One Pillar Pagoda (Chua Mot Cot)
Attraction Chua Mot Cot Street | Ba Dinh District, Hanoi, Vietnam Published on: 26-04-2017
1 hour | |
06:00 AM - 06:00 PM | |
09:00 AM | |
10:30 AM | |
First-time visit | |
Attraction
Must see
Kids
Free
Architecture
Temple & Monument
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|
0.00 USD |
One Pillar Pagoda (Chua Mot Cot) is good for





- Highly recommended by fellow travellers.
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Why One Pillar Pagoda (Chua Mot Cot) is special ?
Rivaling Cot Co as one of Hanoi’s most prominent icons, the Chua Mot Cot or the One Pillar Pagoda was constructed by Emperor Ly Thai Tong in AD 1049. Situated within the tiny Dien Huu Pagoda, also dating from the 11th century, this wooden pagoda was built, as the name suggests, on a single stone pillar, standing in an elegant lotus pond. According to legend, the king, who had no son, had a dream in which he was visited by Quan Am, Goddess of Mercy. She was sitting on a lotus flower and presented him with a baby boy. Soon after, Ly Thai Tong married a new young queen who bore him a son. To show his gratitude the emperor ordered the construction of a single-pillared pagoda representing a lotus flower. Over the centuries, One Pillar Pagoda has been damaged and reconstructed on numerous occasions.However, none of these acts of destruction is harder to fathom than its burning by the French in 1954.
What to explore at One Pillar Pagoda (Chua Mot Cot)?
After being repaired many times, the pagoda was destroyed by the French colonists in 1954. In 1955, the government has the pagoda rebuilt. The present wood pagoda is in the shape of square with each side of 3m and a curved roof. It was designed to resemble a lotus stretching up out of the square pond and placed on a big stone pillar including two blocks which are connected together skillfully. This stone pillar is approximately 4m high (excluding the underground section) and 1.2m in diameter. The pagoda’s structure also shows the harmonious combination of imagination and unique architecture with a system of wood beams that create the solidity and beauty for the pagoda.
How to get to One Pillar Pagoda (Chua Mot Cot)?
The pagoda is situated next to Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, right in the center of Hanoi. You can go there by taxi or walking about 5 minutes from the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.
Selling points
- Beautiful architecture
- One pagoda, lots of construction
- Worth a quick visit
- Small pagoda outside of Ho Chi Minh memorial
- Interesting story and nice to see it
Location
Chua Mot Cot Street | Ba Dinh District, Hanoi, Vietnam
Tips for you
Reviews
You can visit the pagoda mausoleum & museum in 1 visit as it is in the same compound. This pagoda is famous for people who wish for a baby boy, they'd come put their offerings & touch the stone lotus.
One Pillar Pagoda is one part of Hochiminh Complex. When you enter this complex, you can visit Hochiminh Mausoleum, Hochiminh's House, One Pillar Pagoda, Hochiminh Museum...
I wouldn't make a special trip to visit this, but as it's right next to the museum you may as well.It's important to note for historical purposes that this is actually a reproduction of the original, as the French destroyed the original. It's therefore not as old as you may think.As a visitor in a wheelchair I found that ground access was surprisingly good, and flat, if a little rickety with the cobbles. There are steps up to the pagoda, (as usual), but as it's so small, probably not worth the effort to go up.It's a really busy site here, with hundreds of Vietnamese queuing to go up the steps.
It was a nice place to take pictures. But only for 5 minutes or so, because there is nothing else besides the pagoda and the boats on the lake. We sat outside this prayer room but was asked to leave as there was a ceremony or something inside. Like a mass. The way we were asked to leave was not very nice and friendly.
A small wooden structure on top of concrete stairs and a small pond. That's it. This place isn't that interesting, but the large number of people selling drinks, food, and touristy knick-knacks might try and convince you otherwise. It is right next to the HoChiMin Musuem.
One pillar pagoda (Chua Mot Cot) in Hanoi 1 of the most meaningful symbols for Buddhism. Built in the shape of a lotus flower, representing the purity, its unique architecture makes is reputation. I came here one day when I was taking a city tour with Minmax travel in Hanoi. I found it very interesting with lots of old ladies praying.
You can visit the pagoda mausoleum & museum in 1 visit as it is in the same compound. This pagoda is famous for people who wish for a baby boy, they'd come put their offerings & touch the stone lotus.
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