Tinh Tam Lake

Tinh Tam Lake, one of the most famous sites in Vietnam’s ancient imperial capital, sits just north of the Imperial City. Rectangular in shape and surrounded by brick walls, the manmade lake and its small islets -- many connected by bridges -- once served as private leisure grounds where the Vietnamese royalty could go walking. Built in the early nineteenth century, the lake was considered a major achievement in landscape architecture at the time.

Due to it’s proximity to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Imperial Palace, it’s convenient to visit Tinh Tam Lake immediately before or after a tour of the palace grounds. If you have time, take a cyclo ride along the banks. During festivals in Hue, the lake is sometimes used as a venue for musical and cultural performances, complete with a floating stage.