Van Nien Pagoda: A sacred ancient temple over 1000 years old in the middle of Hanoi

Van Nien Pagoda, located on the West Lake, is one of the most ancient and sacred pagodas in Hanoi. Built in the 11th century under the Ly Dynasty, the pagoda has gone through more than a millennium associated with the development history of Thang Long - Dong Do - Hanoi. Not only does it have profound spiritual value, the pagoda is also a unique architectural work, preserving many precious relics and rare monolithic jade Buddha statues. This is a destination not to be missed in the journey to explore the cultural and religious space of Hanoi people.

1. Where is Van Nien Pagoda?

Van Nien Pagoda is located in Xuan La Ward, Tay Ho District, Hanoi City. This is one of the ancient pagodas with a very beautiful location, right on the shore of West Lake, the surrounding space is quiet, fresh and peaceful. Thanks to its location near the center of the capital, Van Nien Pagoda is an ideal spiritual destination for both Hanoians and visitors from afar.

Van Nien Pagoda is an ideal spiritual destination for visitors from near and far (Source: Internet).

Depending on your starting point, you can choose one of the following means of transportation:

• If you are in Hanoi city center, you can choose to go by taxi, motorbike or bus. Some bus routes pass through the area near the pagoda such as route 13, 33 or 55. From the stop, you can walk a few more minutes to get there.
• From neighboring provinces of Hanoi such as Bac Ninh, Hung Yen, Hai Duong or Vinh Phuc, you can use motorbike, private car or bus to Hanoi.
• From further provinces such as Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City or the Central and Southern provinces, you should choose to travel by plane to save time. After landing at Noi Bai airport, you can take a taxi or motorbike taxi to the West Lake area. The distance from the airport to Van Nien Pagoda is about 25km and takes about 30 to 40 minutes to travel.

2. What is special about Van Nien Pagoda?

Located peacefully on the shore of West Lake, the pagoda not only attracts visitors from all over the world by its peaceful scenery but also by its historical, cultural values and unique architecture.

2.1. The temple is over 1000 years old

Van Nien Pagoda was built in 1014, under the reign of King Ly Thai To, in the Thuan Thien era. According to historical records, Zen master Huu Nhai Tang submitted a petition to establish a ordination platform in this area to gather monks to receive ordination and practice. After receiving the king's approval, the pagoda was officially built and became a major center of Buddhist study at that time.

Throughout its history, the pagoda has been the abbot and place of practice of many famous Zen masters such as Lam Tue Sinh and Ly Thao Duong. With its special values in history, architecture and Buddhist culture, Van Nien Pagoda has been recognized as a national art relic by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism since 1996. This is also an ideal destination for those who want to visit and worship the West Lake temple-pagoda complex, an indispensable part of the thousand-year-old capital.

The thousand-year-old pagoda in Thang Long (Source: Internet).

2.2. It is a large wooden work of art with strong oriental cultural features.

Van Nien Pagoda stands out with its traditional architecture, using wood as the main material and bearing the mark of Eastern culture. Details in the pagoda such as tiled roofs, pillars, rafters are meticulously carved by hand with typical patterns such as the four sacred animals, lotus flowers, dragons and phoenixes.

The temple is built entirely of wood (Source: Internet).

A unique architectural feature is the Tam Quan gate system of the pagoda. The main gate is located on the West Lake bank, while the side gate faces Lac Long Quan Street. Initially, the main gate was built from bricks and mortar, with the three words “Van Nien Tu” embossed on the roof. After many renovations, the main gate was completely rebuilt in wood, matching the design of the side gate. This combination creates a solemn and consistent space, in harmony with the overall pagoda.

2.3. There is a Buddha statue carved from a rare jade block weighing 600kg.

One of the most special highlights of Van Nien Pagoda is the statue of Buddha Sakyamuni carved from a single block of rare jadeite imported from Myanmar. The statue is nearly 1.3m high and weighs about 600kg, and was placed in the main hall of the pagoda in 2010 on the occasion of the 1000th anniversary of Thang Long, Hanoi. With its rare material and profound spiritual value, the statue not only attracts a large number of Buddhists to worship but is also a sacred symbol for the worship space at the pagoda. This is one of the largest and most beautiful jade statues in Hanoi today.

Buddha statue carved from a rare jade block weighing 600kg (Source: Internet).

2.4. Preserving collections of long-standing cultural value

The pagoda currently preserves more than 40 ancient statues, mainly Buddha statues, Mother Goddess statues and Dharma protector statues, elaborately carved in wood and gilded with red lacquer. In addition, the pagoda also has 10 royal decrees from the Le and Tay Son dynasties, along with an ancient bronze bell named "Van Nien Tu Chung" cast during the Gia Long period. These relics contribute to affirming the role of Van Nien Pagoda as a valuable repository of Vietnamese Buddhism.

Preserving collections of long-standing cultural value (Source: Internet).

3. Experience visiting Van Nien Pagoda

Van Nien Pagoda is a sacred and ancient destination in the heart of Hanoi, so to make your trip go smoothly, you should note a few important things below:

• The ideal time is spring from January to April or autumn from September to November. You should go in the morning, when the space is quiet, the light is soft and the air is cool. Avoid going at noon or on rainy days because the temple grounds are mostly open space.
• Clothing should be modest and polite, preferably long pants, short-sleeved or long-sleeved shirts. Do not wear short skirts, shorts, off-the-shoulder shirts or tank tops.
• Maintain a serious attitude and respect the sacred space. Speak softly, avoid joking, walk gently, do not jostle or push, especially in the shrine area.
• Remove shoes when entering the altars according to instructions.
• Do not touch Buddha statues, worship objects or ancient artifacts in the temple without permission.
• If you go on the full moon or the first day of the lunar month, you should come early to avoid crowds.
• You should bring small change to make offerings. Never place money directly on the altar or statue.
• Prepare drinking water, phone or camera to record the beautiful scenery on campus
• Preferably wear soft-soled shoes for easy movement in large areas with many steps.

Van Nien Pagoda is not only a place to express spiritual beliefs but also an everlasting symbol of the Buddhist culture of Thang Long. Over the centuries, the pagoda still retains its ancient and peaceful features. Take the time to visit Van Nien Pagoda to better understand the thousand-year-old Hanoi and the irreplaceable values in the Vietnamese soul.