Tran Quoc Pagoda Hanoi Local Guide
Introduction
Hanoi is a famous destination with ancient, sacred pagodas and temples. Besides One Pillar Pagoda, Tran Quoc Pagoda Vietnam is one of the highlights with a long-standing history of over 1500 years old. You can find its name on the top 16 most beautiful pagodas in the world. In this article, Culture Pham Travel will give you detailed information about Tran Quoc Pagoda, let’s find out!
Address
Located on Thanh Nien Road, Yen Phu ward, Tay Ho District, Hanoi, Tran Quoc Pagoda opening hours are between 8 am and 4 pm every day. Besides, the tourists will not have to pay any money to discover the pagoda because the entrance fee is free. Especially, it has clothes regulations for visitors. People are not allowed to wear sexy dress codes like shorts, tank-top, and mini skirts.
How to get to Tran Quoc Pagoda?
There are many ways for you to get to Tran Quoc Pagoda- the oldest pagoda in Hanoi. For instance, you can go by car, motorbike or bus. If you want to travel by bus, let’s take bus No. 50. This bus will drop you off in front of the pagoda gate.
If not, it is convenient for you to take bus No. 31, 41, 55A, 55B, or 58 and get to the An Duong bus stop. After that, you just need to walk for about 5 minutes to get to the pagoda.
Tran Quoc Pagoda map:
In addition to the bus, you can drive a motorbike to get there. It is very easy for you to rent a motorbike or even a scooter to drive to the pagoda around West Lake. You will spend about 15 minutes driving to the pagoda.
Especially, we would like to recommend you book a private car for the best service and safe journey as well as avoid time-consuming. You can refer to our Hanoi Car Rental to reach the pagoda at a reasonable price.
The History Of Tran Quoc Pagoda
The oldest pagoda -Tran Quoc Pagoda in Hanoi, was constructed in 541 and completed in 545 under the reign of King Ly Nam De. For the first time, the pagoda was built with the name: Khai Quốc (National Founder) on the Red River bank. After 1615, the pagoda was moved to Kim Ngưu, inside Yen Phu dike due to a landslide.
In the 17th century, the Trịnh lords decided to construct and connect Co Ngu dike (known as Thanh Nien Road today) and Kim Nguu Island. Then, the pagoda changed its name to Tran Quoc Pagoda in the era of King Le Hy Tong.
In the past, it was known as the largest Buddhist center in Thang Long Imperial Citadel. Ly Kings and Tran Kings often visited this place to go sightseeing and worship on holidays like full moon day and New Year holidays. That is the reason why tourists can see many places around the pagoda such as Thuy Hoa Palace or Ham Nguyen Palace.
Architecture and Structure
Situated on a beautiful island in the east of West Lake, on the Thanh Nien busy road, Tran Quoc Pagoda has undergone many restoration times. Furthermore, the appearance of the pagoda has changed a lot over time and its architecture is influenced by Buddhist principles.
Today’s appearance is the final result of the biggest reconstruction in 1815. The total pagoda area is about 3000m2 including three main layers. The first one is “Tiền Đường” (the front house). The second one is Nha To (the Ancestor House), and the last one is Nha Bia (the Stele House)
What to explore at Tran Quoc Pagoda?
The Front Hall
Tien Duong (the Front House) is situated opposite the bell tower and facing the west. When coming into the Front House, you will see an incense burner in the middle of the yard, so the Buddhists and visitors can get close easily, worship and thurify.
The Ancestor House
The Ancestor House is located on the right of the Front House. This is a place for worshipping the monks’ previous generations.
The Stele House
You can explore Nha Bia (the Stele House) on the left of Tien Duong. It contains 14 important steles engraved. These things existed for a long time ago between 1813 and 1815. It indicates the renovation process of the pagoda’s history.
The Stupa Tower
The typical spot of Tran Quoc Pagoda is “Bao Thap”, also called Precious Stupa. The visitors can see the pagoda from a far distance. The Precious Stupa has 11 floors and it is 15 meters in height.
Moreover, there are statues of Amitabha Buddha put inside Tran Quoc Pagoda. Most importantly, a gemstone nine-story lotus called “Cuu Dinh Lien Hoa” is on the top of the tower.
Plus, the Shakyamuni Buddha statue is recognized as the most gorgeous Nirvana statue in Vietnam. Additionally, Tran Quoc Pagoda was considered a national historic and cultural monument of Vietnam in April 1962.
50-year-old Botha Tree
In 1959, when the former Indian President visited the capital of Vietnam, Hanoi, he came to Tran Quoc Pagoda and gave the pagoda a Botha tree with heart-shaped leaves as a gift. Now, the tree is over 50 years old and has grown in front of Bao Thap in the holy land for a long time.
Why should you go to Tran Quoc Pagoda?
Tran Quoc Pagoda can be referred to as the museum storing priceless antiques. There are hundreds of years old statues showing in Tien Duong. Moreover, there is the statue of Buddha entering Nirvana, known as the most incredible statue of Thich Ca Thap Niet Ban.
It cannot be easy to find this statue anywhere, except in Thailand, Laos, and Tran Quoc Pagoda in Vietnam. Plus, it has a reputation for being evaluated as the most beautiful statue in Vietnam in general and Hanoi in particular.
Additionally, the pagoda is a good place for you to recharge your energy and get back peace of peace in your mind after the hustle and bustle of daily life. Also, if you love arts and poems, you can visit the pagoda to get more knowledge about Vietnam’s literature throughout the historical process. There are a large number of poems still preserved until now.
Travel Tips
There are some things you should refer to when visiting the pagoda:
- First, if you do not like crowds, you should avoid visiting the pagoda on the 1st and 15th day of the month in the Lunar Calendar. It is the time a lot of Buddhist monks and tourists visit the pagoda to worship and go sightseeing. Nevertheless, this is the best time to experience and explore Vietnamese religion and culture.
- Second, tourists should avoid wearing skin-showing clothes such as tank tops or short skirts because the pagoda is a holy land!
- Finally, it is necessary to take off umbrellas, shoes, and hats before coming into the shrines for worshipping, which shows your respect and is pleasant to the gods and the pagodas.
Conclusion
Culture Pham Travel has just provided you with so much information about Tran Quoc Pagoda. We hope that our article can give you a hand to experience the best trip ever on your Hanoi City Tour 1 Day.
