Built around the same time as the other structures here, the lake is named Ngoan Nguyet, meaning “gazing at the moon,” “looking at the moon,” or “enjoying the moon.” The name Ngoan Nguyet evokes memories of an old bridge and lake of the same name in the Thang Long Citadel during the Tran Dynasty. The image of the “moon” symbolizes the light of wisdom born from the enlightenment of the Buddha’s path. This light is likened to “the sun and moon driving away all shadows of delusion, just as the moon extinguishes the flames of sinful desires that burn human beings.”

The journey to enlightenment is not just about overcoming challenges or enduring hardships and ascetic practices. A Buddhist practitioner can still enjoy the wholesome beauty of life, such as the moonlight reflecting on the surface of the lake, like the eternal truth of “truth, goodness, and beauty.” As the Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh said, “There is no path to happiness, happiness is the path.”

The lake serves as a venue for cultural and artistic events, such as poetry nights or the Hoa Dang Festival, where people pray for national peace and prosperity, and perform rites for the souls of the departed, seeking to release all grudges and hatred, while walking the path to liberation from suffering under the warm light of lanterns.

Beside Ngoan Nguyet Lake, visitors can admire the moon on clear nights or participate in experiential activities such as the lantern festival or taking commemorative photos.