Behind the legendary fountain located in the heart of Hanoi, beside Hoan Kiem Lake, lies a rich historical narrative.
Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square sits along the northwest bank of Hoan Kiem Lake. It is one of the most famous spots in Hanoi for both local and international tourists. This location serves as the intersection of five streets: Le Thai To, Hang Dao, Hang Gai, Dinh Tien Hoang, and Cau Go, and is considered the gateway to the Old Quarter of Hanoi.
Long Van Fountain right next to Hoan Kiem Lake.
While strolling around Hoan Kiem Lake, many people cannot help but notice a fountain whose historical stories remain largely unknown.
At the beginning of the 20th century, this location was the intersection of electric tram lines heading in three different directions in Hanoi. The French planned the square, and by 1954, they constructed a fountain to regulate traffic flow, addressing the issues of urban congestion.
Initially, the structure was simply designed with a circular water basin, featuring a stone fountain resembling a dish placed on a cylindrical pedestal. Later, two smaller tiers were added, transforming the fountain into the three-tiered structure we see today.
Long Van is the name that the old residents of Hanoi gave to this fountain, named after the famous Long Van ice cream shop located right beside it. Today, this ice cream shop exists only in the memories of a few elderly people in the capital.
Long Van is the name that the old residents of Hanoi gave to this fountain.
In the 1960s and 1970s, the Long Van fountain was covered with soil to plant trees, and its pedestal was rebuilt with concrete, with a clock column placed on top. By the late 1980s, the fountain was restored to its original purpose of spraying water for urban residents to enjoy.
The city government officially renovated the fountain in the 1990s by erecting fixed barriers around it. In 2014, Hanoi once again renovated the fountain, removing the barriers to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the capital’s liberation.
Some opinions suggest that this legendary fountain serves as a “Kilometer 0” marker of Hanoi, symbolizing its position as the most central point in the city.
