West Lake
Hanoi's largest lake, 500 hectares of water with a 17 kilometre shore northwest of the centre. Its banks are lined with gardens, cafes, temples and villas, and Thanh Nien road splits off the smaller Truc Bach Lake.
- Where
- Hanoi, Hanoi, Vietnam
- Grade
- Local gem
- Worth
- 10 points collected on site
- Coordinates
- 21.0550, 105.8200
Get the West Lake stamp
Open LOQAH when you are at West Lake. It checks where you are once, at that moment, and the stamp is yours: confirmed on site in gold and struck with the date. It goes into your Hanoi volume with your photos and a note.
Near West Lake
Tran Quoc Pagoda 1.9 km
The oldest Buddhist temple in Hanoi, on a small island off the southeastern shore of West Lake, joined to the road by a short causeway. Its tall red tiered stupa is one of the city's favourite sights at sunset.
Quan Thanh Temple 2.2 km
A Taoist temple near West Lake dating to the 11th century, one of the Four Sacred Temples of the old capital. It is dedicated to Tran Vu, the Taoist deity Xuan Wu, whose large bronze statue sits in the main hall.
Presidential Palace 2.3 km
An ochre yellow colonial mansion built for the French Governor-General of Indochina, and today the official residence and office of Vietnam's president. Ho Chi Minh chose not to live inside, keeping to a modest stilt house in the grounds instead.
Ho Chi Minh Museum 2.5 km
A museum opened in 1990 beside the mausoleum grounds, telling the life of Ho Chi Minh and the country's long struggle against foreign powers. The white building is designed in the shape of a lotus flower.
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum 2.5 km
A grey granite mausoleum at the centre of Ba Dinh Square, where Ho Chi Minh's embalmed body lies in state. It stands on the spot where he read the Declaration of Independence on 2 September 1945, and visitors file past in silence under an honour guard.
One Pillar Pagoda 2.6 km
A small wooden shrine set on a single stone pillar rising from a lotus pond, meant to look like a lotus flower breaking the water. First built in 1049, it is dedicated to Guanyin and counted with the Perfume Pagoda as one of Vietnam's two best known temples.
Ba Dinh Square 2.6 km
The broad square in front of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, where the Proclamation of Independence was read on 2 September 1945. It takes its name from the Ba Dinh uprising against the French in 1886 and 1887, and draws pilgrims and tourists in equal measure.
Vietnam Museum of Ethnology 2.7 km
A museum devoted to the 54 officially recognised ethnic groups of Vietnam, on a large site in Cau Giay about 8 kilometres from the centre. Behind the main building, an outdoor garden holds full size traditional houses from around the country, among them stilt houses and communal halls.
More hidden gems in Hanoi
Questions
Where is West Lake?
West Lake is in Hanoi, Hanoi, Vietnam. The nearest other LOQAH stamps are Tran Quoc Pagoda (1.9 km), Quan Thanh Temple (2.2 km), Presidential Palace (2.3 km).
How do I get the West Lake stamp?
Open LOQAH when you are at West Lake and get its stamp. The app checks where you are once, at that moment, and the stamp goes into your Hanoi volume, confirmed on site, with the date.
I have been to West Lake before. Can I still have the stamp?
Yes. Add it from Earlier trips in your Hanoi volume, with the date if you know it, or import your Google Timeline and LOQAH matches the places you were.
Collect your first stamp.
LOQAH is free on iPhone and Android, in India and 20 more countries, with more countries on the way. Stand at a place, collect its stamp, and keep every trip in a passport that grows.