Located in one of the ancient areas in Hanoi, Thanh Ha is popularly known as a historical riverside quarter which includes Hang Chieu, Hang Buom, Hang Khoai, Nguyen Sieu streets and others. This quarter also links to the Quan Chuong area and Dong Xuan Street.
Thanh Ha is early formed as a village of Hau Tuc canton lying in Tho Xuong district, a large district in North of Hanoi. There is a famous saying telling about this District that “the Tran Vu bell sound and Tho Xuong cock crow”. It is also well-known because the district has Tay Ho, one of the largest lakes in Hanoi. Quang Chuong gate is a main door leading to Hanoi city. There were three words: “Dong Ha Mon” that initially appeared on the main dome of the Quang Chuong gate in the early period of the 18th Century. The word “Mon” in that name means gate. Beside that, the word “Ha”, which is posted in the name of some areas of Hanoi such as Thanh Ha, Dong Ha and Ha Khau, primarily means tike Red River or Cai River. And then, in the early 19th century, the name Thang Long was changed into “Hanoi” or “the inner city if tile river”.
Built in the 19th century, Ngoc Son Temple is a historical and religious construction located in an island of Hoan Kiem Lake, one of the most beautiful lakes of Hanoi capital. For the first time, the temple was named as Ngoc Son Pagoda. However, because this temple was built to worship the Saint Van Suong, well-known as one of the brightest stars in Vietnam literary and intellectual circles, it was renamed to Ngoc Son Temple afterward.
Started constructing in September 1973, the President Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum was built on the foundations of the old rostrum in Ba Dinh Square where President Ho Chi Minh used to preside over the national meetings. About two years later, on August 29, 1975, the construction of Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum was officially completed.
Located next to the West Lake area, Truc Bach is currently well-known one of the most famous tourist destinations in Hanoi. The name “Truc Bach” means small creamy white bamboo. West Lake was formerly very large area. Therefore, in 1620 the residents of Truc Yen, Truc Quang, and part of Yen Phu nowadays, built a dyke across this lake, which was called Co Ngu dyke. This dyke later is named Thanh Nien Street. This lake was then divided into two separate lakes. The western part of the lake is West Lake and the eastern side is Truc Bach Lake. The origin of Truc Bach Lake was named in the reign of King Le and Lord Trinh (17th and 18th centuries). Since there were plenty of small ivory bamboo planted around the lake.
Positioned on the bank of the West Lake in Hanoi, Tran Quoc Pagoda is well-known not only the oldest pagoda in Hanoi but also a symbol of Vietnam Buddhism culture. Tran Quoc Pagoda was originally built in the age of King Ly Nam De (544 – 548) with the former name of Khai Quoc, which means “National Founder”.
Built in the age of the dynasty of King Ly Thai To (1010 – 1028), Quan Thanh Temple is famous as a vital historical and cultural relic, which is located in Quan Thanh ward, Ba Dinh district, Hanoi city, Vietnam.
This temple was originally built to worship Huyen Thien Tran Vo, or the God who protected or controlled the north area of Vietnam. Therefore, the temple previously had the names called the Tran Vo Temple or the temple of Quan Thanh Tran Vo.
Location: Ly Quoc Su Pagoda is at 50 Ly Quoc Su Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi.
Characteristic: Ly Quoc Su Pagoda worships a Buddhist Monk of the Ly Dynasty (the 10th - 12th centuries). This Monk, whose full name was Nguyen Chi Thanh, was born on 1066 in Dien Xa Village, Gia Vien District in Ninh Binh Province in the reign of King Ly Thanh Tong.
Location: Quan Su Pagoda (or the Ambassadors' Pagoda) is at 73 Quan Su Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi.
Characteristic: Quán Sứ Pagoda was originally built in the Le Dynasty in the 15th century. It formerly appeared as a tiny Buddhist Pagoda where was used to host foreign envoys and ambassadors.
Constructed on the land of An Tap Village, Tho Xuong District, which is now named Quan Su Street, Hanoi, Quan Su Pagoda was anciently located near the area of southern gate of Thang Long Capital.
Kim Lien Pagoda has the real Vietnamese name called Đại Bi Tự, which is situated in Quang An Village, Tay Ho District, Hanoi. Built on the Nghi Tam Peninsula on the bank of West Lake, Kim Lien Pagoda was originally belonged to the area of the former Tu Hoa Palace of the Ly Dynasty.
Location : At city center, bordered by Tran Nhat Duat and Phung Hung sts, Hoan Kiem District
Located in the heart of Hanoi capital, Hoan Kiem Lake becomes a most popular indicator to identify direction in the city. When a visitor asks for direction, Hanoi citizens will give their instructions that related to this great lake. Therefore, it is pretty necessary for travelers to know the way leading to their hotels from Hoan Kiem Lake.