Long time ago the lake was a river bend of Kim Long with the first name was Ky Te pond. Under the 3rd year of Minh Mang reign (1822), up to 8000 soliders took part in lake’s improvement, turn it to a Royal lake. After finishing, it was renamed as Tinh Tam.

Tinh Tam lake is rectangular shape in 1500m circumference, including 3 islets amidst named: Bong Lai, Phuong Truong and Doanh Chau. It is separated with outside by the circle brick wall and there are 4 gates: Ha Huan in the south, Dong Hy in the north, Xuan Quang in the east and Thu Nguyet in the west. willow and many kinds of flower was planted everywhere and along the river’s bank. 

Bong Lai islet situated in the south, right in the middle is Bong Doanh palace with the architecture of 3 main compartments and 2 extra ones, tiles roofed, facing the south, surrounded by brick parapet. In front of palace is Bong Doang gate and bridge connecting islet and river bank. To the east of Bong Doanh palace is Thuy Ta Thanh Tam house facing the east, Truong Luyen palace face the west to the west. There is a gate and bridge with the same name: Hong Cu.

On Phuong Truong islet: In the middle is Nam Huan pavilion facing the south with 2 floors, tiles roofed. In the north, Tinh Tam pavilion faces the north, Hao Nhien pavilion in the east, in the west is Duong Tinh pavilion.Tu Dat temple is located between two islet in the system of tiles roofed corridor including 44 compartments, connecting Bich Tao bridge in the south and Hong Cu bridge in the north.

Doanh Chau islet: Admist Tinh Tam is Kim Oanh dam linking eastern and western edge. To the east of dyke is the Luc Lieu bridge. In the south, dam connects with a 56 compartments' corridor, the Bach tan in the middle. 

If you travel to Vietnam in June every year, pink and white lotuses blossom everywhere in the country, from lakes, ponds to temples. The most popular places with lotus flowers are West Lake in Hanoi, Tinh Tam Lake inside the Imperial Palace in Hue. With the meticulous, delicate architecture harmonize with nature, the lake is considered as the iconic achievement of art of landscape architecture in 19 century.

Source: Internet