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| Hoan Kiem Lake |
Hoan Kiem means the Returned Sword and Hanoi’s Hoan Kiem Lake bears that name because of a legend that revolves around Emperor Le Loi. In a war with the Chinese Emperor Le was given a sword from the gods. The sword was called Heaven’s Will and it was so infused with Divine Power that Emperor Le was able to successfully revolt against the Ming Dynasty occupiers who ruled the country. An especially powerful god, the Golden Turtle God, lived in the lake and Emperor Le threw the sword into the lake to return it to the beneficent gods that made lifting the Chinese yoke possible. From that time on the lake was know as the Returned Sword Lake or the Lake of the Returned Sword.
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| Magic Sword |
There are huge fresh water turtles that still live in Hoan Kiem Lake and early in 2011 great efforts were made to aid one that seemed to have contracted some disease that I threatening its life. A visit to Hoan Kiem Lake in the center of Hanoi is not only a must see destination but it is hard to go to Hanoi and miss it.
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| That's a Big Turtle |
