Tran Quoc Pagoda

Tran Quoc Pagoda stands on a small islet on Thanh Nien Road in the Yen Phu ward of Tay Ho, on the causeway between West Lake and Truc Bach Lake in Hanoi, Vietnam. Founded in the 6th century under Emperor Ly Nam De on the bank of the Red River, it was moved to its present islet in 1615 after erosion threatened the original site, and it is generally regarded as the oldest pagoda in Hanoi. A short causeway links it to the road, and the lake surrounds it on three sides.

The most photographed element is the hexagonal stupa of 1998, eleven storeys tall with a seated Amitabha Buddha in each niche, which rises above the other buildings and is visible across the lake. The complex also includes a series of halls with gilded Buddha statues, incense burners, red lacquered altars and stone stelae recording the pagoda's history. In the courtyard, a bodhi tree grew from a cutting of the tree at Bodh Gaya, presented by the Indian president in 1959. Small shrines and monks' quarters surround the halls, and visitors can walk among the stupas in the garden.

The visit takes 30 to 40 minutes. The best time is late afternoon, when the stupa is backlit over West Lake, and visitors often photograph the pagoda from the lakeshore path on either side of the causeway. Mornings are quieter, while mid-morning and weekends bring tour groups. The pagoda is open daily 07:30 to 17:30, until 18:00 on the 1st and 15th of the lunar month when worshippers arrive in larger numbers. Admission is free, and donations are accepted.

The site is an active place of worship, so covered shoulders and knees are expected, voices should be kept low, and shoes may need to be removed at halls. Visitors should not point their feet at altars or touch monks. The pagoda is close to Quan Thanh Temple, about five minutes on foot along Thanh Nien Road, and the two are often visited together. Buses 33, 50 and 55 stop on Thanh Nien Road.