(VOVworld) - Hanoi’s West Lake with its 30 relic sites and famed handicraft villages has become a not-to-be missed attraction for domestic and foreign visitors. The West Lake TLC Travel Agency recently introduced a tour by electric car around the lake. On today’s edition of Discovery Vietnam, VOV reporter Phong Lan has details of this tour.
Since March, the 18 km tour by electric car to discovery West Lake’s culture and history has been taking visitors to Phu Tay Ho (West Lake Palace), Vong Thi pagoda, Tao Sach Pagoda, Tran Quoc Pagoda, Quan Thanh Temple and 20 other relic sites. Along the way, visitors are offered specialties such as snail vermicelli and shrimp fritters. The tour lasts 1 to 2 hours with 10 hop-on hop-offs and costs from 2.50 to 4.00 USD per person.
With sunshine glittering on the lake’s surface, the electric cars slowly circle the lake. A lotus pond apprears with pink and white flowers. The soft lotus scent awakens the senses and the car slows so the tourists can savior the fresh air and beauty.
At a restaurant called Lotus, visitors can watch a demonstration of how lotus pistils are used to scent tea. Nguyen Thi Thu Huyen, who has been living in Hanoi for 30 years, is impressed with the tour: “I am very happy to take this tour around West Lake by electric car. I think this is a very good opportunity for Hanoi and Vietnam to introduce its culture to tourists. This is also an opportunity for Vietnamese to better understand the nation’s traditions, culture and history and love Vietnam more.”
Duong Thi Anh Tuyet, Deputy Director of the West Lake TLC Travel Agency says services are available from 8.30 until dark: “I want to visit West Lake at all hours. It’s a rare opportunity to enjoy the lotus on the lake. The lake is beautiful morning, noon and evening, but especially in the evening the roads around the lake look beautiful and romantic.”
Nguyen Duy Uan, Director of the agency, says the company chose electric cars because they are environmentally friendly: “During the project study process, we learned about West Lake’s unique culture, particularly its handicraft villages and cuisines. Its lotus tea scenting method and lotus wine making are unique.”