Chess at Hoàn Kiếm draws devoted crowds

When you find yourself in Hà Nội, near the enchanting Hoàn Kiếm Lake, take a moment to explore beyond the famed Turtle Tower and Pen Tower. A truly captivating experience awaits you along the lake's edge: the vibrant Chinese chessboards. By Thanh Nga HÀ NỘI — As the late-afternoon light turns to gold over Hoàn Kiếm Lake in downtown Hà Nội, small circles gather beneath the trees around wooden boards, and with each deliberate click of a chess piece, an unspoken ritual of thought, patience, and quiet companionship begins again. Away from the well-known Turtle Tower and Pen Tower, this stretch of lakeside becomes a quiet stage for Chinese chess enthusiasts. At each board, two players face off,...