One Pillar Pagoda, Hanoi

Honestly, I was quite dissapointed with this pagoda as it is rather small and overly touristy but it is unique and I have yet to come across something similar. In addition, its free so I guess no harm visiting this place.

Situated just beside the Ho Chi Minh Museum and open times from 6.00am till 6.00pm.

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The one pillar Pagoda (Chua Mot Cot) is one of the most famous and visited pagodas in Hanoi; this little pagoda, built under the rule of Ly Thai To in 1049, is indeed an interesting little building. The legend says that the emperor, desperate not having heirs, dreamt of the Goddess of Mercy handing a baby boy; soon later he married a young girl from the countryside; she gave birth to a son and as recognition he ordered to build this pagoda.
Originally, the pillar was a teak tree trunk, and was renovated in 1954 after its destruction by the French. The pillar is now concrete. This tiny pagoda where the worshippers come burn incense and pray the Goddess of Mercy is built in a small water basin, and access is via a small brick stair. It’s small size and the strange style gives a real charm to this pagoda.
Interesting is to walk in the little garden behind the pagoda, there are some Buddhist shrines and a bit further a Buddhist temple very richly ornated, with gold painted Buddha, painted statues, a temple full of colours, very quiet, where monks welcome the “lost” tourist..

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When I visited this place, I did not know the legend behind it, ok? I climbed up the stairs and saw a beautiful Quan Yin with many arms inside. I offered my respect like the locals before going down to explore the temple in front of it. The locals had just finished a ceremony and were tidying up the place. When my friends and I walked into the compound of the temple, we saw people seated on benches at tables with food. We paid our respects in the temple. Friendly devotees offered us food. We found they were vegetarian food made from soya and peas. Some were quite delicious.

For whatever reasons, One Pillar Pagoda, which can be found very near Ho Chi Minh’s house, has become an iconic symbol of Hanoi. This unspectacular pagoda is easy enough to visit while touring the other sites around Ba Dinh Square.

The One Pillard Pagoda is located close to Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum. It is a very popular tourist attraction, which makes it hard to get a 'tourist free' photo. However, it is a very pretty building and well worth a visit. It was built by King Ly Thai Tong (102 -54) and is the shape of a lotus flower, with the pillar being it's stem.... use your imagination!

This is approx 200 meters from the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum. It was originally build in 1049 by King Ly Thai Tong. The King had a dream of the Godess of Merc leading him to Lotus flower. It is said that the Pagoda was buit in the shape of a lotus blossuming onto its stem. If you and your wife pray to the One Pillar Pagoda, you will be blessed with a male child just as the King was.

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The One Pillar Pagoda (Chua Mot Cot) is a small and famous Pagoda of Vietnam located at a premises near to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Ho Chi Minh Museum. The original version built in the 11th century was blown up by the French troops in 1954. This wooden pagoda is newer and smaller version bult in the late 1950s. It is called one pillar pagoda because it stands on one single concrete pillar from a pond. This pagoda is meant to resemble a lotus, which is a symbol of purity in Buddhism. Admission is free and there are several souvenir shops near to this pagoda, which sell small and cute replica of this pagoda which is worth buying.

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This is a nice little side step after your visit to 'Uncle Ho's' house.

Originally built in the 11th century but destroyed on numerous occasions, the latest rebuild was undertaken in the 1950s after the French undertook their destruction before withdrawing from Vietnam. This tiny interior is set atop a single concrete pillar which emerges from a small pond.

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A newcomer to SEA gets first excited about temples and pagodas, only to find several days later that they mostly look the same to an outsider and more advanced knowledge is required to make distinctions. This one is really special - a small wooden building is put on the top of a stone pillar in the middle of a lotus pond. The pagoda was built in 11th century, destroyed by the French in 1954, and restored afterwards.

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The one pillar pagoda is next to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. Despite its small size it is rather beautiful. Apparently built approx 1000 years ago it was destoyed by the French as they left and rebuilt recently.