Ngoc Son Temple is a Buddhist temple built in the 19th century in Hanoi, Vietnam. Ngoc Son Temple lies on a small green island in the North of Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi, Vietnam. Ngoc Son Temple is dedicated to Tran Hung Dao, a Vietnamese hero who led the Vietnamese army to defeat the invasion of 300,000 Mongolian soldiers in the 13th century and Van Xuong De Quan, a Taoist Philosopher who is believed to be the God of prosperities as for Vietnamese culture. So far, Ngoc Son Temple has been a popular destination of international visitors and Vietnamese people.

Location: on Dinh Tien Hoang Street, 1.5 kilometers from Hanoi Old Quarter, 7 kilometers from West Lake, 30 kilometers from Noi Bai International Airport

Transportation: taxi, motorbike, local bus, cyclo

Travel duration: 50 minutes from Noi Bai International Airport by taxi, 20 minutes from West Lake by taxi

Opening hours: daily from 08:00 to 18:00 pm.

Entrance fee: VND 30,000 per person for adults and VND 15,000 per person for children

Tel: (+84) 243 935 1673

I. Historical Highlights Of Ngoc Son Temple

Ngoc Son Temple was built in the 19th century. Initially, it was named “Ngoc Son Pagoda”. Soon after that, it was renamed “Ngoc Son Temple”. According to Vietnamese culture, pagodas are the places for Buddhism while temples are dedicated to worship real people such as kings, queens, heroes, and saints. As Ngoc Son Temple is dedicated to worship Tran Hung Dao, a Vietnamese hero and Van Xuong De Quan, a Taoist Philosopher, its name was changed from “Ngoc Son Pagoda” into “Ngoc Son Temple”.

In 1865, Ngoc Son Temple was comprehensively repaired by Nguyen Van Sieu, a Confucian Philosopher. Other architectures including The Huc Bridge, Pen Tower, and Tran Ba Tower were built then. All original architectures still remain until now.

Now, Ngoc Son Temple is located on a small island on Hoan Kiem Lake. It is a commonplace of not only local people but also international visitors. People come here either to pray or simply to have a new point of view to admire the beauty of Hoan Kiem Lake.

II. Architectural Highlights Of Ngoc Son Temple

All architectures belonging to Ngoc Son Temple Complex date back to the 19th century and remain until now. The whole complex includes Thap But (the Pen Tower), Dai Nghien (the Ink Slab), The Huc Bridge (Morning Sunlight Bridge), Dac Nguyet Lau (the Moon Contemplation Pavilion), Tran Ba Pavilion (the Pavilion against exterior culture), and Ngoc Son Temple. Each of these architectures has its own symbolic meaning. Ngoc Son Temple is not a very old temple in comparison with other temples in Hanoi, Vietnam. However, its architectures possess the balance among the sky, the ground, and the human which creates a really peaceful atmosphere.

1. The Pen Tower and the Ink Slab – One architectural highlight of Ngoc Son Temple

The Pen Tower and the Ink Slab stand in front of the Ngoc Son Temple Complex. They were built in 1864 by Nguyen Van Sieu, a Taoist Philosopher, and a famous poet.

The Pen Tower was made built from stone with the top shaped like a pen nib pointing toward the sky. There are three words on the side of the tower “Ta Thanh Thien” which means “writing on the blue sky”. Vietnamese people wanted to write their desires in the sky so that they would come true. The Pen Tower stands on a stone “mountain” in the shape of a half peach. This mountain represents the Earth and is a stable foundation of the Pen Tower. There are ancient characters curved in all aspects of the slab to show the uses of it. On the Ink Slab, there is a small altar where people pray and ask for permission to enter Ngoc Son Temple.

On the overall arrangement, the Pen Tower and the Ink Slab resemble national literature and university examinations to discover talented people.

2. The Huc Bridge – The bridge leading to Ngoc Son Temple

The Huc Bridge links the bank of Hoan Kiem Lake with the small island where Ngoc Son Temple is located. It possesses sophisticated architectural features and elegant beauty. Now, The Huc Bridge is an indispensable part of Ngoc Son Temple, Hanoi, Vietnam.

The Huc Bridge was built in 1865. It has been repaired twice in 1897 and 1952 and to some extent has been changed. However, the style is the same as the original one which is typical for Buddhism architectures. The bridge was made from wood and painted red. As for Vietnamese culture, red color represents the sun, life, hope, luckiness, and happiness.

In Vietnamese, the two words “The Huc” means “Light of Dawn”. The bridge was named “The Huc” because it faces the East where the sun rises. By “The Huc Bridge”, it is implied that sunlight is absorbed and concentrate here.

