Mercure Hanoi La Gare

The hotel is just a 10 minute walk to the Temple of Literature - built in 1070 by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong and dedicated to Confucius.In 1076, Vietnam's first university was established here to educate Vietnam's administrative and warriors class. Its well worth a visit as the complex is a tranquil park - like site in the heart of Central Hanoi.
A short walk in a different direction will take you to the Ancient Old Quarter where the streets are still named after the items orinially sold or fabricated there, many many yaers ago.
Han Gai Street offers silk clothing ready-made and tailored, embroidery, and silver products. Hang Quat, the street that formerly sold silk and feather fans, now stuns the visitor by its brilliantly colored funeral and festival flags and religious objects and clothing. To Thinh Street connects the above two and is still the wood turner’s street. Hang Ma glimmers with shiny paper products, such as gift wrappings, wedding decorations and miniature paper objects to burn for the dead. Lan Ong Street is a sensual delight of textures and smells emanating from the sacks of herbal medicinal products: leaves, roots, barks, and powders.
A short walk from the Old Quarter is the iconic Hoan Kiem Lake or Lake of the Returned Sword. According to the legend, emperor Le Loi handed a magic sword called Heaven's Will which brought him victory in his revolt against the Chinese Ming Dynasty back to the Golden Turtle God (Kim Qui) in the lake and hence gave it its present name (the lake was formerly known as "Luc Thuy" meaning "Green Water"). The Tortoise Tower (Thap Rua) standing on a small island near the center of lake is linked to the legend.

Large soft-shell turtles, either of the species Rafetus swinhoei or a separate species named Rafetus leloii in honor of the emperor, have been sighted in the lake. The species is critically endangered and the number of individuals in the lake is unclear.

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