Hanoi Attractions: #13 West Lake

Hanoi’s West Lake is known locally as Ho Tay. It is a freshwater lake in the centre of Hanoi, Vietnam. It has a total shore length of about 10 and a half miles. West Lake is the largest lake of the capital and a popular Hanoi attraction for recreation among locals and visitors. Close by there are many gardens, hotels and villas. A small part of West Lake is separated off by Thanh Nien road to form Truc Bach Lake. One of the Hanoi districts is named after the lake, Tay Ho District.

One of many beautiful hotels on the shores of the West Lake
Hanoi’s West Lake was created from a curve in the Red River and as usual in Vietnam appears in several legends. One story tells that West Lake was formed by the battle between Lac Long Quan and a nine-tailed fox spirit. The lake was once called “Fox Corpse Swamp”. Another folk tale claimed that the original name of the lake was “Golden Buffalo Lake” and was formed from a struggling buffalo searching for her lost her calf. In the 11th century, the lake was originally called “Foggy Lake” due to the perpetual misty conditions, the name was changing to “West Lake” in 1573.

Hanoi is known as the city of lakes, they are ingrained into the very psyche of the people here. Everyone loves to live near water, hence the high prices of property around The West Lake, However it is more than that. People come out in the early morning and evening to simply stroll around the lakes.

This is one of the best areas in Hanoi and certainly one of the most expensive places to live in a city that is not known for high real state prices; this is the highest valued property in Hanoi. Having one of the best loved of all Hanoi’s attractions on your doorstep come at a premium.

!steemitworldmap 21.056109 lat 105.826053 long ‘The Temple of Literature' D3SCR

Other Hanoi Attractions can be found here:

#1 Cua Bac Church Here: https://steemit.com/travel/@inseasia/hanoi-attractions

#2 Hoan Kiem Lake. https://steemit.com/travel/@inseasia/hanoi-attractions-2-hoan-kiem-lake

#3 Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum https://steemit.com/travel/@inseasia/hanoi-attractions-3-ho-chi-minh-mausoleum

#4 The Vietnamese Museum of Ethnology https://steemit.com/travel/@inseasia/hanoi-attractions-the-vietnam-museum-of-ethnology

#5 Truc Bach Lake https://steemit.com/travel/@inseasia/hanoi-attractions-5-truc-bach-lake

#6 Quan Thanh Temple https://steemit.com/travel/@inseasia/hanoi-attractions-6-quan-thanh-temple

#7 Vietnam Museum of Revolution https://steemit.com/travel/@inseasia/hanoi-attractions-7-vietnam-museum-of-revolution

#8 Hanoi Opera House https://steemit.com/travel/@inseasia/hanoi-attractions-8-hanoi-opera-house

#9 Vietnam Military History Museum https://steemit.com/travel/@inseasia/hanoi-attractions-9-vietnam-military-history-museum

#10 St. Joseph’s Cathedral https://steemit.com/travel/@inseasia/hanoi-attractions-10-st-joseph-s-cathedral

#11 Temple of Literature https://steemit.com/travel/@inseasia/hanoi-attractions-11-the-temple-of-literature

#12 The Tran Quoc Pagoda https://steemit.com/travel/@inseasia/hanoi-attractions-12-the-tran-quoc-pagoda

#13 West Lake http://www.inseasia.com/listing/west-lake-hanoi/

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