Young lovers at the mist-shrouded Hoan Kiem lake in the Old Quarter, Hanoi

Photographer: Gerry and Denise Aitken
From: Evacuate Hanoi!

Young lovers at the mist-shrouded Hoan Kiem lake in the Old Quarter, Hanoi

The legend of Ho Hoan Kiem (Lake of the Restored Sword) goes back to the 15th century when heaven gave Emperor Ly Thai To (Le Loi) a magical sword that he used to drive the Chinese out of Vietnam. One day after the war, while out boating, he came upon a giant golden tortoise swimming on the surface of the water; it grabbed the sword and disappeared into the lake, hence the name - the tortoise returned the sword to its divine owners. Interestingly it is believed there are still giant tortoises in the lake and one, which was caught, is displayed in the small temple on the lake.