The Real Places
Each of the following play important roles in the story. Here are some brief descriptions of these real places.
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
Granite edifice constructed in Hanoi’s Ba Dinh Square to commemorate the revolutionary leader. To this day, his body is preserved in a glass casket which is displayed in the dark interior of the mausoleum.
Ngoc Son Temple
The revered temple situated on a small islet inside Hoan Kiem Lake. It can only be visited by walking across the iconic red wooden bridge which connects it to the eastern shore. Or, you could take a boat.
Hung Temple
This temple complex, located outside the city of Viet Tri northwest of Hanoi, commemorates the origins of the Vietnamese people. The Hung kings (Hung=hero) were the first kings, originating in the bronze era. The pre-Chinese link to this time period is proven by the bronze drums which were discovered to prove a vibrant Vietnamese nation prior to any Chinese invasion. The bronze drums can be seen at the temple’s museum. On the drum, you’ll notice the chim lac, the mysterious bird lost to history. History comes alive in the book.
Co Loa Citadel
This citadel north of Hanoi dates back to the 3rd century B.C. It is an important archeological site commemorating one of the earliest Vietnamese kingdoms.
Hoa Lu
Located amidst the beautiful granite cliffs and outcroppings of Ninh Binh Province south of Hanoi, this former capital of Vietnam was moved to present day Hanoi in the 10th century A.D.
Turtle Tower
This tower on a small islet inside Hoan Kiem Lake commemorates the legend of the turtle of the lake which retrieved the magic sword from warrior Le Loi. Consequently, the warrior named the lake Hoan Kiem Lake – the lake of the returned sword.
Van Mieu – Temple of Literature
This thousand-year-old site was Vietnam’s first university. Scholars would come to master Confucian studies, then return to their villages as venerated scholars. Its importance for Vietnam, or for this story, can’t be overstated.
Saint Joseph’s Cathedral
In Vietnamese, it’s simply called ‘the big church.’ It’s the largest Roman Catholic church in Hanoi, built by the French in the 19th century. It’s a short walk from Hoan Kiem Lake. The demon warrior will use this church more than once in the story.
Long Bien Bridge
The first steel bridge over the Red River – this cantilever bridge was built by the French in 1899. It is still used today for pedestrians, bicycles, and motorbikes. In the story, a certain boy learns a lesson here.