Hoan Kiem Lake hosts Ribbon of Memories from 8 October

Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi has opened the Ribbon of Memories, a temporary walkway with lighting and mirrors running until 2 December 2026.

Hoan Kiem Lake (Hoàn Ki?m Lake) in Hanoi is hosting the Ribbon of Memories installation from 8 October to 2 December 2026. The temporary artwork adds an elevated walkway, lighting and mirror frames to the western lakeside gardens, giving visitors a changed route beside one of Vietnam's best-known urban landmarks.

Ribbon of Memories runs beside Hoan Kiem Lake until 2 December

The Hoan Kiem Ward administration is presenting the installation as a temporary improvement to the public space around the lake. The display is open to residents and visitors for sightseeing, walking and photography during the stated period.

The centrepiece is a raised walkway that curves through the gardens and pedestrian paths along Le Thai To Street, southwest of Turtle Tower. Lighting and mirrored structures form part of the same arrangement. Details of the installation were reported with the 8 October to 2 December dates and the lake location.

The project was funded through private contributions and was created to mark Hanoi's Liberation Day anniversary on 10 October 2026 and Vietnam Culture Day on 24 November. The organisers plan to dismantle the structures after 2 December and restore the lakeside area to its previous condition.

The new walkway frames Turtle Tower and the lake gardens

The installation occupies the western side of the lake rather than the water itself. Its route passes through existing trees and low vegetation, with sections that widen into viewing points towards the water and Turtle Tower. This places the temporary artwork alongside the lake's established landscape without replacing its principal landmarks.

The lake forms part of the Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple historical monuments and scenic spots. Hanoi's Department of Culture and Sport says the complex became a special national monument on 9 December 2013. Its official description records an area of 115,511 square metres and identifies the lake's borders along Dinh Tien Hoang, Hang Khay and Le Thai To streets. The monument status and lake setting are documented by the city's culture authority.

Turtle Tower stands on a small mound in the lake, while Ngoc Son Temple occupies Pearl Island and is reached by The Huc Bridge. The temporary walkway's position southwest of the tower therefore creates a new viewpoint towards a named landmark already central to the site's recognised cultural landscape.

What changes for visitors during the temporary display

The arrangement changes the experience of the western promenade for the display period, but it is not a permanent rebuilding of the monument. VietNamNet reports that the light-coloured raised route is designed to pass over lawns and low plants, while its railings carry linear lighting after dark. The western-shore location and temporary nature were stated by the Hoan Kiem Ward People's Committee representative quoted in that report.

For travellers arriving in Hanoi during October and November 2026, the practical difference is a temporary elevated route and additional viewing structures beside the lake. The installation does not change the location of Turtle Tower, Ngoc Son Temple or the surrounding streets.

Visiting Hoan Kiem Lake: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The Ribbon of Memories is on display from 8 October to 2 December 2026 beside Hoan Kiem Lake, along Le Thai To Street and southwest of Turtle Tower.
• The temporary walkway, lighting and mirror frames are part of the public lakeside installation; the structures are scheduled for removal after 2 December 2026.
• The lake is in central Hanoi, with the western route connected to Le Thai To Street and the complex also bordered by Dinh Tien Hoang Street and Hang Khay Street.
• The route is raised above parts of the gardens and passes over low vegetation and lawns. Visitors should expect an outdoor walkway rather than an indoor museum route.
• Vietnamese is the official language and the national currency is the Vietnamese dong.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

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Frequently asked questions about Hoan Kiem Lake

When does the Ribbon of Memories take place at Hoan Kiem Lake?

The installation is on display from 8 October to 2 December 2026 beside the lake in Hanoi.

What is the Ribbon of Memories at Hoan Kiem Lake?

It is a temporary elevated walkway with lighting and mirror frames along the western lakeside gardens.

Where is Hoan Kiem Lake and how do you get there?

The lake is in central Hanoi, bordered in part by Dinh Tien Hoang Street, Hang Khay Street and Le Thai To Street.