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Truc Bach Lake

Truc Bach Lake Hanoi: A new visitor’s guide for the best experience

01/03/2023 822 views

Around Truc Bach Lake, you can visit some sacred sites. There are also many shops nearby where you can buy coffee, beer, and food. Read on to learn more about this attractive destination in Vietnam’s capital!

Truc Bach Lake

Truc Bach Lake lies next to West Lake in Hanoi (Source: Collected)

Truc Bach Lake, one of the best tourist attractions in Hanoi, Vietnam, lies in a harmonious and delightful setting that boasts lots of historical, sacred and cultural sites nearby. Visiting this beautiful sight, travelers can not only admire the poetic scenery but also conveniently explore the unique architecture in the surrounding areas. With these merits, this is definitely a must-have stop during your Hanoi travel itinerary.

1. An overview of Truc Bach Lake Hanoi

Truc Bach Lake in Ba Dinh district of Hanoi is not only a familiar historic site of the capital but also a famous lake in Vietnam. It is separated from West Lake, the biggest lake in the inner city, by Thanh Nien Street. Ideally located near Hanoi Old Quarter, the lake is the favorite spot of many sightseers who look for leisurely strolls or calming sunset views just to chill out.

Spreading over an area of 9 hectares, Truc Bach Lake has striking geographical features that make it such a special attraction among visitors. Although its area is not too large, on the lake lie two peninsulas, namely Chau Chu and Ngu Xa. On Chau Chu peninsula, there is Thuy Trung Tien temple whose name means a fairy in water. Meanwhile, Ngu Xa peninsula, which used to be widely famous for bronze casting, is nowadays noted for its unique “pho rolls” dish.

2. The historical significance of Truc Bach Lake

Truc Bach Lake originally belonged to the huge West Lake. However, in 1620, the residents of Yen Hoa and Yen Quang villages built a small dyke across this enormous lake in order to help fishing activities. It was, as a result, divided into two lakes: West Lake in the western part and Truc Bach Lake in the eastern one. The dyke was known as Co Ngu embankment, which is now Thanh Nien street.

Under the reign of King Le and Lord Trinh, a palace was built on the lakeside during the 18th century and later became a reformatory for disobedient royal concubines. The accused were exiled to this place and forced to weave white silk as a punishment. Today this reformatory does not exist any more, but its grounds turn into a suitable site for gentle strolls throughout the day.

Truc Bach Lake Hanoi has a historical link with the Second Indochina War, depicted through the John McCain Memorial beside the lake. John Sidney McCain, a US Navy aviator, was sent on a mission in Hanoi. On October 26, 1967, his plane was shot down, but he somehow managed to parachute down into Truc Bach Lake. The locals dragged him out of the water, and after that, he was kept as a prisoner of war. People put up the John McCain Memorial, which today stands on Thanh Nien Street, at the western edge of the lake. It is surprising that John McCain had not seen this monument until 1985, on his first return to Vietnam. 

Truc Bach Lake

Truc Bach Lake used to be a part of West Lake until the 17th century (Source: Collected)

3. Things to do during your trip to Truc Bach Lake

Truc Bach Lake is undoubtedly one of the top places to visit in Hanoi Vietnam. Below are some suggested activities for your journey here:

3.1. Hire a swan pedalo to get around and admire the scenery

Swan-shaped pedal boats are docked at one side of the lake, beside the Highlands Coffee boat. Once you get on a pedalo, you are free to explore the whole lake if you like. This activity is particularly suitable for couples or triple groups. But if you are confident enough about being a solo traveler on the pedalo, you can try that unique experience!

3.2. Explore some famous cafés with beautiful views

Lakeside cafés seem to be an interesting culture in Vietnam’s capital. There are a variety of both indoor and outdoor cafés in the Truc Bach neighborhood to suit every personal taste. Just relax and enjoy some caffeine or other drinks, it will help you recharge after hours of exploring Hanoi streets. Some frequently chosen cafés in this area are Lang Thang Coffee & More, 65 Truc Bach, Bluebird’s Nest,… Egg coffee and Truc Bach beer are two signature beverages you should try when visiting this quarter. 

Truc Bach Lake

Truc Bach quarter has its own brew – the Truc Bach beer (Source: Collected)

3.3. Enjoy local foods in restaurants at the lakesides

Truc Bach Lake attracts travelers with not only the peaceful scenes of its placid waters but also tons of sidewalk food stalls around it. From these mini-restaurants, diners can enjoy yummy street food while admiring the amazing lake view. There is a wide range of must-try local delicacies in the area, such as Vietnamese beef noodle soup (pho), pho rolls (pho cuon), deep-fried pho (pho chien phong), crispy pork belly, bun dau mam tom, Hanoi chicken noodle (Bun thang) and shrimp cake (banh tom), to name but a few.

