I love the way the river is woven into everyday life in Can Tho. It also has some of the greenest landscapes. The people in...
Located on a tiny eastern peninsula of West Lake, Tran Quoc Pagoda is the oldest and holiest Buddhist pagoda with a long-standing history of more than 1,500 years in Hanoi. Established as a Buddhist centre of Thang Long (Hanoi's old name) under the Ly - Tran dynasties, Tran Quoc Pagoda has now become an attractive spiritual destination, attracting large numbers of visitors each year. In 2016, Tran Quoc Pagoda was on the list of the world's 16 most beautiful pagodas by the Daily Mail, a prestigious British newspaper.
Table of Content[Hide]
History of Tran Quoc Pagoda
Tran Quoc Pagoda was originally called Khai Quoc Pagoda, built in 541 during the early Ly Dynasty. At that time, the pagoda was located near the banks of the Red River, so when the dam collapsed in 1615 (during the reign of King Le Trung Hung), the pagoda was moved inside the Yen Phu Dam, near the Kim Nguu islet. Then, in the 17th century, Trịnh Lords built the Co Ngu Dam (Thanh Nien Street now) to connect with Kim Nguu islet. The pagoda changed its name to Tran Quoc Pagoda during the reign of King Le Hy Tong (1681 - 1705) with the meaning that this would be a place to help people avoid natural disasters by bringing them a peaceful life, and that name remains till today.
In the past, Tran Quoc Pagoda was the Buddhist centre of Thang Long Imperial citadel. Kings Ly and Tran frequently visited the pagoda on holidays and Tet, praying for the nation's prosperity and peace, therefore several palaces were built to serve the kings like the Thuy Hoa Palace, the Ham Nguyen Palace.
Architecture of Tran Quoc pagoda
As an ancient Buddhist pagoda built for a long time, Tran Quoc Pagoda’s appearance has changed a lot over time. The size and architecture of the temple now is the result of a major restoration in 1815. The total area of the pagoda is more than 3000m2, including the tower, garden, ancestral house and upper hall.
The pagoda belongs to the Theravada Buddhism in Vietnam with the structure and architecture following to strict principles, including 3 main layers: Tiền Đường (the front house), Thượng Viện (upper hall), Nhà Thiêu Hương (incense crematorium), which connects together in the form of the word Công (工).
The front house faces west, behind it is the Tam Bao house. Two corridors are located on either side of the incense crematorium and the upper hall. Behind the upper hall is the bell tower placed on the axis of the main hall with the three-room architecture with a roof stacked with matches. The ancestral house is located to the left of the upper hall. The stele house is on the left of the front house. It contains 14 important engraved stelae with many historical and cultural values.
Tran Quoc Pagoda's front hall
The sarced Bodhi tree in the Tran Quoc pagoda
Cuu Pham Lien Hoa tower
In 1998, the hexagonal lotus-shaped tower (Bảo Tháp) was built, and in 2003 it was completed, adorning the temple's garden. The Stupa has a total of 11 floors, with an area of about 10,5m2. On each floor of the tower, there is a white precious stone statue of Amitabha Buddha located in each arched doorway. In particular, on the top is a 9-storey lotus (Cuu pham lien hoa) carved from precious stones, creating a majestic, sacred and very soft beauty. Opposite to the tower is the bodhi tree presented by the President of India in 1959 during his visit to Hanoi. This Bodhi tree was specially extracted from the Bodh Gaya tree - where Shakyamuni Buddha sat under and practised his religion more than 25 centuries ago.
Up till now, the pagoda still preserves many valuable statues of Buddha and Bodhisattva, which are mainly located in the upper hall. Among them, the most important is the statue of Buddha Shakyamuni entering Nirvana made of wood, painted with varnish.
Through the ups and downs, Tran Quoc Pagoda still lies majestically, bringing a peaceful and ancient look to the heart of bustling Hanoi. Every year, the pagoda attracts not only many Buddhists from all over the world, but also local and foreign tourists who come to find out about religions in Vietnam.
Things to know before you go
Opening hours
The pagoda is open to visitors throughout the week, from 8:00 AM - 11:30 AM and 1:30 PM - 4:00 PM. On the full moon day and the 1st of each lunar month, the pagoda welcomes guests from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Particularly on New Year's Eve, Tran Quoc Pagoda is open all night for Buddhists to visit and pray for the best new year, together sharing the time of transition from the old year to the new year.
Ticket Price
The entrance ticket of Tran Quoc Pagoda is free.
Dresscode
While there is no strict dress code enforced at the Tran Quoc Pagoda, it is generally recommended to dress modestly and respectfully when visiting religious sites in Vietnam. Clothing should cover your shoulders, chest, and knees. Both men and women should avoid wearing sleeveless tops, shorts, and miniskirts. And to show respect to the gods, please take off your shoes, umbrella and hats before entering into the pagoda and shrines.
For other interesting activities in Hanoi, you can see more:
>> The Best Spa and Massage in Hanoi Old Quarter
>> Top 10 European Restaurants in Hanoi Old Quarter
>> Full Day Hanoi Private Tour: Explore the Best of the Capital City
