Pagodas and temples in Hà Nội - 01

Hà Nội is the capital, the political, economic, cultural, and tourist centre. Hà Nội is famous 36-streets ancient quarters, rich in historic and cultural vestiges, especially religious architectural projects. Visitors to Hà Nội are opportune not only to see temple of literature, history museum, Ba Đình square, Hoàn Kiếm lake, Hồ Chí Minh mausoleum, fine-arts museum, West lake, ancient quarters but Hà Nội temples and pagodas.

First and foremost: one pillar pagoda, part of Diên Hựu pagodas complex, next to Hồ Chí Minh museum. The pagoda was built in 1049 after a dream of king Lý Thái Tông. It’s said that the king did not have son to succeed him when he was rather old, he used to visit Diên Hựu pagoda. One night, he dreamed of the Buddha on a lotus flower with a baby in arms, then gave it to the king. Later on, his queen gave birth to a handsome prince. The king was so glad that he ordered a pagoda be built on a stone column that looked like a lotus flower, with a statue of Buddha inside as his gratitude. It’s also said that the pagoda was built on a 20m-high stone column. It was destroyed by the Chinese Minh invaders in 15th century and rebuilt in 1954 as it’s today.