Temple of Literature

Location: Temple of Literature is located on Van Mieu Street, about 2km in the west of Hoan Kiem Lake.

 
Characteristic: Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam is a famous historical and cultural relic consisting of the Temple of Literature and Vietnam's first University. The Temple of Literature was built in 1070 in honor of Confucius, his followers and Chu Van An, a moral figure in Vietnamese education.

Quoc Tu Giam, or Vietnam's first university, was built in 1076. Throughout its hundreds of years of activity in the feudal, thousands of Vietnamese scholars graduated from this university.

Ngoc Son Temple

Location:  Ngoc Son Temple is located on Hoan Kiem Lake, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi.

Characteristic: Hoan Kiem Lake was already considered the most beautiful lake in Hanoi where Ngoc Son Temple was built in the 19th century. Initially, the temple was called Ngoc Son Pagoda and was later renamed Ngoc Son Temple, since temples were dedicated to saints.

Saint Van Xuong who was considered to be one of the brightest stars in Vietnam's literary and intellectual circles was worshipped there. National Hero Tran Hung Dao is also worshipped after he led the Vietnamese people to victory over the Yuan aggressors.

The temple as it is today is the result of renovations made by Nguyen Van Sieu in 1864. A Confucian scholar, Nguyen Van Sieu had a large pen-shaped tower built at the entrance of the temple. On the upper section of the tower, also called Thap But, are three Chinese characters: Ta Thanh Thien, which literally means "to write on the blue sky” is to imply the height of a genuine and righteous person's determination and will; Dai Nghien, meaning "ink stand", is carved from stone resembling a peach placed on the back of the three frogs on top of the gate to the temple; and The Huc, meaning “where rays of morning sunshine touch”.

 
On the way to the temple there are several parallel sentences (cau doi), written on the walls. These “cau doi” were part of traditional word puzzles played by educated individuals.

Quan Thanh Temple

Location: Quan Thanh Temple is situated in Quan Thanh Ward, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi.

Characteristic: Quan Thanh Temple is one of the Four Guards of Old Thang Long. Quan Thanh Temple is an important historical and cultural relic, on a large and beautiful area by West Lake near the northern gate of old Thang Long Capital.

It was built during the reign of King Ly Thai To (1010-1028). The temple was dedicated to Huyen Thien Tran Vo or the God who guarded and administered the north of the country. That is why it is also known as the Tran Vo Temple or the Temple of Quan Thanh Tran Vo.

The existing constructions originate from the last renovations that were made in the 19th century; these renovations included the triple gate, the yard, the front and central worshipping chambers, and the shrine. A bronze statue, nearly 4m in height and 4 tons in weight, was cast in 1677 and dedicated to the Saint Huyen Thien Tran Vo.

Tran Quoc Pagoda

Location: Tran Quoc Pagoda is located on an islet of West Lake in Hanoi.

Characteristic: Tran Quoc Pagoda is one of the oldest pagodas in Vietnam and a cultural symbol of Vietnamese Buddhism. As a religious relic among spectacle ­scenery, Tran Quoc Pagoda is a favorite stop-over of many foreign visitors and pilgrims.

One-Pillar Pagoda

Location: One-Pillar Pagoda is on Chua Mot Cot Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi.

Characteristic: The One-Pillar Pagoda is a cultural and historic relic, one of the attractive tourist spots in Hanoi with its unique architectural features.

Kim Lien Pagoda

Location: Kim Lien Pagoda is located in Quang An Village, Tay Ho District, Hanoi.

Characteristic: Kim Lien Pagoda was originally built on Nghi Tam Peninsula, on the bank of West Lake.

The pagoda was part of the former Tu Hoa Palace of the Ly Dynasty. Princess Tu Hoa is daughter of King Ly Than Tong. He ordered to build Tu Hoa Palace then sent his daughter and her imperial maids to this area to help them understand and venerate their position in the society.

Formerly, it was Dong Long Pagoda and built in the 13th century. In 1771, the pagoda was renovated and changed its name to Kim Lien, which has been used since then.

 
Kim Lien is composed of three pavilions, each of which has 2 roof layers and the appearance of being slightly curved and supple. Apart from its nice disposition, the pagoda has a gate of sophisticated and intricate architecture.

Ly Quoc Su Pagoda

Location: Ly Quoc Su Pagoda is at 50 Ly Quoc Su Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi.

Characteristic: Ly Quoc Su Pagoda worships a Buddhist Monk of the Ly Dynasty (the 10th - 12th centuries). This Monk, whose full name was Nguyen Chi Thanh, was born on 1066 in Dien Xa Village, Gia Vien District in Ninh Binh Province in the reign of King Ly Thanh Tong.

(Source: vietnamtourism.com)