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Ha Noi is the
capital of Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
Ha Noi lies
in Red River Delta and is situated in a tropical area having
a strong monsoon influence. The name of
HaNoi
(Interior side of a river) has been derived from an ancient
language which is literally known as a land area located in
the inner side of Red River. It does not mean that the city
is inside the river, but it is embraced by about 100 km of
the Red River dykes.
Ha Noi travel
has nine inner precincts (Hoan Kiem, Ba Dinh, Hai Ba Trung,
Dong Da, Cau Giay, Tay Ho, Thanh Xuan, Long Bien, Hoang Mai)
and five suburban districts (Tu Liem, Thanh Tri, Gia Lam,
Dong Anh and Soc Son).
One- Pillar Pagoda
Chua mot cot (One-pillar Pagoda) : Its original name was
Dien Huu (long-lasting happiness and good luck). Legend has
it that King Lư Thai Tong was very old and had no son of his
own. Therefore, he often went to pagodas to pray for
Buddha's blessing so that he might have a son. One night, he
had a dream that he was granted a private audience with
Buddha with a male baby in his hands. Buddha, sitting on a
lotus flower in a square-shaped lotus pond in the western
side of Thang Long Citadel, gave the king the baby. Months
later, the queen got pregnant and gave birth to a male
child*. To repay gift from Buddha, the king ordered the
construction of a pagoda which was supported by only one
pillar resembling a lotus seat on which Buddha had been
seated. The pagoda was dedicated to Buddha.
Quoc Tu Giam (Temple of Literature) was built in 1070 as a
dedication to the founder of Confucianism. Six years later,
Quoc Tu Giam - the first university of Vietnam - was built
in the premises of Van Mieu. Quoc Tu Giam was the first
school for princes and children of royal family members. In
1482, King Le Thanh Tong ordered the erection of steles with
inscription of all the names, birth dates and birth places
of doctors and other excellent graduates who took part in
examinations since 1442. Each stela is placed on the back of
a turtle representing the nation's longevity. During Nha
Nguyen (Nguyen Dynasty), Temple of Literature was moved to
Phu Xuan (Hue Royal City).
Golden Lotus Pagoda (Kim Lien Pagoga).
* Chua Kim Lien (Kim Lien Pagoda) : Legend has it that in
the 12th century, Princess Tu Hoa, daughter of King Lư Than
Ton , led her ladies-in-waiting to this area. They
cultivated mulberry and silkworms to make silk. Later, a
pagoda was built right on the site and by 1771, it was named
Kim Lien (Golden Lotus).
Quan Su Pagoda
*Chua Quan Su (Quan Su Pagoda) was built in the 17th
century. It is located in the street of the same name. Since
1958, Vietnam Buddhism Association has used this pagoda as
its head office.
Quan Thanh Temple
* Den Quan Thanh (Quan Thanh Temple) : The three ancient
Chinese characters which are still seen today on the top of
the entrance to the temple mean Tran Vu Quan. Literally, the
temple is dedicated to Saint Tran Vu. Temples are places for
worshipping saints while pagodas are dedicated to Buddha and
faithful disciplines. Saint Tran Vu was a legendary figure
which was a combination between a legendary character in
Vietnam's legend and a mystic character derived from China's
legend. In Vietnam's legend, he was a saint who had earned
the merits of assisting Thuc Phan (future King An Duong
Vuong) in getting rid of ghost spirit during the
construction of CoLoa Citadel. An Duong Vuong Temple in
CoLoa Citadel (Dong Anh district) is also named Thuong
Temple. Inside it, there are An Duong Vuong's bronze statue
(cast in 1897) and a big arbalest symbolizing the magic
arbalest in the old days. In China's legend, Saint Tran Vu
was a saint who had made many contributions in safeguarding
the northern border. Quan Th¸nh Temple was built during the
reign of King LưThai To (1010-1028). Special attention
should be paid to the black bronze statue of Saint Tran Vu.
Another object of no less significance is a smaller black
bronze statue of Old Trong, a chief artisan of the bronze
casting team who had made the giant statue of Saint Tran Vu
and the great bell on top of the entrance.
