Tran Quoc Pagoda is considered the oldest pagoda in Hanoi: its foundation goes back to the 6th century (the time of King Ly Nam De, 544-548) on the banks of the Red River, before it was moved in 1615 to a small peninsula on West Lake. It is recognisable by its tall eleven-storey stupa tower rising at the water's edge. Entry is free; the visit takes 30 to 45 minutes. Published hours vary between guides (see below), but access is open and all that is needed is proper dress. It can be visited with Quan Thanh Temple and the circuit of West Lake.
Highlights
The eleven-storey tower
This red-brick stupa with diminishing levels, decorated with Buddha statues in niches, is the pagoda's emblem and one of the symbols of West Lake. It can be photographed from the access road.
The garden and trees
In the courtyard, bonsai, old stelae and a Bodhi tree, a cutting brought from the sacred fig of Bodh Gaya in India, where the Buddha reached enlightenment. Visitors hang wishes on its branches.
The main hall
Gilded altars, Buddha statues and incense create a quiet atmosphere. Keep a low profile and do not photograph worshippers at prayer.
The peninsula
The pagoda juts into the lake: from the causeway, the view over the water and, in the evening, of the lit tower is one of the finest in Hanoi.
Practical info
Tips
- Entry is free (donation), according to several guides consulted in October 2026. Hours differ from one guide to another: some give 8:00-16:00 normally, others 7:30-11:30 and 13:30-18:30, another longer hours on the 1st and 15th day of the lunar calendar. One guide reports a closure between 11:30 and 13:30. So come in the morning or mid-afternoon, and check on site. Proper dress required: no shorts, miniskirts or tank tops.
How to get there
Thanh Nien street, Tay Ho district, on the causeway between West Lake and Truc Bach Lake, Hanoi. By Grab or taxi, 15 to 20 minutes from the Old Quarter; on foot from Quan Thanh Temple, about 1.5 km along Thanh Nien street.
Opening hours
Our guides that feature it
Nearby
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