In the middle of Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi there is a small island, where a beautiful temple stands – Turtle Tower, which is connected with an urban legend.
In the 15th century, Vietnam’s national hero Le Loi received a magical sword from a turtle living in this very lake. Later, after defeating the invaders, when Le Loi returned to the turtle in gratitude, the sword – whether by accident or on purpose – slipped from the hero’s hands and returned to the lake. That is why it was nicknamed Hoan Kiem, which translates as “Lake of the Returned Sword.”
It is believed that a rather rare species of large freshwater turtles, which are one of the symbols of Hanoi, really does live here. Perhaps this was what gave rise to the beautiful myth about the turtle.
The tower on the island was built in 1886. In style it is close to traditional Vietnamese architecture, but the noticeable influence of European style can also be felt, which is not surprising, since the country was a colony of France for a long time.
Long ago, there was another ancient structure on this site, destroyed back in the 18th-19th centuries, so Turtle Tower, although it looks rather archaic, is a newcomer to Hoan Kiem Lake.
