Situated next to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and right in the center of Hanoi, standing the One Pillar Pagoda, which also literally means "long-lasting happiness and good luck" in its Vietnamese name Chùa Một Cột. The legend that under Ly’s dynasty in 1049, the king, prayed badly for a child, dreamt of the Holy Lady sitting on a lotus flower and granted him a baby son. A few months later, the queen gave birth to a little boy. Exhilarated by the event, the king ordered the construction of the pagoda, which was built of wood and supported by only a stone pillar to resemble the lotus seat, a Buddhist symbol of purity, of his dream in gratitude to the Holy Lady.
The pagoda you see today is a new form rebuilt in 1955 since it was destroyed by the French forces after the First Indochina War. There’s a bodhi tree near the pagoda, the gift from Rajendra Prasad - Indian presidents to Ho Chi Minh President. The unique shape of its style along with the story born behind has attracted countless visitors on their Vietnam tour.
Besides One Pillar Pagoda, tourist spots also included in the Ho Chi Minh Complex are Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh House on Stilt and Temple of Literature. Trek further you can reach Fine Arts Museum, Ngoc Son Temple, Quan Thanh Temple, Tran Quoc Pagoda and the Old Quarter.
The pagoda daily opens from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. For those who want to visit this site, it's recommended to have a professional local guide for a better appreciation. Want to put One Pillar Pagoda onto your Vietnam trip? Check this out!
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