One Pillar Pagoda | Hanoi attractions

One Pillar Pagoda is the symbolic image of Hanoi Capital. It will be nice to contemplate its special architecture : a lotus shaped pagoda ...when doing your visit to our thousand year old capital of Hanoi

The core values of One Pillar Pagoda

One Pillar Pagoda (or Chua Mot Cot) is a special relic, the most iconic image of the capital, with its long historical, cultural & architectural values.

Firstly, in term of historical value, the temple was built in 1049 in the 11^th century, also the time when Hanoi was chosen as the heart of Vietnam.This pagoda has witnessed the ups & downs of Hanoi history with many historical events up to now.That is why Chua Mot Cot is considered as a very close symbol for any Hanoian to think of when they live far from Hanoi capital.

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Secondly, this relic contains its great cultural values from the beginning stage of Hanoi history as Vietnam’s capital.Since Vietnam ended a thousand year Chinese domination, Buddhism became prominient in the country’s politics & cultures.The monk could even choose the king for the nation represented in the power transition between Pre-Le dynasty and Ly dynasty ( The head monk Van Hanh chose Ly Thai To to be the nation’s official king in 1009 and then the capital was removed to Hanoi in 1010).Many pagogas were broadly built in every corner of the country for its buddhish followers.Building One Pillar Pagoda is just one of them in that process to affirm the development of Buddhism in Vietnam at that time.

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Moreover, this pagoda has a unique architecture that you can’t find anywhere : a square wooden floor, put on a stone pillar in the middle of the pond. Around the stone pillar, there is a system of curved iron wood bars to support the floor; thus, the entire structure looks like a blooming lotus flower upright from the water.

The history of One Pillar Pagoda

Different with other pagodas,this pagoda has a beautiful shape of a blooming lotus flower constructed following the king’s dream.Legend has it that the King Ly Thai Tong (1028 – 1054) was old but he had no son.He went to many pagodas to pray for having one.One night, the King dreamed about Guan Yin Buddha sitting on a lotus, carrying a boy and giving it to the King. Shortly after, the queen gave birth to a wonderful son. So happy, the king had a lotus-shaped pagoda built similar to his dream in honor of Quan Yin Buddha in 1049. This unique shape of the pagoda together with the special story has been of great absorption to hundreds of thousands of international tourists!It is the place that Vietnamese commonly come to pray for good health, happines & prosperity and to childless couples, having a child.

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The original pagoda was much larger than it is now. However, on September 11^th, 1954, before withdrawing from the capital, the French set mine to destroy the Pagoda, only the pillar with some wooden beams remained. After taking over Hanoi, the Government implemented the restoration of the pagoda as it is now

Today, along with the Temple of Litterature, One Pillar Pagoda (restored in 1954), is commonly used as a symbol of thousand year culture Hanoi.

How to get to One Pillar Pagoda?

One Pillar Pagoda is just next to Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, 3km far from Hoan Kiem lake.In your visit to Ho Chi Minh complex, you can call on this iconic pagoda.You can take a walk, taxi or motobike for a visit to this sight.However, if you like to learn more about Hanoi’s culture, history and to visit other attractions in Hanoi, you can join us in Hanoi city tour which already includes One Pillar Pagoda as one stop in our itinerary. We are happy to support you and be your trusted friend for your enjoyable holiday in Hanoi, Vietnam.For further information of any travel service, please, send us your request to bluewaytourist@gmail.com or visit our website http://goldenholidaytravel.com for more reference. See you in Hanoi, Vietnam

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Opening time: The pagoda is open daily from 08:00 a.m to 05:00 p.m. Entrance is free.

Notes : Remember to wear full-length clothes as you visit the One-Pillar Pagoda as well as other pagodas in the nation.

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Hi Ban

I hope you havent't forgot us. If you have I have included a photo of us in attach file.I promised to e-mail you when we get back. Sorry for the delay but we had so much shit to sort out when we've got back home.

Thanks very much for giving us a tour of Hanoi. Without you two, we would of missed a hell of a lot of Hanoi which we never had the time to explore.

When we were in the south, we came across a lot of English and Irish backpackers that were heading to Hanoi and we've recomended you and the taxi driver Binh to them. I hope they contact you two when they get to Hanoi and give you business.

So so much had changed since I left Vietnam. Some changes are positive and a lot of negatives but people link yourself and Binh will keep up the traditions.

I hope that you will get this e-mail. If you do please reply.

Since we've came home, I've had so many ideas about starting a business venture in Vietnam and and hoping that you might want to be be part of the it.

Alec (Hung)

Alec Hung & Challote from UK

Dear Ban,

Sorry for being late.

I tried to write you a letter several times, but I couldn't finish the letter. I don't know why.

I am still in winter vacation, so I have been very lazy, frankly speaking. And I miss you and the other good people I met in Vietnam. You cannot imagine how much it is!! As for our meeting, let's put it aside for my next trip, possibly that would be the coming August. At that time, we can have time to talk a lot about Vietnamese school system and other interesting things. Don't you think??

And I am so happy to know that you think my voice is tender in different songs... *^^*

By the way, how's it going with your new business? Is it going well? I'm sure you will be successful because you are quite ambitious and intelligent. You agree, Ban?? ^^

When my school starts, I cannot tell anything about Vietnam without talking about you to my students... I get impressed a lot, surely yu know that. Right?

I will attach the picture you took together in my next mail because my camera battery is out. Sorry about that!!

It's Saturday today. I wonder what you are doing at this moment in Vietnam when I am writing to you. Keep in touch often. OK?? ^^

Take care and be well & happy

Your friend,

Hwayoung Lee from Korea

Ms Hwayoung Lee from Korea

Hello Mr Ban,
What a surprise to hear from you and a good one. yes I do remember you quite well....as Black Dan? Is this right?
It has been 5 years since I was in your country. a long time, but I remember how bright and funny you were and also how polite!!!
So, have you a family to look after now? A wife and some beautiful children?
I hope all is well with you and you have plenty of work to do.
I am taking a break at my work as it is Christmas time here and everything stops and family get together. I know you have TET around the corner and I wish you much success and good fortune for the next year. Which animal will it be next year for TET, I wonder? And which year you born in?
I am still working with flowers. Iam known as a florist and my job keeps me pretty busy. I enjoy it very much as I love to make beautiful things from flowers and stones, dried things from Mother Nature and sometimes with man made stuff as well.
It is quite funny that you emailed me at this time as I have been thinking of coming over to Vietnam alot lately and may do next year sometime. I missed out on a few places I would love to go ( Hoi Ann), and re visit some places I have been to last time. Are you still a guide?
All the best.

Julie

Ms Julie deVis- Australia