One Pillar Pagoda in Hanoi

One Pillar Pagoda ©aesta1 All rights reserved.

Last weekend we decided to check out the One Pillar Pagoda here in Hanoi. It is touted as one of the two iconic temples in Vietnam. The other temple is the Perfume Pagoda.

An old Buddhist temple, the Old Pillar Pagoda is still a place for Vietnamese to make offering and pray.It is often crowded as it is just beside another popular attraction, the Ho Chi Minh Memorial.

This pagoda was built by King Ly Thai Tho who ruled in 1028-1054. King Ly Thai Tho according to court records was childless but one day he dreamt of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara who handed him a baby son. He immediately married a peasant girl who bore him a son so in gratitude for this gift, he built this temple in the middle of the lotus pond akin to what he dreamt.

Offering at One Pillar Pagoda ©aesta1 All rights reserved.

Other Interesting Posts on Hanoi:

Tour West Lake in an Enviro Buggy

The Temple of Literature in Hanoi

One Saturday morning going on our usual walk, I suggested that we go to the Temple of Literature as we really have not done much tourism since we arrived here in Hanoi.

Knowing that it is just an easy walk from where we stay, off we went with our map. And we were pleasantly surprised. Confucius is at the centre of the temple which is dedicated to sages and Confucian scholars.

This first University of Vietnam was constructed in 1076 and today, it still has its ancient architectural style and its relics.

Many students scheduled to take their exams are there asking the sages and scholars for help. You can easily spend a morning there understanding the system they used at that time.

Other Places to Visit in Vietnam:

Perfume Pagoda
West Lake
Duong Lam Village