Viet Nam's Iconic Shark Jaw Building in Ha Noi, Hoan Kiem Lake - Soon to Be Gone but Never Forgotten

Hello everyone, I hope you are doing well. Today, let's follow me down memory lane, to a time when I visited Vietnam’s famous Hoan Kiem Lake, in the capital city Ha Noi. It is an old city with a rich culture that has a thousand years of history. The cuisine there is very diverse and delicious, with a lot of street food and restaurants.

I’ve been to Ha Noi a few times over the years, sometimes for work, sometimes just to travel there, but I always made sure to go to Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter.

Hoan Kiem Lake is a relatively large lake that has a lot of green and walkable area. There are many benches along the paths for people to sit on and relax.

One of the most iconic buildings around the lake is the Shark Jaw building. It is always standing there like an old friend standing firmly next to Hoan Kiem Lake. It has 6 floors and was constructed from 1990 to 1993.

The side parts that stick out like shark teeth made a nickname "Shark Jaw" (Hàm Cá Mập) for the building.

When I was at Hoan Kiem Lake, I liked to walk around, sometimes have a cup of Highlands coffee, watch the city breathe, people passing by, in the morning or at night. Even though it was always crowded, I could still find peaceful moments. Enjoy the fresh air, calm water, and good snacks around.

It is really beautiful at night too.
And never forget to eat some lemon ice cream. It is very refreshing and delicious.

Regarding the building, some people don’t like it, some like it, still the building became a familiar part of Ha Noi for more than 30 years. In March 2025, the Ha Noi government decided to take the building down so they could make more open space around the lake and build some underground facilities. The plan is now adjusted to June 2025.

source

I have mixed feelings about this news, finding myself a bit sad knowing something familiar to me is going to be no more, but at the same time, I am excited for the new project. I believe even if the building is going to be removed, the feeling and memories are still there.

See you in the next post. I will share more interesting things about Viet Nam. Have a great day, everyone!

All photos are mine unless sourced otherwise.