Scenery of pagodas around West Lake
Hanoi has more than 100 large and small pagodas, of which, many of the oldest pagodas are located along the West Lake. Tran Quoc Pagoda is nearly 1500 years old located right on Thanh Nien Street, the road between West Lake and Truc Bach Lake is cool all year round. The bodhi tree in this temple is extracted from the sacred bodhi tree where the Buddha became a Buddhist in India.
Tao Sach Pagoda or Yen Phu village communal house are both quiet facing the lake, while maintaining a rustic and unostentatious appearance. Covering the West Lake with a large courtyard under the shadow of an ancient cypress tree. You don't have to believe in Buddhism to visit the West Lake Pagoda, you just need to believe in beauty. Behind the pagoda gate, historical and cultural stories and gloomy scenery are always open to everyone.
Photo: Shutterstock
Attractive seasonal cuisine
The weather in Hanoi changes very clearly with the seasons, so the dining culture here also revolves with the clouds.
In winter, the most interesting thing is to choose a barbecue stall on Quang Ba Street, sit by the lake and rub the greasy pieces of meat on the red charcoal stove.
For a spring date, head to fusion restaurants such as Pépé La Poule, The Fat Pig, The Republic in Quang An, with a beautiful rooftop overlooking a corner of West Lake, or have a brunch together in the courtyard of Maison de Tet Decor or Ma Xô.
In summer, many iced tea shops spread right next to the lake from Quang Khanh Street to Nhat Chieu, in the evening come to sit and drink iced tea in the breeze, watching the moon is extremely beautiful. There is one thing that cannot be ignored on a summer day is to get up early to buy lotus and enjoy lotus tea.
Although the autumn days are short, it is great to have coffee and chat along Ve Ho, De Sai or Nguyen Dinh Thi streets. And snails, shrimp cakes, vermicelli, are you ready for a very culinary discovery in Hanoi? Rest assured, West Lake welcomes you with delicious food and drinks every season.
Photo: Shutterstock
Fitness and sports to improve health
In addition to the two most popular sports, running and cycling, West Lake is also the playground of Paddle Station Cafe & SUP Club, one of the first SUP (stand up paddle board) rowing clubs in Hanoi. On quiet days, the lake surface is calm, perfect for beginners in this subject. In summer, when the sunset of West Lake is brilliant with purple and yellow rays at the end of the day, there is nothing more glorious than floating on the SUP watching the sunset. Summer is also the season for swimming. Swimming pools such as Thang Loi or Sao Mai have been associated with the dreamy view of West Lake next to them. If you want to try a new sport on land, you can also go to The Hanoi Club golf course or BRG Golf Center to play a ball in a private lake.
I said you can spend a few days around West Lake, in fact, I myself have not explored this place for several years. Each visit is a meeting of new things, just a small corner. So when I go to Hanoi, I have to go around the lake, to see the West, see the East, and see all the pleasures between the two poles.
Photo: Fatherland Newspaper
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