Hung Kings worship ritual

HuynH PHuong

Hanoi sparkles with nocturnal serenity

Many tourist attractions and high-rises across Hanoi, all lit up at night, display a calm serenity.

turtle tower

(right), an iconic symbol of Hanoi in the middle of Hoan Kiem Lake shines at night. Hoan Kiem Lake (Lake of the Returned Sword), also known as Ho Guom (Sword Lake), is a freshwater lake, measuring some 12 hectares in the historical center of Hanoi, Vietnam. The lake is one of the major scenic spots in the city and serves as a focal point for its public life.

thanh nien street (bellow), located between West Lake and Truc Bach Lake, is brightly lit at dusk. The street is renowned for its beauty, with the blackboard trees that line it providing ample shade and its ancient temples adding a sense of spiritual tranquility.

Hanoi sparkles with nocturnal serenity

nhat tan Bridge (left), also known as Vietnam - Japan friendship bridge, was inaugurated in January 2015. It runs a length of 8.9 kilometers (5.5 miles) across Red River and has five spans representing the capital's five ancient gates.

Located on Pham Hung Street, next to the National Convention Centre, Hanoi Museum (above) displays thousands of artifacts from Hanoi's 1000-year history and the history, culture, heritage, and architecture of Vietnam. From a distance, Hanoi Museum impresses visitors on the unique architectural design with inverted pyramid building. octagon House (above), built in 1901, used to host the French army's trumpet shows. The structure lies inside the Ly Thai To flower garden area, encompassing the streets of Dinh Tien Hoang, Le Lai, Le Thach and Ngo Quyen.

long Bien Bridge (above), a symbolic Red River crossing, was designed and built by French firm Daydé-Pillié in September 1898. It opened to traffic in 1902, running more than 1,691 meters, with a rail track in the middle and road transportation on either side. During the Vietnam War, the bridge had some of its parts damaged and even destroyed by enemy bombing. The Vietnamese government fixed the damage, building the spans still in use today.

Located on a small peninsula on the east side of West Lake, tran Quoc Pagoda (left), at nearly 1,500 years, is known as the oldest pagoda in the capital. Adding to the architectural beauty and historical significance of the pagoda is a Bodhi tree said to be the "offspring" of the original tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment in India.