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Ngoc Son Temple is a famous national historical relic in Hanoi. Stepping onto the iconic red The Huc Bridge and crossing to Ngoc Son Temple, you're not just visiting a monument; you're stepping into the heart of Hanoi's spiritual and historical identity. The place attracts many tourists who come to worship and offer incense yearly. If you have an opportunity to visit Hanoi, do not miss this famous spiritual tourist destination.
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1. Where is Ngoc Son Temple?
Ngoc Son Temple is located on a mound called The Pearl Island on Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi. If the Turtle Tower is located south of Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple is located to the northeast. The specific address of the temple is on Dinh Tien Hoang Street, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi. It's a perfect walking distance from the Hanoi Old Quarter, making it an ideal first stop for tourists.
Ngoc Son temple is one of the most popular attractions near Hanoi Old Quarter
Ngoc Son Temple dates back to the reign of King Ly Thai To, when the king moved the capital to Thang Long (the old name for Hanoi) and gave the temple the name of Ngoc Truong. During the Tran Dynasty, the temple was renamed Ngoc Son Temple. Over the years, the temple was repaired and renamed many times. Till today, the temple presents as a demonstration of the nation's history, becoming a cultural-historical symbol of Hanoi - the capital city.
2. Discovering Ngoc Son Temple
2.1. Historical background
Ngoc Son Temple was built in the 19th century. According to the old stele in the temple, the construction of the temple was started in the autumn of 1841. According to historical records, when King Ly Thai To changed the capital to Hanoi in 1010, he gave the temple the name of Ngoc Tuong. In the Tran Dynasty (13th-15th century) the temple changed its name to Ngoc Son. During the Tran Dynasty, the temple was the place to worship heroes and martyrs who fell in the war of resistance against the Mongols.
In the Vinh Huu period of the Le Dynasty (1735-1739), Lord Trinh Giang built the Thuy Khanh Palace and built two mountains of land on the eastern shore opposite Ngoc Son called the Dao and Ngoc Boi Mountains. At the end of the Le Dynasty (18th century), the Thuy Khanh palace was destroyed by Le Chieu Thong. The philanthropist Tin Trai founded a temple on the old ground called Ngoc Son Pagoda.
In the past, the Ngoc Son temple today was originally the Ngoc Son pagoda. The pagoda faces the south, in front of which is a bell tower.
After many times of renovation, renaming and during the great restoration in 1865, many more significant works such as the Tran Ba Pavilion, The Huc Bridge, Pen Tower, Ink Slab Tower were built, creating an attractive architectural complex of peace and majesty in the middle of Hoan Kiem Lake.
Ngoc Son temple view from outside
Ngoc Son Temple is associated with many stages of development in Vietnam's history and was classified as a special national relic in 2013. This place is not only a spiritual place but also a famous tourist destination, attracting many domestic and foreign tourists, becoming a long-standing cultural symbol in Hanoi.
2.2. Who is worshipped in Ngoc Son Temple?
In Ngoc Son Temple, people worship Hung Dao Vuong Tran Quoc Tuan and the god Van Xuong De Quan - "the god who governs the merits of the people". In addition, the temple also has a Buddhist worshipping space, a congregational altar, the Temple of the Holy Mother,...
Ngoc Son Temple's unique celebration
2.3. Ticket price and opening hours
- Ngoc Son Temple is open from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM from Monday to Friday, and from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM on Friday and Sunday. Visitors can arrange a reasonable time and schedule to visit the temple.
- Ngoc Son temple entrance fee is 50,000 VND/adult and 15,000 VND/child. Since it is a relic, you will have to buy a ticket when you enter the temple. The prices for children and adults are different but The fees are very reasonable.
Note: Visitors will only have to buy tickets when passing Dac Nguyet Lau. If you just stop at The Huc Bridge, you don't need to pay an entrance fee.
3. Explore the architecture of Ngoc Son Temple
Ngoc Son Temple is built according to the shape of the word "Tam'' (meaning three), showing the harmony of religions over many years of history. To visit the temple, tourists go through different gates such as The Huc Bridge, Dac Nguyet Lau,...
