Visiting Hanoi Vietnam (Sept 2009) Part 2

Hanoi the capital of Vietnam with it's population 4 million presently.
In the fall of 1010, King Ly Thai To (Ly Cong Uan) moved the capital from Hoa Lu to Dai La. On the way, the king saw a vision of a golden dragon ascending from the Red river ( song Hong). The King decided to change Dai La to Thang Long (Ascending Dragon). Thang Long remained the capital city until the end of the Tran dynasty when in 1397, the capital city was moved to Thanh Hoa -Tay Do (Western Capital) and Thang Long became Dong Do (Eastern Capital). Vietnam was invaded by China in 1407, and the city was renamed Dong Quan. In 1428, after ten years of fighting, Le Loi liberated Vietnam and renamed the city Dong Kinh. In 1527, the city was renamed Thang Long. In 1802 when King Gia Long (Nguyen Dynasty) moved the capital city to Hue, the name Thang Long remained but, Long no longer means dragon, Long in this case means prosperity. Ha Noi, was the name given to the city by King Minh Mang in 1831. Ha means river and Noi means within - Ha Noi means within the river.

Hoan Kiem (or Lake of the Restored Sword) was once part of the Red river (song Hong).
Throughout thousands of years of geographical changes, the lake moved eastward to its present position kilometers from the river. Before the famous historical legend of King Le Loi here, Hoan Kiem Lake used to be called Luc Thuy Lake (or Green Water Lake) since the water was green all the year round. In 15th century, it was named Hoan Kiem Lake after the legend of Emperor Le Thai To, which is somehow similar to the story of King Arthur and the Lady of the Lake's.

Now please close your eyes and turn back time to the Le Dynasty 6 centuries ago to witness the legendary story. During the war against the Minh aggressors, King Le Thai To was given a precious fairy Sword by the Golden Turtle God. After 10 years of continuous struggling, the King finally defeated the Chinese and reclaimed the nations independence. After that, on a nice day, while boating on lake Luc Thuy, a large turtle came towards him. It immediately grabbed the sword with its mouth and submerged. The king mourned the lost of such a valuable sword, yet could not find either the turtle or the sword. He realized that the God must have lent him the sword to drive back the enemy, but then
that his nation was free, the sword must be returned. Hence, King Le Thai To named the lake Ho Hoan Kiem or Lake of the Restore Sword after this episode. Some believe the turtle living in the lake now is the very one that took away King Le Lois sword, as this species can live as long as 500 or even 700 years.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• hoan
• kiem
• lake
• vietnam
• richard
• fishman
• fishman24
• malaysia
• travel
• tour
• trip
• visit
• town
• capital
• history
• legend
• turtle
• hanoi
• sonychia

[xiaoping1303]

I don't like Hanoi for some facts i know: 1- I am a chinese and our forefathers used to occupy Vietnam in the past and make viet people to become slaves 2- the city is very dirty; you can see rubbish every where in hanoi with lots of uneducated people who often have a quick pee in the public 3- vietnamese people are very ugly - short - stupid - in short I hate Ha noi & I don't want to come this city again

[fishman25]

i dont know about you but I like all vietnam's people, they are very nice and truly friendly and yes I am a chinese too.

[vinhpham55]

U moved your camera too fast !

[fishman25]

I thought I move them slow but now I know, I will move them very very slow next time .. ok ok :)

[Vietnma221]

Hey why can;t we change are city into a rich city like Bangkok,Hong Kong, yeah like those city should be like that in Vietnam!

[PSTRIPPLEE]

These are the dangrous people that litterually got american running back home crying for mummy during the ww3

[allmetaljack]

@xiaoping1303 You are a very ignorant human being to say the least. You say your going to state facts for why you do not like Hanoi, and the first thing you say implies you are upset that the people of Hanoi are no longer your slaves. You are an embarrassment to not only China and her people but to the human race. Educate yourself, please I beg of you this. Otherwise, do not visit, do not go into the public, and stay off the internet lol we will not miss you.

[fishman25]

i am not so sure but most I met are Budhist nevertheless they are not very religious and they are so busy with working everyday. Yes they are very hard working here.

[57dragonball]

@xiaoping1303 i just rather save food and space on this planet earth for another craps eater fly than .. an uneducated, brainless narrow mind and(tiny eyes too of course )prejudice chinky creature like u..idk ..is that mean??

[JinZin1986]

What a load of bullshit, you say Viet people are uneducated but your post shows a lack of intellgence and it's filled with prejudice. Go educate yourself more before degrading an entire nation.