West Lake

West Lake is the largest lake in the Northern Delta, with an area of about 526 hectares of water surface and a capacity of 9 million m3 in the dry season.
West Lake has created a unique microclimate and natural ecological environment in the Tay Ho district because the hydrology is associated with the Red River and ancient rivers, such as the To Lich and Thien Phu rivers.
West Lake is the name according to Chinese characters, meaning the lake is in the West. According to sources, the name Tay Ho (West Lake) appeared in the Later Le Dynasty, around the 15th century. Before that, during the Ly - Tran dynasties, the lake was named Dam Dam (foggy lake). The primitive name is Dam Xac Cao, where the National Ancestor Lac Long Quan destroyed the Nine-Tails Fox elves during the country's founding. Besides, West Lake has other names, such as Kim Nguu lake (Golden Buffalo), Lang Bac lake (Boat of waves), Nga My lake (shape of Crescent Moon),…
West Lake landscape is written in the old books of the feudal dynasties and the folk memory of areas “Nung mountain - Nhi rive - Long citadel” areas. The "Dai Viet Su Ky Toan Thu" and "Kham Thinh Viet Su Thong Cuong Muc" books record the Ly and Tran kings setting up palaces near the lake to view fishing. West Lake was a place to visit and enjoy in the Late Le Dynasty in Thang Long.
The West Lake mirror reflects historical and cultural memories of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long. It is expressed through lines in the famous poem of Ba Huyen Thanh Quan "Lối xưa xe ngựa hồn thu thảo. Nền cũ lâu đài bóng tịch dương" means the land was once glorious for thousands of years, now only traces remain over the years. The West Lake wave is also reflected in the urban shape once honored as the "City for Peace," reaching out more spacious and modern.
Currently, West Lake is not only the "green lungs" of the Hanoi capital, balancing the water volume and avoiding flooding for the whole city. It is also a sacred land where the Hanoi people's mind is born. Besides, it is a source of spiritual inspiration for the music and poetry of the elegant and pompous land. Visitors can relax, travel, view and breathe the fresh air under the trees silhouetted against the lake. In addition, they also see many beautiful scenes such as glittering morning dew, bright yellow sun and quiet night under the moon by a calm lake.