Turtle Tower

It is one of the most iconic, symbolic and most recognizable pieces of architecture representing Hanoi and the entirety of Vietnam.

In the 1400s, under Lê Thánh Tông a tower was built to improve the comfort of the emperor's fishing.

[1] In the 17th and 18th centuries, under the Revival Lê dynasty, the Trịnh lords had Tả Vọng Temple built on the islet.

In 1886, while Vietnam was occupied by the French, a musician who was secretly working for the French, received permission from the government to build a tower in the middle of Hoàn Kiếm Lake in honor of Lê Lợi, one of the most famous figures of Vietnamese history and one of its greatest heroes.

Legends surrounding his life involving the sword, Thuận Thiên and Hoan Kiem turtle are associated with Hoàn Kiếm Lake and the island.