Turtle Lake

P4ntt · CC BY-SA 3.0

A roundabout with a pool and a concrete lotus tower that becomes a street-food spot after dark.

The official name here is International Square, but nobody uses it. The structure went up between roughly 1965 and 1967: an octagonal pool in the middle of a traffic circle, with a concrete mass rising and opening out like petals, and at its foot a large turtle carrying a stele. The turtle was destroyed in a 1978 explosion and never replaced — but the popular name stayed, so Turtle Lake is now a place named after something no longer there. By day it is just a roundabout; from dusk the steps around the pool fill up, grilled rice-paper carts appear, and the snail restaurants nearby stay open late.

Visitor information

When is the best time to visit Turtle Lake?

Evening, once the food carts set up around the pool

How much does it cost to visit Turtle Lake?

Free

How long do you need at Turtle Lake?

45 minutes

What are the opening hours of Turtle Lake?

All day

Did you know

Its administrative name is International Square; 'Turtle Lake' is the popular one.
The structure was completed between about 1965 and 1967.
The turtle-and-stele sculpture at the tower's base was destroyed in a 1978 explosion and never rebuilt.
From early evening the steps around the pool become a gathering place for students from the nearby universities.

Travel tips

Come after 19:00 — by day this is only a traffic circle.
The area is full of universities, so snacks here cost less than in the tourist centre.

Source: https://vi.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%E1%BB%93_Con_R%C3%B9a

Updated: 2026-08-16