Visiting temples in Hanoi is a great chance for travelers to discover the religious life of locals, especially the culture of Buddhism. Besides that, don’t forget to drop by to pray the best wishes for yourself and your family.
In this blog, Vietnamtour.in will introduce the 7 must-visit temples and pagodas in Hanoi during your journey to this city. With our detailed reviews, we believe that these destinations will bring you a unique insight into Vietnam.
Four sacred temples – Iconic Temples In Hanoi
Regarding famous temples in Hanoi, visitors can not miss the Four Sacred temples. They were built to guard the four directions east, west, south and north of Thang Long ancient citadel.
Bach Ma Temple (Temple of White Horse)
Bach Ma Temple was constructed to be dedicated to God Long Do – an Eastern deity guardian of the Citadel of Thang Long. Over time, it has been under multiple renovations, however, still retains its ancient beauty as the origins.
Inside the temple, you can admire the typical architectural style of various dynasties, especially the Nguyen. We recommend you come here between the 12th and 13 lunar days of February to join the unique Bach Ma Temple Festival.
- Location: 76 Hang Buom Street, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
- Opening hours: 8 AM – 11 AM and 2 PM – 8 PM
- Entrance fee: Free
Quan Thanh Temple (Tran Vu Quan)
Quan Thanh Temple is dedicated to the deity of Huyen Thien Tran Vu, as well as two big religions of Vietnam namely Buddhism and Taoism. When visiting here, travelers will be impressed with the gate of four pillars carved with Vietnamese phoenixes. Inside this relic, there is a huge black bronze statue of Huyen Thien Tran Vu, together with outstanding decoration details.
- Location: 190 Quan Thanh Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi
- Opening hours: 8 AM – 5 PM; 6 AM – 8 PM (1st and 15th lunar days); all days (Lunar New Year)
- Entrance fee: 0.2 – 0.45 USD/pax
Voi Phuc Temple (Temple of Elephants)
Being built in the Southwest of the Thang Long Ancient Citadel, Voi Phuc Temple is preserved to honor the deity of God Linh Lang. In front of the temple, there are stone elephants of huge size. Passing through its gate, visitors will see 2 bronze statues, together with a unique-shaped stone. Legend has it that this stone is a sacred relic that has existed here for many centuries.
- Location: 306B Kim Ma Street, Ngoc Khanh Ward, Ba Ba Dinh District, Hanoi
- Opening hours: 8 AM – 5 PM
- Entrance fee: Free
Kim Lien Temple (Golden Lotus Temple)
Kim Lien Temple is one of the most well-known temples in Hanoi, which is in honor of Cao Son Dai Vuong. Inside this spot, there are 3 main parts, including “Cung Cam”; “ Nghi Mon” and “Dai Bai”. Additionally, visitors will have a chance to admire 39 ancient imperial edicts of the Dynasties in Vietnam. It is great for you to have a deeper understanding of our history.
- Location: No. 33, Alley 294/2 Kim Ma Street, Ba Dinh District, Ha Noi
- Opening hours: 8 AM – 6 PM
- Entrance fee: Free
Ngoc Son Temple (Temple of the Jade Mountain)
Ngoc Son Temple is located on a small island, belonging to Hoan Kiem Lake. To reach this spot, visitors need to pass by the Thue Huc Bridge – one of the gorgeous classical-designed bridges in Vietnam. During your journey here, you will learn a lot about the Confucian leaders, as well as relevant beliefs. Besides that, don’t forget to drop in Thap But (the Pen Power) nearby.
- Location: Dinh Tien Hoang Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
- Opening hours: 8 AM – 6 PM
- Entrance fee: 0.7 – 1.5 USD/pax
One Pillar Pagoda
If you want to visit temples in Hanoi, don’t miss the One Pillar Pagoda (Chua Mot Cot). It will attract you to its unique architecture: there is an ancient shrine that stands on only one pillar. Also, you can go around the corners of “Chua Mot Cot” to discover other outstanding Buddhist values of locals. To make good preparations for your trip here, let’s refer to our One Pillar Pagoda Hanoi blog.
- Location: Behind Ong Ich Khiem Street, Doi Can Ward, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi
- Opening hours: 7 AM – 6 AM
- Entrance fee: 1 USD/pax
Tran Quoc Pagoda
Tran Quoc Pagoda is one of the oldest pagodas in Hanoi, which was built under the King Ly Nam De Dynasty, ranging from 541 to 547. In the past, this spot was the center of Buddhism in Vietnam, with various activities in honor of Gunna Buddha. That’s why it has become one of the renowned religious sites nowadays, which attracts a lot of Buddhist visitors annually.
- Location: Thanh Nien Road, Yen Phu ward, Tay Ho District, Hanoi
- Opening hours: 8 AM – 4 PM
- Entrance fee: Free
Ha Pagoda (Temple of Love)
Ha Pagoda is one of the popular temples in Hanoi with locals praying for love. Its architecture is a harmonious combination of the modern and ancient beauty of Vietnamese culture. Inside the pagoda, don’t forget to visit 3 main areas: the Tam Bao Palace, the Deity of Ha Pagoda, and the Mother Goddess.
- Location: On a tranquil side street in Cau Giay, Hanoi
- Opening hours: 8 AM – 6 PM
- Entrance fee: Free
The Temple of Literature
The Temple of Literature in Hanoi – the first national university in Vietnam, was built under the Ly Dynasty to be dedicated to the Chinese philosopher – Confucius. Inside the temple, travelers will have a chance to witness the impressive beauty of 5 main courtyards, each with a distinctive design. Additionally, you can drop other beautiful sights nearby like Hoan Kiem Lake, or the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long.
- Location: No. 58, Quoc Tu Giam Street, Dong Da District, Hanoi
- Opening hours: 7.30 AM – 5.30 PM (in summer) and 8 AM – 5 PM (in winter)
- Entrance fee: 1 – 1.5 USD/pax
Perfume Pagoda (a complex of temples and pagodas)
Perfume Pagoda is called a tourist complex, including a broad range of pagodas, temples, and shrines, lying on the Huong Son (Perfume Mountain). It is not only well-known for the magnificent beauty of nature, but also for its historical and religious values.
During your journey, don’t forget to drop in outstanding sites such as Trinh Temple, Vong Temple, Bao Dai Pagoda, and Thanh Son Pagoda. Another useful tip is that you should come here during the 3-first months of the Lunar Year. It is a great time to join the Huong Festival – one of the biggest festivals in the North of Vietnam.
- Location: Hoa Binh province, in My Duc district, 60 km southwest of Hanoi
- Opening hours: 5 AM – 5 PM
- Entrance fee: 1.5 – 3.2 USD/pax
Conclusion
Our blog has just reviewed 7 must-visit temples in Hanoi that Indian visitors should not miss when having journeys to Vietnam. Besides these temples in Hanoi, Indian visitors can refer to our famous temples and pagodas in Vietnam blog to discover more about the Hindu beauty and beliefs of Vietnamese people.
To have the best time in these destinations, it’s ideal to have a tour with local guides. If so, don’t forget to contact Vietnamtour.in for detailed instructions.
