The Legend of Hoàn Kiếm Lake (The Sword Lake Legend)

During the era when the Ming invaders occupied Vietnam, they showed no mercy to the people, committing countless brutal acts. Amidst this turmoil, the Lam Son insurgent army rose to resist the invaders. However, due to their limited forces, they suffered repeated defeats. Witnessing their plight, Lạc Long Quân decided to lend them a divine sword to aid in their struggle against the enemy.

The Divine Sword’s Mysterious Appearance

At that time, King Lê Lợi and a villager from Mục Sơn named Lê Thận were close friends. One night, while fishing, Thận noticed a strange light shining from beneath the water, resembling the glow of a torch. Curious, he cast his net and pulled up a metal piece, over a foot long. Finding it peculiar, he brought it home and stored it away.

One day, while hosting a memorial feast, King Lê Lợi visited Thận's home. Upon seeing the metal piece glowing, the king asked, 'What is this piece of metal?' Thận explained how he had found it while fishing. When the king asked if he could have it, Thận agreed without hesitation.

The king cleaned and polished the metal until it shone brightly. He discovered the inscriptions 'Thuận Thiên' (in accordance with Heaven) and the word 'Lợi' (his name). Later, he found a sword hilt carved to perfection. Praying to the heavens, he declared, 'If this is truly Heaven’s sword, let the blade and hilt fit perfectly together!' When he combined them, they formed a complete sword.

Victory with the Divine Sword

With the divine sword in hand, King Lê Lợi led his army to numerous victories. The insurgents' newfound strength struck fear into the hearts of the Ming invaders, eventually leading to their complete expulsion from the country.

The Return of the Sword at Hoan Kiem Lake

After reclaiming the nation’s peace, King Lê Lợi took a dragon boat to tour Lake Tả Vọng. It was then that Lạc Long Quân sent the Golden Turtle to retrieve the divine sword. As the boat reached the lake’s center, a large turtle emerged from the water. The king ordered the boat to slow down.

The Golden Turtle swam towards the king and said, 'Your Majesty, please return the sword to Lạc Long Quân.' Suddenly, the divine sword at the king’s side began to move. He raised it, and the turtle opened its mouth, took the sword, and disappeared beneath the water.

From that day forward, Lake Tả Vọng was renamed Sword Lake (Hồ Gươm), or Hoan Kiem Lake, symbolizing the return of the divine sword to its rightful owner.