Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple in Hanoi
Contents
Hoan Kiem Lake sits beside Hanoi's Old Quarter. Its name is often translated as "Lake of the Restored Sword," recalling a legend in which a ruler returned a magical sword to a golden turtle. The Vietnam Tourism guide describes the lakeside as a place to see local routines, including exercise and tai chi, and lists public access as free and open all day.[1]
Fees and opening hours can change, so confirm them with the site manager before you go.
Cross to Ngoc Son Temple
Ngoc Son Temple, also called the Temple of the Jade Mountain, stands on a small island on the north side of the lake. A red bridge connects the island to shore. Vietnam Tourism says the temple honors scholar Van Xuong and national hero Tran Hung Dao. From the lakeside path, you can also look across the water toward Turtle Tower, which stands on a small islet near the center.
| Stop | What to know |
|---|---|
| Hoan Kiem Lake | Vietnam Tourism lists free public access and says it is open all day.[1] |
| Ngoc Son Temple | The Hanoi Site Management Board notice says the revised fee is 50,000 VND per person per visit, effective 1 January 2024. It exempts children under 16 and lists some 50 percent reductions. Check the notice for eligibility details.[2] |
Vietnam Tourism's guide also lists the 50,000 VND admission and gives opening hours of 7:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday to Friday and 7:00 am to 10:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday.[1] The management board's notice cites Hanoi Resolution 16/2023/NQ-HĐND and gives the same fee.[2] Confirm the hours with the site manager before planning around a particular time.
Things to Do
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Walk from the lake into the Old Quarter
The north side of the lake leads toward the Old Quarter. Vietnam Tourism describes its 36 streets as historically associated with different trades, with each street named for merchandise once sold there.[1] Take a lakeside walk, cross to Ngoc Son Temple, then continue north into the quarter.
The lake is a useful place to pause or orient yourself before exploring nearby streets. If a traffic-free street event matters to your visit, check a current local notice for your dates. The sources checked here do not confirm a current weekend schedule.
Check water puppet show details
Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre lists its address as 57b Dinh Tien Hoang and gives a performance duration of 50 minutes. Its official ticket page provides a booking phone number and email, but does not list a current price or date-specific show schedule.[3] Vietnam Tourism's guide lists tickets from 100,000 VND.[1] Contact the theatre to check availability and price for your chosen date before arranging your evening.
A simple visit plan
- Begin at the lake and follow the north shore to the red bridge.
- Visit Ngoc Son Temple, checking its current opening hours and the management board's fee and eligibility notice.
- Return to the lakeside path for a view of Turtle Tower, then continue north into the Old Quarter.
- If you want to see water puppetry, contact the theatre for the schedule and price on your date.
Keep the lake walk, temple visit and theatre booking as separate parts of the plan: the lake is listed as open all day, while the temple and performance have their own arrangements to confirm.
Sources and background
Numbers in the text such as [1] refer to these sources.
- [1] Vietnam Tourism: 11 must-see attractions in Ha Noi. Retrieved October 16, 2026.
- [2] Hanoi Site Management Board: Sửa đổi quy định về phí thăm quan tại Di tích Quốc gia đặc biệt Hồ Hoàn Kiếm và Đền Ngọc Sơn. Retrieved October 16, 2026.
- [3] Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre: Ticket Book. Retrieved October 16, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Its name is often translated as Lake of the Restored Sword and recalls a legend about a ruler returning a magical sword to a golden turtle. Vietnam Tourism also describes the lake as a place to see local exercise and tai chi by the water.
Vietnam Tourism lists free access for the general public and says the lake is open all day. Ngoc Son Temple is a separate attraction with an admission fee.
It stands on a small island on the north side of Hoan Kiem Lake. A red bridge connects the island to shore.
The Hanoi Site Management Board notice says the revised fee is 50,000 VND per person per visit from 1 January 2024. It exempts children under 16 and lists specific 50 percent reductions. Check the notice for eligibility details and confirm before visiting.
Vietnam Tourism lists 7:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday to Friday and 7:00 am to 10:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday. Hours can change, so confirm with the site manager before you go.
Yes. Turtle Tower stands on a small islet near the lake's center. You can look toward it from the lakeside path; the sources checked do not give visitor access to the islet.
Ngoc Son Temple is on the lake's north side, and the Old Quarter lies just beyond it.
Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre lists a 50-minute performance and gives its address and booking contacts. It does not list a current price or date-specific schedule on the page checked; Vietnam Tourism's guide lists tickets from 100,000 VND. Contact the theatre before choosing an evening.
