One Pillar Pagoda: Hanoi's Iconic Lotus Temple
One Pillar Pagoda in central Hanoi is a unique wooden temple built atop a single stone pillar, designed to resemble a lotus blossom. This 11th-century Buddhist site carries centuries of legend and restoration history.
One Pillar Pagoda: Hanoi's Iconic Lotus Temple
One Pillar Pagoda, known locally as "Chua Mot Cot," sits in the Ba Dinh district of Hanoi, near the Thang Long Citadel. It is formally part of a larger complex called Dien Huu tu, or 'pagoda of extended blessings.' The temple's most distinctive feature is the Lien Hoa Dai—the 'lotus pedestal'—a wooden structure built atop a single stone pillar (1.25 meters in diameter, 4 meters high) that rises from what was once a pond. The design deliberately evokes a lotus blossom, a symbol of purity in Buddhism.
The original pagoda was constructed in 1049 and refined in 1105. It stands today as one of Vietnam's most recognizable temples, worth a detour if you're exploring Hanoi's religious landmarks.
The Legend Behind the Pagoda
The pagoda's origins rest on a story involving Emperor Ly Thai Tong, who ruled from 1028 to 1054. Court records say the emperor had no son—a grave concern for a dynasty. He dreamed of the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara seated on a lotus, handing him a male child. After waking, Ly Thai Tong married a peasant woman he had encountered, and they bore a son.
In gratitude, and on the advice of a Buddhist monk named Thien Tue, the emperor commissioned the pagoda in 1049. The monk suggested a pillar rising from a lotus pond—a physical echo of the emperor's dream. The temple was built in the Tay Cam Garden in what is now central Hanoi.
Image by Thomas Schoch via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)
Royal Ceremonies and the Lost Bell
During the Ly dynasty, the pagoda became the site of an annual royal ceremony on Vesak (Buddha's birthday). The king would lead a ritual bathing of the Buddha statue, attended by monks and commoners alike. A symbolic release of a bird by the monarch—echoed by the assembled crowd—was part of the celebration.
In 1105, Emperor Ly Nhan Tong undertook major renovations. Four years later, a massive bronze bell was cast—so large and heavy that it could never be hoisted into the temple complex. Instead, it was moved to farmland near the pagoda and named the "Bell of the Turtles' Field" after the creatures that inhabited the area. The bell itself was melted down during the early 15th century occupation, its copper recast into military weapons.
Destruction and Restoration
After the Ly dynasty fell, the pagoda was restored several times, notably during the Nguyen period (1840–1850 and again in 1922). In 1954, the pagoda was dynamited—an act carried out by a Vietnamese officer in the French Army. He was severely punished for the destruction.
The Democratic Republic of Vietnam's Ministry of Culture undertook a full restoration in 1955, rebuilding the temple and the Lotus Station (the surrounding grounds) based on the Nguyen-era architectural style.
Image by Beej Nodora via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)
Architecture and Symbolism
The pagoda's original design, as recorded in historical texts like the "Dai Viet su ky toan thu," included a surrounding lake (Linh Chieu lake, also called the Lotus Station's lake), exterior corridors, and bridges spanning an outer lake (Bich Tri Lake). A stupa stood in front of the temple yard.
Modern architectural research suggests the original Ly-era structure may have been hexagonal, not circular, to better mirror lotus petals. In 2020, researchers from SEN Heritage presented 3D models and virtual reality reconstructions proposing what the original Dien Huu complex may have looked like—a geometric configuration of Buddhist symbols arranged as a Mandala.
Today's pagoda, standing after its 1955 reconstruction, is modest in scale: a wooden shelter on its stone pillar, painted wood and tile. A replica was also built in the late 1950s in what was then suburban Saigon (now part of Ho Chi Minh City).
Visiting
The pagoda remains one of Hanoi's most photographed temples, valued equally for its compact, unusual silhouette and its role as a living witness to nearly a thousand years of Vietnamese Buddhist practice and imperial legend. It pairs well with nearby visits to the Thang Long Citadel and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex.
Going to Vietnam? Eat and travel smarter.
Monthly: new dishes, off-the-beaten-path destinations, and itineraries — straight to your inbox. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Join 0 expats. (We just launched.)
More from Hanoi
Other articles covering this city.
Drinking Water in Vietnam: What's Safe, What Isn't, and Why
Tap water isn't safe to drink straight from the tap in Vietnam. Here's what you need to know about bottled water, ice, brushing teeth, and hot drinks.
Eating with Food Allergies in Vietnam: Peanuts, MSG, Fish Sauce & Gluten
Peanuts hide in desserts and sauces, MSG seasons nearly everything, and fish sauce is in almost every savory dish. Here's how to navigate Vietnamese food safely.
Wifi and Internet in Vietnam: What to Expect and How to Stay Connected
Free wifi is nearly everywhere in Vietnamese cities, but speeds drop in rural areas. Here's what works, where to find it, and what to pay.
More from Northern Vietnam
Other articles covering the same region.
3 Days in Mai Chau Valley: A Homestay Weekend from Hanoi
Cycle through rice paddies, sleep in a stilt house, and learn White Thai weaving in this laid-back valley 140 km southwest of Hanoi. A real alternative to the tourist treadmill.
5 Days in Northwest Vietnam Mountains: Mai Chau, Sapa, Ha Giang
A tight loop through Vietnam's three best mountain destinations: homestays in Mai Chau, trekking in Sapa, and the Ha Giang Loop. Achievable if you skip Hanoi.
3 Days in Ninh Binh: Trang An, Tam Coc & Bai Dinh
A compact northern itinerary combining Ninh Binh's limestone karst boat tours, ancient temples, and cave hikes. Mix cave exploration, cycling villages, and pagoda complex visits.
More in Destinations
More articles from the same category.
Dong Ba Market: Hue's Riverside Trading Hub
Dong Ba Market sits on the Perfume River's north bank in Hue, Vietnam's imperial capital. Over 150 years old, rebuilt after war and flood, it remains the city's liveliest marketplace for produce, fish, textiles, and local crafts.
Binh Tay Market: Cho Lon's Beating Heart
Binh Tay Market in District 6 has anchored Cho Lon commerce since 1930, built with wealth from a garbage collector turned tycoon. Walk its crowded aisles for spices, textiles, and a snapshot of old Saigon trade.
Thet Xoan Singers: Farmers and Taxi Drivers Keeping Ancient Art Alive
In Phu Tho province, the Thet xoan troupe includes taxi drivers, farmers, and factory workers who abandon their day jobs to perform centuries-old worship songs. We visited them at their communal house to see how this ancient tradition survives.
Water Puppetry at Thang Long: A German Delegation's Hanoi Afternoon
On January 23, 2024, German First Lady Elke Budenbender attended a traditional water puppet performance at Thang Long Theatre in Hanoi, joining Vietnam's First Lady. The afternoon included tea, backstage visits, and a rare glimpse into Vietnam's thousand-year-old art form.
Dong Ho Painting: Vietnam's Folk Woodcut Tradition
Dong Ho paintings are hand-printed woodcuts from Bac Ninh Province, made on special seashell paper with natural pigments. Created for Tet since the 11th century, they depict good-luck symbols, folk tales, and social satire—and you can watch artisans make them today.
Bat Trang Pottery: 600 Years of Vietnamese Ceramic Craft
Bat Trang, a village just outside Hanoi, has been producing ceramics for over 600 years. Today it's home to over 200 workshops where you can watch artisans throw clay, fire kilns, and paint intricate designs—and try it yourself.