Truc Bach Lake is a small lake in the Ba Dinh district, separated from the much larger West Lake to its west by the Thanh Nien road. The lake and the neighborhood around it are quieter and more residential than the Old Quarter, and the area makes for a pleasant walk or cycle ride — the roads around the lake are lined with trees, cafes, and small restaurants. The Tran Vu Quan temple sits on its northern shore.
A small stone monument on the western bank marks the spot where US Navy pilot John McCain parachuted into the lake on October 26, 1967, after his A-4 Skyhawk was struck by a surface-to-air missile during a bombing mission over Hanoi. McCain, who would later become a US Senator and presidential candidate, was badly injured in the crash and subsequent capture; he was held as a prisoner of war at Hoa Lo Prison for five and a half years. The monument identifies him by name and rank, and the episode is taught in Vietnamese schools as an example of the air defense campaign. The lake and the monument together make a useful counterpoint to the Hoa Lo Prison museum, which is a short distance away.