One Pillar Pagoda – The symbol of Hanoi

A Brief Overlook of One Pillar Pagoda One Pillar Pagoda is inside the presidential complex behind the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. It is named after its extraordinary architecture and is well-known as a cultural and spiritual symbol of Vietnam's capital.

This temple is also known as Dien Huu Tu or Mat Pagoda. One Pillar Pagoda is constructed from wood based on a single stone pillar crafted into the shape of a lotus blossom. You may be stunned by how marvelous this Pagoda is.

This innovative architectural site combines high and low rhythmic space, including sculptures, paintings, carving corridors, and water surfaces as a symbol of culture, art, and strong national identity. In 2012, One Pillar Pagoda Vietnam was considered the temple with unique architecture by The Asian Record Organization.

Where is One Pillar Pagoda

One Pillar Pagoda is a beautiful attraction in Hanoi, attracting many tourists daily. The Pagoda was built by Ly Thanh Tong on the land of Thanh Bao village, Quang Duc district, in the west of the ancient Thang Long Citadel.

Nowadays, One Pillar Pagoda is located at One Pillar Pagoda Street, right next to the complex of Ba Dinh Square, behind the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in the center of Ba Dinh district, Hanoi. If you need to learn how to get around, follow this link, vietnamtrustcarrentals.com, for helpful information.

The Long-Standing History and Fantastic Tale of One Pillar Pagoda

Hanoi One Pillar Pagoda was built under the Ly Thanh Tong reign in 1049. According to folk legend, in a dream, King Ly Thai Tong dreamed of Buddha Quan Am sitting on a lotus, and Buddha invited the king to accompany her.

When the king woke up, he told his servant and monk Thien Tue and advised him to build a temple like in his dream. Some people say that a childless Emperor dreamed about a Buddha who handed him a baby son.

After the invention, he got married and had a son, so he created a temple on one pillar in the middle of a lotus pond, just like he saw in his dream as a gratitude gesture.

1105 One Pillar Pagoda was renovated, and King Ly Nhan Tong built two more glass towers in front of the yard. In 1108, Nguyen Phi Y Lan ordered the casting of a large Ring named "General Enlightenment" to enlighten everyone.

During the war against France, the French army destroyed One Pillar Pagoda. After taking over the independence, the Ministry of Culture of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam studied and established a project to restore and rebuild One Pillar Pagoda, the same as the original architecture.

In 1962 One Pillar Pagoda Vietnam was recognized as a National Historic Monument of Architecture and Art. In 2012, this temple was honored to be established by the Asian Record Organization as "The temple with the unique architecture in Asia".

To study a brief history of One Pillar Pagoda Vietnam and its tale, you may wonder about this temple's architecture, why it is so unique, and why it is considered a symbol of Hanoi. Let's keep reading and get to know more about this historical temple.

The unique architecture of One Pillar Pagoda

One Pillar Pagoda is an architectural complex with different small works interspersed in the temple's premises. This temple is designed according to the mandala pattern, simulating a microcosm in the Buddhist worldview.

The overall One Pillar Pagoda is made of wood; when you look at it, you can see the wooden slats combined like a lotus flower growing in Linh Chieu Lake.

The structure of Hanoi One Pillar Pagoda currently includes Pillars, a Lotus pedestal, and a pagoda roof. The pillar of this temple is built with two stone pillars overlapping each other by 4 meters in height, and the stone's diameter is 1.2 meters square, making it so solid.

The upper part of the pillar has 8 wooden sticks that look like a blooming lotus. The roof of the Pagoda has a fiery moon and the dragon's head is facing the moon. Additionally, the Pagoda has 4 roofs with curved blades shaped like dragon heads.

People usually visit One Pillar Pagoda to worship and pray for health and luck, but you also can come here to enjoy the beautiful and peaceful landscapes. Here are three must-see things in One Pillar Pagoda.

Lotus Station (Lien Hoa Dai)

This is a unique main highlight representing the entire One Pillar Pagoda. Lien Hoa Station has a square shape of 3 meters on each side and is supported by a solid stone. People consider Lien Hoa Station a blooming lotus flower in the pond's center. Inside the Lotus Station is a statue of Buddha Quan Am with a thousand eyes and a thousand hands, and you can come here to pray for luck.

Three-arched-entrance Gate (Tam Quan Gate)

When you arrive at the One Pillar Pagoda, the first place you will set foot on is the Tam Quan Gate. This is an expansion work built in recent years to serve worship during the full moon and Tet holidays.

The Stairs leading to the Main Hall

If you want to get to the Lotus Station, you will step through 13 steps with a width of 1.4 meters. The stairs were built a long time ago and still retain the ancient beauty of the architectural style of the Ly Dynasty.

How to get to One Pillar Pagoda?

The Pagoda is located in the Ba Dinh district, close to many famous tourist attractions, so it is quite easy to find. Visitors can come here by personal vehicles such as motorbikes or cars or catch a taxi.

If traveling by bus, you can choose No.09, No.22, No.33, No.45, or No.50. All of the buses above have stops at No.15A Le Hong Phong, and from then you can walk to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda is behind that complex.

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Opening time and entrance fee to One Pillar Pagoda

Opening time: from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm every day

Entrance Fee: 25.000VND

Regulations when visiting One Pillar Pagoda

• Wear polite clothes when visiting the temple, no shorts or skirts above the knee.
• The Pagoda has prohibited areas, so you should pay attention during your visit.
• Walk gently and avoid harming ancient artifacts in the temple.
• Do not commit illegal or superstitious actions.
• Burn incense at the correct location.

The best time to visit the One Pillar Pagoda

You can visit One Pillar Pagoda from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The tour duration is from 1 to 3 hours. On the first or full moon days, Buddhist offerings are also held here, and people will come and burn incense for luck and health.

The best time to visit the temple is the first or full moon days, but if you can not stay on those days, it's outstanding; just come here and take a peaceful journey. Last but not least, the lotus flowers around Lien Hoa Station emit a sweet scent in the early autumn. It will be nice to visit One Pillar Pagoda during that time.

Nearby Attractions around One Pillar Pagoda

One Pillar Pagoda is located in the capital's center, so visiting nearby famous tourist attractions is easy. After visiting One Pillar Pagoda, visitors can see the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, only 250 meters away, or the Hanoi flagpole, 800 meters away. It takes only 11 minutes to get to Thang Long Imperial Citadel and 24 minutes to get to Hoa Lo Prison.

In Conclusion

The One Pillar Pagoda is a symbol of Hanoi and a famous destination for tourists or people in the capital looking for quiet space with historical architecture that has existed for more than a thousand years. Hopefully, this blog will give you helpful information about One Pillar Pagoda's history, culture, and architecture!