Hà Đình Đức, guardian of Hanoi’s legendary turtle, died at 86

On March 15th, 1991, Hà Đình Đức, a zoologist, casually passed Hồ Gươm, the small lake at the heart of Hanoi. As he noticed the lake’s massive softshell turtle surface, he felt an "invisible bond" with the creature, which changed the course of his life. This experience sparked a research project that allowed him to study the animal professionally. Once the project concluded, Đức continued his dedication, photographing the turtle, tracking its appearances, and monitoring its health.

Known as "Professor Turtle" or simply "Đức Rùa" by Hanoians, Đức's affection for the turtle was profound. The turtle was inseparable from the lake and its legend. According to a 15th-century tale, Lê Lợi led a rebellion against Ming forces, winning back Vietnam with a magical sword. After his victory, Lê Lợi boated on the lake and was astonished to see a golden turtle surface, reclaiming the weapon for its divine owner. The lake became Hồ Hoàn Kiếm, the Lake of the Returned Sword.

To Đức, the turtle's survival on the lake made the legendary story tangible, as the animal was the lake's "soul." He traveled across Vietnam searching for other turtles that might be related to Hồ Gươm's giant softshell turtle, hoping to unravel more about this mysterious creature.