One Pillar Pagoda in Hanoi: history, opening hours and quick visit
The One Pillar Pagoda (Chua Mot Cot, also called Dien Huu) is a small wooden shrine set on a single stone pillar in the middle of a lotus pond, near the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. According to tradition it was founded in 1049 under Emperor Ly Thai Tong, who dreamed that the goddess Quan Am handed him a child from a lotus flower; it was damaged when the French left in 1954 and restored the following year. The visit is short: 10 to 15 minutes is enough. Access is free according to most sources, but some mention a 25,000 VND ticket for foreigners: bring small change. See also: the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the stilt house and the Temple of Literature.
Highlights
The pavilion on its pillar
A small two-tier wooden roof set on a pillar in the middle of a pond evokes a lotus flower rising from the water. A narrow staircase leads up; the inside is not open to visitors and is seen from the threshold.
The lotus pond
The pond surrounds the pavilion; the lotus bloom in summer, mostly from May to August. The best photo is taken from the side, from the bank, with the pavilion and its reflection.
The offerings
Worshippers come to leave flowers and incense; the pagoda remains a place of worship. Speak quietly and dress modestly.
The garden around it
The pavilion is surrounded by a small garden. A few steps away, the Ho Chi Minh Museum (paid) occupies the same area as the pagoda.
Practical info
Tips
- The pagoda is small and can be very busy in late morning: a photo without crowds means arriving early. No guided tour is needed; most city tours combine it with the mausoleum and the stilt house. Hours vary by source: 8am to 5pm daily, or 7am to 6pm; they may follow the mausoleum complex, so check before you come. The "guides" at the gate often ask for money in exchange for their explanations: you can decline.
How to get there
Chua Mot Cot Street, Ba Dinh district, Hanoi, next to the Ho Chi Minh Museum and a few minutes' walk from the mausoleum. About 2 to 3 km from the Old Quarter: 15 to 20 minutes by Grab, or about 30 to 45 minutes on foot.
Opening hours
Nearby
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