Truc Bach Lake

Superb restaurants near Truc Bach Lake offer excellent food and scenic views (Source: Collected)

3.4. Visit other famous tourist attractions nearby

West Lake is the largest freshwater lake in Hanoi capital, which is located in Tay Ho District to the northwest of the city center. The most recommended time to visit the lake in the day is late afternoon when you can watch the stunning sunset over the water. Otherwise, you should be here in the evening, when all the lights are on and thus create glorious views of the lake.

Known as a sacred “pearl” in the middle of West Lake, Tran Quoc Pagoda, which is the oldest one in Vietnam’s capital, still preserves many ancient features of an old Hanoi. In 2016, it was listed by the British Daily Mail as one of the 16 most beautiful pagodas in the world. Coming to the pagoda, tourists will certainly savor every tranquil moment and unique experience that this place offers.

  • Cua Bac Church

Built in 1932 by the French administration of Indochina, Cua Bac Church is one of the three major churches in Hanoi, along with Ham Long Church and Saint Joseph Cathedral. Nestling under the shade of old trees at the intersection of Phan Dinh Phung and Nguyen Bieu streets, this Roman Catholic church is quite a good choice for an afternoon walk.

Quan Thanh Temple, previously known as Tran Vu Temple, is one of the four sacred temples (“Thang Long Tu Tran”) of the ancient citadel of Thang Long (Hanoi today). This well-known temple in Hanoi was established under the reign of King Ly Thai To when he moved the capital from Hoa Lu (Ninh Binh today) to Dai La (now Hanoi). In 1962, it was recognized as a national historical and cultural relic.

  • Chau Long Pagoda

This Buddhist pagoda is situated near Chau Long market and the People’s Committee of Truc Bach ward. Chau Long Pagoda is said to be associated with a princess of the Tran Dynasty named Khiet Co who used to live here in her childhood. The pagoda underwent several major restorations, especially during the Nguyen dynasty – the last feudal dynasty in Vietnamese history. So, today, it has bold imprints of royal architecture.

Truc Bach Lake

West Lake (Source: Collected)

Lovely lakes with various vibes are just small parts of Hanoi. There are also a host of special attractions and holiday destinations which are well worth a visit in the capital of Vietnam, particularly VinKE & Vinpearl Aquarium at Times City.

Vinpearl Aquarium, home to more than 30,000 marine creatures, is an exciting place where you can contemplate a model ocean world right in the heart of the capital. In addition, when visiting Vinpearl Aquarium, you will definitely also enjoy exhilarating shows and activities such as the mermaid show, feeding penguins, etc.

Besides Vinpearl Aquarium, VinKE is such an ideal spot for families, especially those with young children. As a quality educational playground in Hanoi, VinKE offers many fascinating and exciting activities that both bring pleasure and help children nurture their future dreams.

Truc Bach Lake

Truc Bach Lake

VinKE & Vinpearl Aquarium is one of the best places in Hanoi for families to have fun

 

Book tickets of VinKE & Vinpearl Aquarium here

 

4. How to reach Truc Bach Lake in Hanoi?

  • By bus

Hanoi has an effective network of public transport with quite low costs. Therefore, buses  can be a useful means of exploring the city. There are several bus routes to get here, depending on where you begin the journey. Some suggested routes are 145, CNG03, E05 or E09. If you find it tricky to comprehend the itinerary, buying a Truc Bach Lake map with printed bus routes shown around can be helpful. It generally costs from 7,000 VND to 9,000 VND for each turn. 

  • By motorbike

Xe om, meaning motorbike driver in Vietnamese, is available on almost every corner of Hanoi Old Quarter. You can negotiate with the driver to reach an agreed price. If you start at Hoan Kiem Lake, a Grab motorbike drive to Truc Bach Lake costs approximately 35,000 VND, or slightly more.

  • By taxi

Similar to xe om, you can also hail a taxi wherever you are in the city. There are several popular taxi brands in Hanoi from which you can choose, including Mai Linh, Taxi Group, and G7.

Truc Bach Lake, among so many of Hanoi’s beautiful places, is a wonderful site to spend your time chilling out due to its laid-back vibe. It is the perfect option to escape the hustle and bustle of urban life and experience a slightly different, much more relaxed atmosphere of Hanoi. Hopefully this article will provide a quick insight into your target destination, and your upcoming trip will be well planned!

 

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