Cultural Integration and Historical Structure—Turtle Tower

Turtle Tower stands on a small island in the middle of Hoan Kiem Lake as a commemorative pagoda. It honors the national hero Lê Lợi from Vietnamese history, who, as mentioned earlier, received a sword from the divine turtle in Hoan Kiem Lake, led the Lam Sơn uprising to defeat the Ming army, and established the Lê dynasty. Ten years later, Lê Lợi was boating on the lake again, encountered the golden turtle, returned the sword to it, and the sword was plunged into the lakebed, forming the present-day Turtle Tower. This historical legend is a testament to the cultural fusion between Vietnam and China and the rise of Vietnam’s independent national consciousness. However, in reality, the existing structure was built in 1884 and is located in the center of Hanoi, making it a must-visit spot when exploring the city. Hoan Kiem Lake is not large, with a circumference of only 2-3 kilometers, and there are many historical buildings along the lakeside, perfect for a leisurely walk and discovery.