3. The Moon Contemplation Pavilion – The entrance gate of Ngoc Son Temple

Across The Huc Bridge, we will reach The Moon Contemplation Pavilion. This is the gate to Ngoc Son Temple, Hanoi, Vietnam. It was constructed in a Taoist style. There are many parallels hung on the gate. There is a turtle on the left and a dragon on the right of the gate.

The turtle represents longevity and stability. The dragon is a symbol of strength and power. The Moon Contemplation Pavilion sits in the shade of a big old banyan tree and among many other bushy trees. It looks as if this pavilion was rising from the ground.

4. Tran Ba Pavilion – The central area of the whole complex of Ngoc Son Temple

After passing the Moon Contemplation Pavilion, you will see Tran Ba Pavilion on your right. “Tran Ba” means preventing exterior culture waves from affecting traditional culture. Tran Ba Pavilion is located in the center of the Ngoc Son Temple Complex. It was built in 1865 and severely damaged in the wartime against the French colony. In 1952, many charities donated money to rebuild Ngoc Son Temple as its original architecture. Tran Ba Pavilion sits under the shade of many old trees, which makes it one of the holiest spots in Ngoc Son Temple. From here, visitors can help a board view of Hoan Kiem Lake, Turtle Island and Turtle Tower on Hoan Kiem Lake. Seeing Hoan Kiem Lake from such a new point of view is worth a try.

5. Ngoc Son Temple – The main area of Ngoc Son Temple Complex

After passing the Moon Contemplation Pavilion, you turn left to get to Ngoc Son Temple. Ngoc Son Temple has three main sections including the external section for kowtowing, the central section for worshipping Van Xuong De Quan, and the internal section for worshipping Tran Hung Dao. There are also many parallel sentences here each of which contains a thoughtful meaning. The layout of the structures is harmonious with the ancient appear, which makes a culture tourism spot in Hanoi.

III. Where To Visit Around Ngoc Son Temple?

1. Hoan Kiem Lake – The Lake Surrounding Ngoc Son Temple

Hoan Kiem Lake is now located in the center of Hanoi City and near Hanoi Old Quarter. This is the lake that Ngoc Son Temple is located on. It is surrounded by cultural and historical sites of Hanoi. With the area of 120,000 m2, despite not being the largest lake in Hanoi, this is a symbol of Hanoi and a pride of every Hanoians.

Many years ago, this lake used to be a part of the Red River, one of the biggest rivers in the North of Vietnam. During that time, it was called “Luc Thuy River” which means “the river with green water” because the water in this lake was green all year round.

In the 15th century, the lake was renamed “Hoan Kiem Lake” which means the “Returned Sword Lake”.  This name was associated with a legend of a Vietnamese King, Le Thai To. At that time, Vietnamese people were struggling to fight against the invasion of the Chinese enemy. After many battles that the Vietnamese army failed to defeat the Chinese, the King of Vietnam, Le Thai To was very nervous and disappointed. One day, he was sailing on Luc Thuy Lake, a turtle rose up from the water and gave him a sword. Since having that sword, the King led the Vietnamese army fighting against our enemy and won. After defeating the enemy, on a nice day, while the King was sailing on a boat on the Lake, the turtle appeared against, came toward him, grabbed the sword with his mouth and submerged. The King realized that the Golden Turtle God had lent him the sword to drive back the enemy, and when the nation was in peace, he must return it. Hence, King Le Thai To renamed the lake Hoan Kiem Lake or Lake of the Returned Sword to memorize the Turtle God.

There is a small island on the lake. Local people sometimes saw the giant turtle lying and on this island for sunbathing. Then a tower was built there, and people called it Turtle Tower. The tower has appeared in many paintings and songs about Hanoi. The sacred image of Turtle Tower and its reflection standing in the middle of Hoan Kiem Lake have so far become a symbol of Hanoi.

2. Hoa Phong Tower – The tower used to be near Ngoc Son Temple

Hoa Phong Tower is located on the shore of Hoan Kiem Lake, on Dinh Tien Hoang Street, opposite the Central Post Office, and about 600 meters from Ngoc Son Temple, Hanoi, Vietnam.

Hoa Phong Tower is the remain of a very holy pagoda of Hanoi, Bao An Pagoda. People started to build Bao An Pagoda in 1842 in the large area of nearly 360,000 m2, and it was completed four years later, in 1846. At that time, Bao An Pagoda had its front faced the Red River and its back based on Hoan Kiem Lake. Hoa Phong Tower used to stand in front of Bao An Temple. In 1882, after the French occupied Hanoi, they pulled down Bao An Pagoda to build the Central Post Office. Only Hoa Phong Temple remains until now.

