Hanoi maps and travel guide
Discovering Hanoi:
In vietnamese, Hanoi is usually written as two words, ha meaning the river, in reference to song Hong, or the Red River, and noi, meaning inside. Hanoi’s rich and complex history dates back to the neolithic era, when the ancient Viet people settled in the Bach Hac and Viet Tri regions, in present-day Vinh Phu province, at the confluence of the Red and Lo rivers.
map of hanoi - vietnam
In the very heart of the old town of Hanoi lies Ho Hoan Kiem, or Lake of the Restored Sword. If up early enough, visitors can catch locals seriously engrossed in their morning exercises before going off to work.In the evening, especially on holidays, the lake is ringed by a carnival atmosphere, with vendors selling balloons and toys, and children dressed up in frilly dresses and music blaring from loudspeakers.Several outdoor cafes selling ice cream, coffee and beer look out on the water.
Near the middle of the lake stands the small, 18th century tower, Thap Rua, or Tortoise Tower. A large tortoise is said to still live in the lake, and on the certain days of the year – usually when the seasons change- people claim to see the tortoise emerge from the water.
Map of Hanoi and travel information about Hanoi brought to you by Google Maps
Hanoi map
Temple of Literature ( Van Mieu)
Quoc Tu Giam
Open daily
Hanoi photos
Hanoi travel_temple of literature
This rare temple dedicated to Confucius dates from 1070, when it also doubled its function to become Vietnam’s first university. Proof of this are the 82 stelae ( 1484 – 1780 ) mounted on tortoises and inscribed with the names of 1,036 graduates. The entire 350m-long complex is devided into five courtyards, its central alley once reserved for the emperor and the side paths for mandarins. Entering from the south, a path leads through the dragon-adorned Van Mieu Gate, followed by the Dai Trung Gate. Rising in front of the third courtyard is a pavilion gateway ( 1805 ), dedicated to the Constellation of Literature, which introduces the impressive rows of stelae flanking a pond. Beyond is the fourth courtyard, with its red and gold sanctuary honouring Confucius and his disciples, and guarded by two superb bronze storks perched on tortoises. The richly carved House of Ceremonies in front occasionally stages performances of traditional music. The last courtyard once housed the university itself, later replaced by a temple dedicated to Confucius’s parents, but was extensively damaged in 1947 and is now closed to the public while undergoing restoration.
The Huc (Rising sun) bridge leading to Ngoc Son temple
Jade Mountain Temple ( Den NGoc Son )
Open daily
Perched on a tiny islet ( Jade Island ) in the lake not far from the tower is the Ngoc Son Temple ( Temple of the Jade Mound ). The temple is reached from the shore via the brightly-painted red, arched bridge known as The Huc, or Suneam Bridge. On the small hillock at the end of the bridge stands a stone column in the form of a brush next to an ink well, and inscribed with three Chinese characters, ta tien qing, meaning” written on the blue sky”. Also on the islet are the remains of a small communal house known as Tran Ba Dinh.
There is a nightly showing of water puppets on the northeast side of the lake, in a theater on Dinh Tien Hoang Street.