Ngoc Son Temple
* Den Ngoc Son (Ngoc Son Temple) : Initially, the temple was
called Ngoc Son Pagoda. Later, it was renamed as Ngoc Son
Temple, because it was dedicated to the saints. Saint Van
Xuong was a person considered the brightest star in
Vietnam's literature and intellectual circles. Tran Hung Dao
was worshipped because he was the national hero who led the
Vietnamese people to a resounding victory over the Mongol
aggression. The temple as it is seen today was attributable
to the restoration efforts of Nguyen Van Sieu, a great
Hanoian writer. He had a large pen-shaped tower (Thap But)
built at the entrance to the temple
On the upper section of Thap But, there are three Chinese
characters Ta Thanh Thien which mean literally that to write
on the blue sky is to imply the height of a genuine and
righteous person's determination and will. Behind Thap But
is Dai Nghien (Ink Stand). The Ink Stand is carved from
stone resembling a peach, which is placed on the back of
three frogs on top of the gate to the temple. Passing
through Dai Nghien, visitors will tread on the wooden bridge
called The Huc. The Huc is literally understood as the place
where beams of morning sunshine are touching.
Besides, Ha Noi has such attractions as Ho Chi Minh's
Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh Museum, History Museum, Revolution
Museum, Army Museum, Fine Arts Museum, Palace of
Friendship....
Festival Hai Ba Trung
Den Hai Ba Trung (Hai Ba Trung Temple) is also called Dong
Nhan Temple, because it is located in Dong Nhan village, Hai
Ba Trung precinct. Built in 1142 under the reign of King Lư
Anh Ton, it is dedicated to the two Vietnamese heroines
Trung Trac and Trung Nhi. On the 5th and 6th days of the
lunar second month , there is a grand festival at this
temple to commemorate the two national heroines.
West Lake
HoTay (West Lake) &Duong Thanh Nien (Youth Road) : Youth
Road can be compared to a beautiful bridge spanning across
the two large bodies of water - West Lake to the northwest
and Truc Bach Lake to the southeast. Covering an area of
nearly 500 hectares, Ho Tay was also called Dam Dam (Misty
Pond), Lang Bac (White Waves)...
.Oral tradition has it that HoTay derived from a low-lying
area upturned by a golden buffalo, so the stream derived
from Ho Tay was named Song Kim Nguu (Golden Buffalo River).
As for Truc Bach Lake, legend has it that in the old days,
Truc Bach Lake was where lived the abandoned
ladies-in-waiting who were forced to weave silk. Therefore,
beautiful silk was called Truc Bach (Silk of the Truc
village). As the biggest lake in the city, HoTay is
surrounded by many areas reputed for their traditional
occupations :Yen Phu and Nghi Tam (silkworm-breeding and
silk-weaving villages in the past), Quang Ba, Nhat Tan
(peach-growing village), Buoi (paper-making village). In Tay
Son times, Nguyen Huy Luong wrote Tông Tay Ho Phó (Eulogy
for West Lake) so as to highlight the landscapes of the West
Lake and Nguyen Hue (future Quang Trung)'s glorious merits.
Now, Ho Tay has been earmarked for the city's major tourism
development center.
Hoan Kiem Lake
* Ho Hoan Kiem (Lake of Restored Sword) : The name of this
lake is derived from a legend having it that a fisherman
named LeThan caught a sword blade when drawing the fish-net.
Than decided to offer it to his commanding general Le Loi
(future Le Thai To). Afterwards, LeLoi found a hilt fitting
that blade very well. This sword had always been on his side
during 10 years of resistance against Ming aggressors. After
winning over the foreign aggression, King Le Thai To
returned to Thang Long Citadel .One day, aboard a royal
boat, he took a cruise in the Luc Thuy lake. Suddenly, a
giant turtle emerged and came towards him. The king withdrew
his sword, and pinpointed with the sword the direction of
the coming turtle for his soldiers' attention.
All of a sudden, the turtle caught the sword between its
teeth from the king's hand and submerged. The king thought
that during the resistance against Ming aggressors, the
genius had offered him this sword to help him defeat the
enemy. At that time, the peace was returning, and the genius
appeared to take back the sword. Consequently, King Le Thai
To decided to name the Luc Thuy lake Ho Hoan Kiem (Lake of
Restored Sword). In the middle of the lake is Thap Rua
(Turtle Tower). The lake abounds in big turtles aged five or
six hundred. When there are the changes in weather, they
often emerge or expose themselves at the foot of the Turtle
Temple.
Links:
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