“Hoa Phong” means “favorable winds”. This tower was built in the square shape with four windows looking into four directions. The bricks used to build Hoa Phong Tower were produced in Bat Trang Ceramics Village, the most famous ceramics village of Vietnam. For over 200 years of standing on the bank of Hoan Kiem Lake, Hoa Phong Tower has witnessed the up and down of Hanoi from war to peace. It is an indispensable part of Hoan Kiem Lake. You will certainly meet Hoa Phong Tower when walking around Hoan Kiem Lake from Ngoc Son Temple, Hanoi, Vietnam.

3. Ly Thai To Garden – The playground near Ngoc Son Temple

Ly Thai To Garden is located on Dinh Tien Hoang Street, on the bank of Hoan Kiem Lake, and about 1 kilometer from Ngoc Son Temple, Hanoi, Vietnam.

The garden had been existing for a long time before the statue of Ly Thai To King was made in the center of it. Ly Thai To was the first emperor of the Ly Dynasty, one of the most prosperous dynasties of Vietnam. It was he that moved the capital city of Vietnam to Hanoi in 1010. At that time, Hanoi was called “Thang Long” which means “the flying dragon”. 

In 2003, the Hanoi Department of Culture and Information held a contest for designing the statue of Ly Thai To King. The winner of the contest was the person who designed this statue. With the weight of 34,000 kilograms, this is the biggest bronze statue of Vietnam. This is the cultural work dedicated to commemorating Ly Thai To King, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Hanoi’s Liberation Day, and welcoming the 1000th anniversary of Thang Long – Hanoi Citadel (1010-2010).

Nowadays, there is a spacious ground around the statue of King Ly Thai To. Local people often go there for doing exercises or playing sports. This is also the place where many important events happen during the year.

IV. Things To Do Around Ngoc Son Temple

1. Experiencing Hoan Kiem Walking Street

Hoan Kiem Walking Street was officially introduced in 2016. It happens every week from 19:00 on Friday to 00:00 on Sunday. This walking street consists of streets around Hoan Kiem Lake and some other streets which are immediate. Hoan Kiem Walking Street is the largest pedestrian street in Hanoi. Many local people and international visitors go there on the weekends to chill out and get exposed to Vietnamese culture.

As all vehicles are not allowed to get in the area of Hoan Kiem Walking Street, you have to park your motorbike or car outside. In order to serve the needs of people visiting the walking street, the People’s Committee of Hanoi has arranged 78 parking spots with a total area of 17,380 m2 and the total capacity of thousands of vehicles at the same time. You can find parking spots on Hai Ba Trung Street, Ly Thai To Street, Ngo Quyen Street, Quang Trung Street, and Le Phung Hieu Street.

On this walking street, tourists can join in Vietnamese traditional games such as dragon – snake, mandarin square capturing, blind man’s buff, and bag jumping which always remind Vietnamese people of their childhood. Besides, Vietnamese traditional songs and dances are often performed here. International tourists can not just enjoy the performances but also join in with Vietnamese people. Along the street, there are many kiosks selling street food, souvenirs, and Vietnamese handicrafts at reasonable prices. Walking around, you will see many street artists by whom you can have your portrait drawn within a few minutes. It is really interesting that most of these activities are free. Hoan Kiem Walking Street really promotes Vietnamese culture as locals and foreigners come together in a Vietnamese cultural space.

2. Watching water puppet shows – The Vietnamese traditional performances near Ngoc Son Temple

Water puppetry is a traditional art of Vietnamese people dating back to the 11th century. Puppet shows are popular in the world, but puppet shows on the water only exist in Vietnam. It is said that not being at a water puppet show means not coming to Vietnam yet. In a water puppet show, the stage is the water. The puppets which were made from light wood are controlled by artists hiding behind the bamboo screen.

In the past, water puppet shows usually served for the King’s events, national festivals, and important ceremonies of villages. Water puppet shows usually describe Vietnamese legends and Vietnamese people’s daily life, so truly reflect their thoughts, emotions, and customs. Now, it is not that popular anymore. It has become a traditional art which is performed mostly in the theatre. There are many theaters in Hanoi where you can enjoy Vietnamese traditional water puppetry including Thang Long Water Puppet Theater, The Vietnam National Puppetry Theatre, and the Lotus Water Puppet Theatre. Of all these theaters, Thang Long Water Puppet Theater is the nearest one from Ngoc Son Temple, Hanoi, Vietnam.

