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> Truc Bach
Lake
Truc Bach and West Lakes are
separated by Youth Road. The road as it is today,
and its name originated in 1957-8. It was formerly
called Co Ngu and was a narrow dyke separating a
corner of West Lake. In fact, the Truc Bach Lake
came into being in the 17th century when the
inhabitants of Yen Hoa Village (now Yen Phu) and
Yen Quang Village (now Quan Thanh Street) built a
dyke separating West Lake's southeast corner in
order to raise fish. At the southern side of the
lake in Truc Yen Village, the inhabitants made
bamboo blinds, which was why every family planted
species of small bamboo trees.
In the reign of Trinh Giang (1729-40), Vien Truc
Lam palace was built for worship. Later, the
palace was converted into a prison for the custody
of errant ladies. These poor women were forced to
weave for their existence. Their silk fabric was
so nice that it became famous throughout the
capital and was called Truc village silk.
Like West Lake, there are various historic sites
and distinctive architecture. The Holy Mandarin
Temple is situated in the lake's southwestern
corner. On the east, there is Chau Long pagoda
that is said to have built in the reign of King
Tran Nhan Tong and is where the princess of King
Tran Nhan Tong worshipped. There is also the An
Tri temple in Pho Duc Chinh Street and dedicated
to Uy Do, a hero of the anti-Yuan war of
resistance.
Streets line three sides of the lake and only the
side on Youth Road is exposed and is where one can
enjoy its beauty and calmness. On the northern
corner, not far from Youth Road, there is a small
hill on which the Cau Nhi Temple was situated. The
temple no longer exists but there is a stone stele
that tells of the temple's background.
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