lake, because cars can’t get through.
How long do you need, and is it worth it?
A full loop takes 25–40 minutes at an easy pace; add Ngoc Son Temple and it’s about an hour. It’s absolutely worth it — you’ll pass the lake anyway on the way to almost everything in central Hanoi, so you might as well come at the right time.
To be honest, on a weekday afternoon it’s just a pretty pond ringed by busy traffic. Come at dawn, when hundreds of locals exercise along the water, or on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday evening, when the cars disappear and the streets fill with families, buskers and folk games. If you only have one evening in Hanoi, make it a weekend one.
Weekday morning or weekend evening?
| Weekday morningyou are here | Cars and bikes around the lake | Tai chi, dancing and badminton from 5 am | Opens 7:00 | Light, mostly locals exercising | Drop you at the shore |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri–Sun evening | Car-free from 19:00 Fri to 24:00 Sun | Buskers, street games, food and craft stalls | Open until 21:00 Sat and Sun | Very busy | Only to the edge of the zone |
Temple hours are from travel guides; walking street times are from Hoan Kiem’s local announcements. Mornings are best for photos of the Turtle Tower, weekend evenings for atmosphere.
Before you go
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Hanoi by the water
Waterside places in Hanoi rated by YesGo. Tap a column header to sort.
| Hoan Kiem Lakeyou are here | 46 | 1 h | Free | — |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tran Quoc Pagoda | 42 | 30 min | Free | 2.7 km |
| Ha Long Bay | 32 | 4 h | Fee 250,000 VND; tours cost more | 140.6 km |
Central Hanoi in a day: temple, trains, cathedral and the lake
The Temple of Literature in the morning, the train street and St Joseph’s Cathedral after lunch, then Hoan Kiem Lake and a water puppet show on its shore. Add it to your route and YesGo sets the timings and walks.
- Temple of Literature1 h · 70,000 VND, under-16s free
- 14 min walk from the previous stopHanoi Train Street45 min · Free; drink at a café is paid
- 11 min walk from the previous stopSt Joseph's Cathedral20 min · Free
- 6 min walk from the previous stopHoan Kiem Lakeyou are here1 h · Free; Ngoc Son Temple 50,000 VND
- 6 min walk from the previous stopThang Long Water Puppet Theatre1 h · 100,000–200,000 VND
5 places · about 4 h 42 min with walks · 37 min on foot in total
Nearby and on your route
How to do it right
- Get up for 5–6 am at least once: hundreds of Hanoians exercising by the water is the lake at its best.
- Cover shoulders and knees for Ngoc Son Temple and keep your voice down — it’s a working temple.
- On weekend evenings book your Grab from a side street; cars can’t reach the shore.
- On the 1st of the lunar month the temple is free but very crowded.
- Vendors right on the shore charge more than the lanes a block into the Old Quarter.
- Pair the loop with a show at the water puppet theatre on the north-east corner.
Questions
Is Hoan Kiem Lake free?
Yes. The lake is free and open 24 hours. Only Ngoc Son Temple on the islet charges: 50,000 VND per adult, with under-15s unofficially free.
What are Ngoc Son Temple’s opening hours?
According to travel guides, 7:00–18:00 Monday to Friday and 7:00–21:00 on Saturdays and Sundays, every day of the year. We found no official timetable.
When is the Hoan Kiem walking street open?
Every week from 19:00 on Friday until 24:00 on Sunday. Times change around public holidays.
How long does it take to walk around Hoan Kiem Lake?
The loop is about 1.7 km — 25–40 minutes at an easy pace, or about an hour with the temple.
How do I get from Noi Bai Airport to Hoan Kiem Lake?
Bus 86 takes about an hour and stops by Hanoi Central Post Office on the east shore; unofficially 45,000 VND, cash. A taxi or Grab takes 45–60 minutes.
Is Hoan Kiem Lake worth visiting?
Yes, especially at dawn or on a weekend evening. On a weekday afternoon it’s pleasant but ordinary — a lake ringed by traffic.
What is the legend of Hoan Kiem Lake?
Emperor Lê Lợi returned a magic sword to a Golden Turtle God that rose from the lake, which is why it’s called the Lake of the Returned Sword.
Are there still turtles in Hoan Kiem Lake?
The last giant softshell turtle died in January 2016. Its preserved body is on display in Ngoc Son Temple.
Can you go inside the Turtle Tower?
No. It stands on a tiny islet in the middle of the lake with no access; you see it from the shore, best when it’s lit up at night.
Where should I stay near Hoan Kiem Lake?
In the Old Quarter just north of the lake: the shore is 5–15 minutes on foot, and most Ha Long Bay day trips pick up there.
Have you been? Was it worth your time?
1 — no, 5 — absolutely
Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.
Sources and fact-check
- Nhân Dân and Thời báo Tài chính Việt Nam: Hanoi’s new heritage site fees, Ngoc Son Temple, free days
- vinwonders.com and vietnamtourism.com: Ngoc Son Temple hours, The Huc Bridge, Pen Tower, preserved turtle
- Người Quan Sát: Hoan Kiem walking street announcement; VnExpress International: walking street, bus routes at the lake
- English Wikipedia: Hoàn Kiếm Lake, Turtle Tower, Ngọc Sơn Temple; Wikidata Q1151254
- tonkosti.ru: Turtle Tower, bridge
- A Social Nomad and nashaplaneta.net: airport bus 86 stops and fare
- vietnamtourism.com and localvietnam.com: loop length, early-morning exercise, airport taxis
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