3. Getting in a Hanoi unique cafe with the extraordinary view of Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple

a. Dinh Cafe – The destination of coffee lovers near Ngoc Son Temple

Highlights: old and traditional atmosphere, good egg coffee, cheap price

Location: No. 13 Dinh Tien Hoang Street (on the 2nd floor), 300 meters from Ngoc Son Temple, Hanoi, Vietnam

Opening hours: daily from 07:00 to 22:30

Price: VND from 15,000 to VND 70,000

Tel: (+84) 243 824 2960

b. Hanoi Time – The cafe looking directly to Ngoc Son Temple

Highlights: great view to Ngoc Son Temple, reasonable price

Location: No. 39 Dinh Tien Hoang Street, 200 meters from Ngoc Son Temple, Hanoi, Vietnam

Opening hours: daily from 08:00 to 23:00

Price: from VND 20,000 to VND 50,000

c. Highland Coffee – The coffee shop with an extraordinary view of Ngoc Son Temple

Highlights: good view and space, reasonable price

Location: No. 1-3-5-7 Dinh Tien Hoang Street, about 350 meters from Ngoc Son Temple, Hanoi, Vietnam

Opening hours: daily from 07:00 to 23:00

Price: from VND 10,000 to VND 65,000

Tel: (+84) 243 9 363 228

d. Avalon Cafe and Lounge – The modern coffee shop with a good view of Ngoc Son Temple

Highlights: Western-style, terrace with the broad view of Hoan Kiem Walking Street and Ngoc Son Temple

Location: No. 73 Cau Go Street, 350 meters from Ngoc Son Temple, Hanoi, Vietnam

Opening hours: daily from 07:00 to 23:00

Price: from VND 40,000 to VND 165,000

Tel: (+84) 243 926 0801

VI. What To Buy As Gifts When Traveling To Ngoc Son Temple?

When traveling to another country, we always look for some special souvenirs either to give to our friends and family or to memorize our trip. As Ngoc Son Temple is a cultural and historical site of Hanoi, you can get unique and truly Vietnamese souvenirs from here. The following are souvenirs you can buy near Ngoc Son Temple.

1. Silk Goods on Vietnamese Silk Street

Hang Gai Street has been well-known for Vietnamese high-quality, fashionable, and traditional silk and silk goods, especially “Ao Dai” – the traditional dress of Vietnam. The Street is about 300 meters long and is located about 1.5 kilometers from Ngoc Son Temple, Hanoi, Vietnam. Almost shops here open from 9:00 to 23:00 every day. There are professional tailors in the shops willing to make your outfits. However, in case you don’t have enough time to wait for the tailors, and you look for ready-to-wear clothes, the following two shops are recommended for you.

Khai Silk Boutique Hanoi

Location: No. 113 Hang Gai Street, 1.4 kilometers from Ngoc Son Temple, Hanoi, Vietnam.

Opening hours: daily from 9:00 to 22:00

Tel: (+84) 243 928 9883

Tan My Design

Location: No. 61-63 Hang Gai Street, 500 meters from Ngoc Son Temple, Hanoi, Vietnam

Opening hours: daily from 09:00 to 22:00

Tel: (+84) 243 938 1154

2. Handicrafts – Vietnamese handmade products

Vietnamese produce various kinds of handicrafts including water puppets, embroideries, and traditional musical instruments. The following are places and handicraft shops recommended for you.

The Thang Long Water Puppet Theater

Highlights: Vietnamese water puppets

Location: No. 57B Dinh Tien Hoang Street, 200 meters from Hanoi Old Quarter, and about 100 meters from Ngoc Son Temple, Hanoi, Vietnam

Tel: (+84) 243 824 9494

The Hanoi Gallery

Highlights: Vietnamese paintings, Vietnamese traditional musical instruments

Location: No. 17 Nha Chung Street, 1.5 kilometers from Ngoc Son Temple, Hanoi, Vietnam

Tel: (+84) 243 928 7943

May Shop

Highlights: handmade pillowcases, tablecloths, and placemats

Location: No 7 Nha Tho Street, 1.2 kilometers from Ngoc Son Temple, Hanoi, Vietnam

Tel: (+84) 904 109 566

Tan My Shop

Highlights: high-quality embroideries

Location: No. 66 Hang Gai Street, 1.5 kilometers from Ngoc Son Temple

Tel: (+84) 243 825 1579

3. Dry fruits – The specialty of Hanoi near Ngoc Son Temple, Hanoi, Vietnam

Dry fruits are the idyllic traditional food of Hanoi. It is the favorite food of both local people and international visitors. There are two kinds of idyllic fruits including salted and sugared ones. Idyllic fruits are one of the best-seller souvenirs of Hanoi. The following are traditional idyllic fruits in Hanoi.

Hong Lam Shop

Location: No. 11 Hang Duong Street, 2 kilometers from Ngoc Son Temple, Hanoi, Vietnam

Opening hours: daily from 9:00 to 22:00

Tel: (+84) 243 928 1838

Toan Thinh Shop

Location: No. 15 Hang Duong, 2 kilometers from Ngoc Son Temple, Hanoi, Vietnam

Opening hours: daily from 8:00 to 22:30

Tel: (+84) 243 828 3496