Ritual Gate (Nghi Mon)
The Nghi Mon serves as the grand ceremonial gateway to Ngoc Son Temple's sacred courtyard. This pillar-style gate marks the first step of your spiritual journey into the temple grounds. As you pass through, you're leaving the bustling streets of Hanoi behind and stepping into a realm of peace and historical significance. The gate's architecture, with its sturdy pillars and traditional Vietnamese design, symbolizes a transition. It’s an essential part of the temple's larger architectural complex, connecting the famous Huc Bridge to the inner sanctum.
You have to go through Nghi Mon gate before enter Ngoc Son temple
Pen Tower
Rising majestically on the small mock stone mountain near Nghi Mon, the Pen Tower (Thap But) is one of Ngoc Son Temple's most distinctive and meaningful landmarks. This towering, five-story stone structure stands as a powerful symbol of Vietnamese education and intellectual tradition. At its peak, the tower is shaped like a writing brush, pointing towards the sky.
The most famous feature of the Pen Tower is the inscription of three Chinese characters: "Ta Thanh Thien" (meaning "Writing in the blue sky"). This phrase is a powerful metaphor for the pursuit of knowledge and the belief that intellectual achievements are as vast and boundless as the sky itself. The Pen Tower doesn't just represent a part of the temple's architecture; it embodies the profound respect for scholars and the timeless value of learning in Vietnamese culture.
Pen Tower, a symbol of learning and wisdom in the heart of Hanoi, built in 1865
Tiger and Dragon Gate (Long Mon Ho Bang)
Going further toward the temple campus, you see the right gate, which is embossed with an image of a dragon welcoming a school of fish to cross the river, with the two words "Long Mon" above. To the left is the gate embossed with the image of a white tiger, engraved with two words "Ho Bang". The images on this gate symbolises success, passing exams, encouraging students' spirit of learning.
Dai Nghien Gate
The Dai Nghien gate of the temple has an ink container of blue stone carved in the shape of a half peach, cut vertically, with the thickness of about 97cm, the width of 80 cm, and the height of about 30cm. Under this container are 3 toads holding an ink container, which look like a trivet.
The Huc Bridge
Leading to Ngoc Son Temple and considered as a symbol of the sun god, The Huc bridge symbolises "the place where the morning sun shines". The Huc Bridge is made of wood, the body of the bridge is wide without steep slopes, the handrails have crossed characters divided into cells like a general on a chessboard. It is painted in red, designed like a silk stripe, crossing the blue water of Hoan Kiem Lake.
The Huc Bridge lit in the evening
Ngoc Son Temple Gate - Dac Nguyet Lau
At the end of The Huc Bridge, you will go through the Dac Nguyet Lau, also known as the moon terrace. The gate stood in the shade of an old banyan tree, surrounded by many other green trees that seemed to emerge from the water.
Tran Ba Pavilion
Tran Ba Pavilion is the wave-blocking temple located south of the temple. The pavilion has a square architecture with 8 roofs, a 2-story roof with 8 columns, 4 outer stone columns and 4 inner wooden columns.
The worshipping area Inside Ngoc Son Temple
The area inside is the main part with two adjacent temples. The first temple worships Tran Hung Dao, the second temple worships Van Xuong. The two temples have the typical architectural style of northern temples. There are 2 large statues in the 2 temples. The statue of Tran Hung Dao is placed in the deepest part on a stone pedestal about 1m high, with 2 stone stairs on either side. While the Statue of Van Vang stands holding a pen.
Specimen of turtles
Next to the worshipping area of 2 gods, there is a place where they put 2 showcases to keep 2 specimens of the turtles from Hoan Kiem lake. When the old turtle died, the body of the turtle was restored by Vietnamese and foreign experts using the plastification method. The turtle bodies are kept intact, every detail from size to colour. Now the temple has 2 turtle specimens, which died in 1976 and 2016.
Turtle specimens in Ngoc Son temple
4. Notes when you go to Ngoc Son Temple
When you come to Ngoc Son Temple, you should note some important things as follows:
- You should turn off your phone or put it on vibrate mode, do not talk too loudly
- Do not film or take pictures without permission
- Comply with all regulations of Ngoc Son Temple, maintain general hygiene, do not take flowers or break branches
- Avoid going to the temple on public holidays because these days are very crowded
As a symbol of cultural heritage, Ngoc Son temple is important to preserve and appreciate. Its rich past and spiritual significance continue to inspire visitors, offering a unique spiritual experience. The temple’s architectural beauty, historical significance, and spiritual aura will continue making it a captivating destination.
For other interesting activities in Hanoi, you can see more:
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