Hanoi Historical Sites Granted Special Status

The five (5) historical sites of Hanoi are just granted certificates as Special National Relics in a ceremony in Hanoi. The sites include the Hoan Kiem (Sword) Lake, Ngoc Son Temple (Temple of the Jade Mountain), Hai Ba Trung Temple, Hat Mon Temple and Phu Dong Temple together with Giong Temple Festival in Soc Son district.

Hoan Kiem (Sword) Lake
According to the legend, emperor Lê Lợi was boating on the lake when a Golden Turtle God (Kim Qui) surfaced and asked for his magic sword, Heaven's Will. Lợi concluded that Kim Qui had come to reclaim the sword that its master, a local God, the Dragon King (Vietnamese: Long Vương) had given Lợi some time earlier, during his revolt against the Chinese Ming Dynasty. Lợi renamed the lake to commemorate this event, it was formerly known as Luc Thuy meaning "Green Water"). The Turtle Tower (Thap Rùa) standing on a small island near the centre of lake is linked to the legend.

Ngoc Son Temple- Temple of the Jade Mountain
Being built on the Jade Islet and dedicated to Confucian and Taoist philosophers and the national hero, Trần Hưng Đạo, the small temple was expanded in 1865. From the shore, the Welcoming Morning Sunlight Bridge (Cầu Thê Húc/The sunrise morning bridge) leads to the island. Buildings of the temple include the Pen Tower (Thap But), the ink-slab (Dai Nghien), the Moon Contemplation Pavilion (Dac Nguyet) and the Pavilion against Waves (Đình Trấn Ba), all of which have symbolic meaning.

Hai Ba Trung Temple
The Hai Bà Trưng Temple is a Buddhist temple in Hanoi near Hoàn Kiếm Lake. It is one of several temples to the two Trưng sisters, (or Trưng Nữ Vương, Trưng Queens), in Vietnam. According to tradition it was founded by Lý Anh Tông around 1160 after he visited a shrine to the Trung Sisters who then appeared to him as rain spirits. Culturally the development of the cult of the sisters at that time is in the context of assertion of independence after the end of 1,000 years of Chinese colonization. The altar display at the Trưng Sisters temple shows their violent death rather than suicide.

Hat Mon Temple
Hat Mon Commune, where Day River is running through and was place Hai Ba Trung drowned herself at the section. Hat Mon Temple Festival opens on the Vua Ba's death anniversary.

Giong Temple Festival
Gióng Festival (Vietnamese: Hội Gióng) is a traditional festival which is celebrated annually in many parts of Hanoi to honour the mythical hero, Thánh Gióng "Saint Giong," who is credited with defending the country against foreign enemies. The festival was listed on the UNESCO List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.

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Golden Bridge Danang