Chapter 6: Hoan Kiem Lake
Hoan Kiem Lake (Hồ Hoàn Kiếm) is the historical center of Hanoi. One of the major tourist attractions in Vietnam, it is full of scenic spots and serves as a focal point for public life. The small lake is surrounded by restaurants, cafes, temples, shops, park benches, street sellers, street performers, and what not. It is ideal for walking, jogging, exercising and roaming around. I daresay there are 2.5 tourists for every native!?
I absolutely love this place. When I go to Hanoi I often ride my unicycle around the lake, and the locals don’t cease to be fascinated. On this trip, I left my unicycle as a present to my good friend, the lawyer Huyen, after giving her some lessons. Early every morning the lakeside fills up with dance and gymnastic groups, filling the surroundings with the sounds of lively music, vitality, and energy. During my unicycle rides and my many walks I often stopped to watch and take pictures, and on several occasions joined a group, as you can see in the video (in purple T-shirt). What fun!!