Hanoi's capital has long been celebrated as a land steeped in cultural and historical depth, renowned for its numerous scenic landmarks and sacred temple complexes. Among these treasures, Tran Quoc Pagoda stands as one of the city's most ancient Buddhist sanctuaries. This long-standing pagoda carries over 1,500 years of spiritual significance, historical value, and architectural beauty. Follow Traveloka on the journey to discover everything you need to know before visiting this remarkable temple that has earned recognition as one of the world's most beautiful pagodas.

Tran Quoc Pagoda is Hanoi's oldest and most sacred Buddhist temple, with an incredible history spanning over 1,500 years since its founding in 541 AD. Originally built by King Ly Nam De near the Red River and called "Khai Quoc" (Awakening the Country), the temple served as the spiritual center for ancient Vietnamese royalty and became the heart of Buddhism during the powerful Ly and Tran dynasties.

In 1615, when river erosion threatened to destroy the original structure, the entire pagoda was carefully moved to its current stunning location on a small peninsula in West Lake, where it appears to float like an island temple surrounded by peaceful blue waters. Throughout centuries of political changes and natural challenges, this remarkable temple has preserved its traditional Buddhist architecture and continues to function as both an active place of worship where locals pray for health and prosperity, and a cultural treasure that showcases Vietnam's rich spiritual heritage.

Today, visitors from around the world come to admire Tran Quoc Pagoda for its famous 11-story Lotus Tower, ancient Buddha statues, and the sacred Bodhi tree gifted by India, making it one of Hanoi's most beloved and photographed landmarks that perfectly represents the enduring beauty of Vietnamese Buddhist culture.

For the opening hours, Tran Quoc Pagoda welcomes visitors daily and is typically open from 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM. The entrance fee is totally free so you’re more than welcome to visit whenever you want during the day. The best time to visit Tran Quoc Pagoda would be early in the morning, somewhere between 7AM - 9AM for a comfortable weather to explore around.

For the address, Tran Quoc Pagoda is located in the middle of Thanh Nien Road and sits gracefully on a small peninsula extending into West Lake (Ho Tay), creating the impression of an island temple surrounded by tranquil waters. To get here, you can either drive a motorbike or use hailing app such as Grab and XanhSM.

When viewed from above, Tran Quoc Pagoda is designed in the unique shape of the Chinese character "工" (Công), which symbolizes stability and strength in traditional architecture. The temple complex consists of three main sections that work together harmoniously: the Front Hall (Tiền Đường), where visitors pray and view precious Buddha statues, the Upper Hall (Thượng Điện), which serves as the main worship area, and the Incense Burning House (Nhà Thiêu Hương), where people light incense for their prayers.

This thoughtful layout follows ancient Buddhist architectural principles and creates a peaceful flow of energy throughout the complex, with each building positioned to maximize spiritual harmony between the structures and the beautiful lake surroundings.

The crown jewel of Tran Quoc Pagoda is its stunning Lotus Tower (Bảo Tháp), an eleven-story structure built between 1998 and 2003 that has become the pagoda's most recognizable feature. This impressive tower houses 66 precious stone Buddha statues arranged throughout its multiple levels, each carved with exquisite detail to represent different aspects of Buddhist teachings.

At the very top sits the magnificent Cửu Phẩm Liên Hoa (Nine-Grade Lotus), a nine-tiered lotus flower made from precious stone that sparkles in the sunlight and can be seen from across West Lake. The tower represents the Buddhist journey toward enlightenment, with each level symbolizing a step closer to spiritual awakening, making it both an architectural masterpiece and a profound spiritual symbol.

Inside Tran Quoc Pagoda's various halls, visitors will discover some of Vietnam's most precious religious artifacts and architectural details. The Front Hall houses the magnificent wooden statue of Buddha's Parinirvana, crafted from precious wood and adorned with red lacquer and gold leaf, which is considered one of the most beautiful Buddha statues in all of Vietnam. The Upper Hall features traditional red fish-scale tile roofs and wooden construction that exemplifies classical Vietnamese temple architecture, while nearby stands a three-section bell tower built entirely from wood.

Throughout the complex, visitors can also admire fourteen ancient stone steles inscribed with poetry and historical records by famous scholars, plus the sacred Bodhi tree gifted by India in 1958, which was grafted from the original tree under which Buddha achieved enlightenment over 2,500 years ago

Apart from Tran Quoc Pagoda, you can also pay a visit to this particular spiritual place, which is also well-known among international tourists. The One Pillar Pagoda stands as one of Vietnam's most extraordinary architectural marvels and spiritual treasures, offering international visitors a truly unique experience that cannot be found anywhere else in the world, recognized by Guinness World Records as "The most unique pagoda in Vietnam". This thousand-year-old temple represents the pinnacle of Vietnamese architectural ingenuity and Buddhist symbolism.

Built in 1049 by Emperor Lý Thái Tông following a divine dream where the Goddess of Mercy presented him with a son while seated on a lotus flower, the pagoda's fascinating origin story captures the mystical essence of Vietnamese culture and royal history. The temple's remarkable design - a wooden structure balanced on a single stone pillar rising from tranquil waters - creates the stunning visual impression of a lotus flower blooming from a pond, symbolizing purity and spiritual enlightenment emerging from life's challenges.

This pagoda is located within the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex in central Hanoi, offering an incredibly convenient access with free admission for a budget-friendly cultural experience.

Imagine walking through 1,000 years of history in a single afternoon. The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long is like a giant time capsule buried beneath modern Hanoi, where archaeologists have uncovered layer upon layer of Vietnam's imperial past. This UNESCO World Heritage Site served as the country's political headquarters for eight centuries, hosting everything from royal coronations to military strategy meetings that shaped Southeast Asian history.

What makes this place truly remarkable is that you can literally see different time periods stacked on top of each other - ancient palace foundations from the 11th century lie directly beneath French colonial military buildings, which in turn sit above secret underground bunkers used during the Vietnam War. The towering Doan Mon gate, with its distinctive curved rooflines and intricate carvings, once welcomed foreign ambassadors and dignitaries to the imperial court.

Today, visitors can touch 900-year-old ceramic tiles decorated with dancing dragons, then walk a few steps to examine radio equipment used by Vietnamese generals in the 1960s. It's history you can actually feel, where each excavated layer tells a different chapter of Vietnam's incredible story of survival and reinvention.

Apart from these stunning landmarks, you can check out more of Hanoi’s interesting activities to learn more about the culture and history of Vietnam:

The Temple of Literature is Vietnam's first university, emerging from the bustling streets of Hanoi as a tranquil oasis of learning and Confucian tradition. Established in 1070 and dedicated to literature, education, and the veneration of Confucius, the Temple of Literature represents over a millennium of Vietnamese scholarly pursuit. Its five courtyards unfold like chapters in a book, each revealing layers of architectural beauty and historical significance.

The temple's most treasured features include the ancient stelae of doctorate holders, stone tablets honoring Vietnam's earliest scholars that have survived centuries of war and weathering. Visitors today can wander through peaceful gardens where ancient trees provide shade for contemplation, examine traditional Vietnamese architecture at its finest, and gain insight into the deep respect for education that has shaped Vietnamese culture for generations.

We hope the blog has given you great information that you need to know for your upcoming visit to Tran Quoc Pagoda. If you’re planning to explore more places around the city, don’t forget to read our blogs tailored to your interests. And remember, you can always book flights, hotels and travel activities with amazing deals here on Traveloka!

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