Not so long ago Ho Tay, or West Lake, was surrounded by a cluster of temples and quiet fishing villages. Today it’s a sleek and luxurious suburb of Hanoi.
The Tran Quoc Pagoda and Quan Thanh Temple, set against the backdrop of the large lake, have been here since the area’s humble beginnings. Complementing these ancient sites are glitzy new buildings. A whole street of seafood restaurants, boutique stores and five-star hotels now also dot the lake’s shores. Its club scene is the place to see and be seen in Hanoi.
