For a long time, the image of Hanoi’s Ho Guom Thap Rua has become a familiar tourist symbol for residents and tourists. This is also a project that possesses a unique beauty, both nostalgic and has specific cultural and historical significance:
According to history, up to now, Thap Rua Ho Guom has been nearly 150 years old. However, if calculated according to construction milestones, this project was carried out by King Le Thai Tong in 1453, which is about 500 – 600 years ago. Therefore, Thap Rua still carries an ancient beauty, becoming an attractive destination in Hanoi that you should not miss.Thời vua Lê Thánh Tông: tháp đã được xây dựng trên gò Rùa – đây là nơi từ xưa đã được dựng Điếu Đài để nhà vua có thể câu cá
- Around the 17th – 18th centuries, during the reign of Le Trung Hung: Lord Trinh decided to build Ta Vong on the mound. However, by the time of the Nguyen Dynasty, there were almost no traces of these works left
- In 1883: when the French invaded Hanoi, most of the people in the lakeside area were scattered and the shops abandoned their posts. At that time, only Nguyen Ngoc Kim was appointed as an intermediary between Vietnam and the French army. Over time, he gained the government’s trust and became a lord, also known as lord Kim.
- In 1886: when the soil on Turtle mound was found to be compatible with feng shui, the 3-storey tower was completed. Initially, the tower was called with the name of the lord, that is, “Ba Ho Kim Tower”. This project, with its advantage in location and architecture, became a triumph of Hanoi at that time
In 1890 – 1896: during the French colonial period, a version of the Goddess of Liberty was built at the Ho Guom Thap Rua. People called this the Dam Xoe statue. However, it was not until 1950 that this structure was demolished
Thap Rua at Hoan Kiem Lake was built with a unique architectural style, a fusion between indigenous architecture and French architecture. This is also a historical building with unique architecture in the heart of Hanoi:Tầng dưới được xây dựng trên nền móng cao khoảng 0.8m, tổng chiều dài ở mức 6.28m và chiều rộng đạt 4.54m. Tầng này được xây dựng theo hình chữ nhật vì vậy chiều dài mở ra ba cửa, chiều ngang mở hai cửa, tổng tất cả 4 mặt là 10 cửa. Vào bên trong, tầng dưới được phân làm ba gian, giữa các gian có vách cửa ngăn, tổng cộng có tới 14 cửa.
- The second floor is designed to retreat slightly inside, with a length of 4.8m and a width of 3.64m. This floor is divided into 3 rooms, the same design as the lower floor with a total of 14 doors but smaller.
- The higher you go, the more strangely the design of the tower becomes smaller, the length of the 3rd floor is 2.97m, width 1.9m. On this floor there is only one circular door on the east side, with a diameter of about 0.68m. The western wall has an altar. Many people wonder who the Ho Guom Thap Rua worships. According to many circulated sources, this area worships Nguyen Ngoc Kim’s father.
- The design of the top floor is like a gazebo, square in shape, each side 2m long. On the east wall, above the round door is about 0.68m in diameter. On the outside of the tower is the word Quy Son Thap – meaning Turtle Mountain tower. The total length from the ground to the top floor is 8.8m.
The tower is built according to European architecture, with rows of Gothic rolling doors on the two lower floors, but the curved roof still retains the ancient Vietnamese architectural style.
Although it is a famous tourist attraction, when you come to Thap Rua, you can only see it from afar and cannot get close, which also makes many tourists curious. The project is hundreds of years old, located on a small mound in the middle of the lake, creating a central beauty, both tinged with time and antiquity, while also exuding sacredness and mystery. Along the lakeshore, you can also cross The Huc bridge, worship, and visit Ngoc Son temple, also located in the heart of Hoan Kiem lake.
Ho Guom has long been a beautiful photography location in Hanoi. What makes this location attractive is not only the green space and airy lake surface but also the many neighboring architectural works, including the Thap Rua. The Ho Guom symbol silhouetted against Thap Rua will help you get beautiful, colorful photos when traveling to Hanoi.
If you want to find a place to have fun in Hanoi at night, you can visit Ho Guom Thap Rua. In the evening, the building will be lit by yellow lights with classic colors. Constructions around the lake such as The Huc bridge are also lit up. A sparkling, beautiful scene in the heart of the city will leave many unforgettable impressions in the hearts of visitors.
