Chí Linh Park (Or Indira Gandhi Park)

Surrounded by Đinh Tiên Hoàng, Lê Lai, Lê Thạch and Ngô Quyền Streets, this park was originally part of the compound of an ancient pagoda named Phổ Giác or Tàu in Hậu Lâu village. In 1883, the French colonialists moved this pagoda to the garden of the Institute of Royal Physicians and built the Mayor’s Office, Treasury, Post Office and a park in the former’s place.

In 1886 when Resident General Paul Bert died, the French named this garden after him. A year later, a statue of Paul Bert was set up here followed by a great inauguration ceremony. This statue was placed on a stone pedestal where the present round flower basin stands, looking out to Sword Lake. Behind the statue was an eight-sided house where the military orchestra played every Saturday evening. This statue was removed in 1945.

Lý Thái Tổ

After the August 1945 Revolution, the park was renamed Chí Linh. Chí Linh is a mountain area west of Thanh Hóa province which was the base of the uprising led by Lê Lợi in the 15th century. The park’s name is apparently associated with the Lake of the Restored Sword and the legend of King Lê Lợi returning his sword to the Turtle God.

On the lake’s west bank there is a temple and a statue dedicated to the King. Around the lake, apart from Lê Thái Tổ (Lê Lợi) Street, there are streets named after this King’s generals: Lê Thạch, Lê Lai, Nguyễn Xí and Trần Nguyên Hãn.

In order to strengthen the Indo-Việt Nam friend-ship, since 1984, the park has been named after the late Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi.