Ngoc Son Temple

The Hoan Kiem makes one of the most beautiful lakes in Vietnam. A scenic little island sits on the heart of this lake and boasts one of the most epic cultural heritage sites of the country, the Ngoc Son Temple which literally means the Jade Mountain. Dating back to the 19th century, this temple is an important tourist destination in Vietnam.

The temple is primarily devoted to the national hero by the name of Tran Hung Dao who liberated the Vietnamese people from the Yuang aggressors by taking on a force of 300,000. Today his bravery is saluted at this temple. Also altars dedicated to other scholars and deities are also here. Van Xuong in particular is also an important deity, as he was a renounced scholar in Vietnam’s literary and intellectual circles.

As the island is located on the northern end of the Lake, it can be reached by the characteristic red wooden bridge called ‘The Huc’ which means ‘flood of morning sunlight.’ Depicting a glowing aura, this bridge contains symbolic stone gateways on either end with meaningful in-depth Chinese characters painted on them. The temple is welcomed by a large pen shaped tower whose upper section has 3 interesting Chinese characters which translate to ‘to write on the blue sky’ implying the limitless nature of the will and determination of a righteous person. The temple consists of a primary building which houses the 2 altars. On the first altar sits the two scholars with the other deities and the larger altar found behind is the one dedicated to Tran Hung Dao. In front of the main hall a large bronze brazier can be found holding a number of incense sticks.  There is also an interesting stuffed, giant tortoise on display. Found in the Hoan Kiem, this massive beauty is supposed to have once weighed an enormous 250 kg.

Vietnam is a beautiful country with picturesque locations and serenity. Finding accommodation in Hanoi Vietnam is quite easy and gives one the opportunity to tour this city and visit the plethora of attractions it offers. The Somerset West Lake Hanoi is a fantastic serviced accommodation Hanoi has to offer. With a subtle and serene ambience and just the right amount of luxury, it is an exceptional hotel in the city.