Awesome The Giant Turtle of Hoan Liem Lake in Hanoi

Some observers dispute its existence. Like Scotland's suspiciously camera-shy Loch Ness Monster, the turtle of Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi's heart is elusive: a fleeting creature intertwined with myth and speculation.

Still, almost certainly, some turtle occupies the picturesque, willow-fringed lake that serves as the city's cultural hub.  A smattering of photographs supports the notion.

War relic

History too bolsters the case that the turtle is more than a myth or mirage. At the height of the Vietnam War, the Ha Noi Food Company reportedly hauled a 200-kilo turtle from the lake. Now, you can see the stuffed remains of the monster on display at Hoan Kiem's Ngoc Son Temple.

Glimpse

If you loop the lake – a lovely stroll – you might see a living turtle peeking above the surface. Or you might even spot a turtle basking on the central island: doubtless a striking sight because the creature is reportedly huge – one metre and a half long by over a metre wide.

Close up in snapshots, the turtle looks pockmarked and blotchy – past its best as might be expected, given its apparent immense age. Up to six centuries old, the turtle is linked with an ancient legend.

Royal roots

The legend revolves around Le Loi, the first king of a united Viet people. During a cruise on the then 'Luc Thuy', or 'Green Lake', Le Loi met a 'holy turtle'.

The turtle told the 15th-century king to return a sacred sword that had helped him overcome Ming Chinese aggressors. Unsheathing the sword, Le Loi duly tossed it to the turtle before renaming the lake 'Hoan Kiem', which means 'Returned Sword Lake'.

The sword story may have some grounding in fact. According to one theory, the turtle that apparently occupies the lake today could be a grown-up hatchling supposedly released by Le Loi into Hoan Kiem some 600 years ago: a mind-boggling thought, but the Hoan Kiem turtle saga holds still more drama.

Alone at last

The turtle, it is said, could be one of the last members of a critically endangered species called the “Shanghai soft-shell turtle”. When the Hoan Kiem turtle draws breath for the last time, that moment may spell the end of the species.

Still, Hoan Kiem looks set to remain Hanoi's heart. If you visit the Vietnamese capital, you may find that you are automatically drawn to the lake's bewitching surroundings.

Sources