Ngoc Son Temple - A Timeless Charm in the Heart of Hanoi

Ngoc Son Temple is a famous national historical relic in Hanoi. This unique architectural space fully converges the characteristics of Vietnamese culture. Ngoc Son Temple has become a spiritual cultural symbol of the thousand-year-old capital. 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.

Ngoc Son temple view from outside

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 District, Hanoi.

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 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 30,000 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 it does not cost that much.
• 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)

When you go through the pillar-style gate to enter the courtyard. The gate is called Nghi Mon. Looking to the left, you can see the Pen Tower built on a mock stone mountain with a diameter of 12m and height of 4m. The Pen Tower is a stone tower with 5 floors, 8m high. The top of the tower is designed as a pen with a handle about 90cm high. The word "Ta Thanh Thien" (meaning "Writing in the blue sky") is engraved on the Pen Tower.

You have to go through Nghi Mon gate before enter Ngoc Son temple

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.

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