Top 10 Most Beautiful Temples in Vietnam

One Pillar Pagoda or Mat Pagoda, also known as Dien Huu Tu or Lotus Tower, features a unique architectural structure with a square design resting on a stone pillar. It is an architectural marvel that makes the temple one of the most attractive tourist spots in Hanoi. The temple stands out on the lake thanks to a system of wooden bars forming a sturdy support structure, resembling a lotus flower rising straight from the lake. Dien Huu Temple began construction in October (lunar calendar), 1049, under the reign of King Ly Thai Tong. In 1105, King Ly Nhan Tong renovated and expanded the temple to become a vast architectural complex corresponding to Linh Chieu Lake, adding a gold-plated lotus tower on top of the pillar. Inside the lotus tower is a purple-painted shrine with an image of a celestial bird on the roof. There is a gold-plated statue of Buddha Quan The Am inside.

Over the years, One Pillar Pagoda has undergone multiple renovations and restorations through the Tran, Later Le, and Nguyen dynasties. The current One Pillar Pagoda is only a part of the former Dien Huu Temple architectural complex. The temple still retains the structure of the square Lotus Tower made of wood, each side measuring 3 meters long, with four curved roofs covering it, featuring a lunar-shaped Double Dragon on top. The column pillars consist of two blocks with a diameter of 1.2 meters and a height of 4 meters (excluding the part buried in the ground). The entrance to the temple is a small staircase made of bricks. On the column pillars is a system of wooden bars forming a sturdy support structure for the temple, resembling a lotus flower rising straight from the lake. This architecture is the unique feature of One Pillar Pagoda.

Ha Pagoda, also known as Thanh Duc Pagoda, along with Boi Ha Communal House, forms a cultural complex located in the land that used to be Dinh Vong village, Tu Liem district, now part of Chua Ha street, Trung hamlet, Dich Vong ward, Cau Giay district, Hanoi. Ha Pagoda is a cultural address of the capital city, showcasing historical and spiritual values hidden within its simple yet profound architectural structure. In 1982, the pagoda was recognized as a 'Revolutionary Relic.' Today, when visiting Ha Pagoda, we encounter an architectural structure built in a spacious area, nestled under the ancient trees' canopies.

The architectural structures of Ha Pagoda are planned to be concentrated in a spacious and airy space. On the outermost layer is a two-story Tam Quan gate with a staircase on the left side. The upper floor is built in a stacked matchbox style, with a sun-shaped relief in the middle of the roof, flanked by two dragon-shaped sculptures with coiled tails, holding the edge of the roof. The lower floor is divided into three sections, with 12 columns built on the wall's surface. The Tam Quan gate has three arched doors, with the middle door wider. The second floor of Tam Quan hangs a bronze bell of Thanh Duc Pagoda with the common name Canh Thinh year 7 (1799), a Tây Sơn period relic that is still intact. The bell is 1.2 meters high, with a base circumference of 1.8 meters, finely cast, and the upper part has four bell inscriptions, while the lower part is carved with the Four Supernatural Creatures: Dragon, Unicorn, Turtle, and Phoenix, which are stylized and lively. Above are two buffalo heads looking in opposite directions, with four legs firmly attached to the bell.

Huong Pagoda is a tourist destination that attracts a massive number of visitors during the festival season, taking place from January to March in the lunar calendar. Huong Pagoda is a famous sightseeing spot in the North, located from the foot of Huong Tich mountain to the mountain's peak. The journey to the land of Buddhism, where Bodhisattva Quan The Am manifests her practice, is an opportunity to offer prayers for peace, blessings, and simply immerse in a region of mountainous natural beauty. With its ancient and venerable beauty, Huong Pagoda enhances its sacredness, becoming a prayerful gathering point for people at the beginning of each year.

Thien Tru Pagoda within the Huong Pagoda complex is built on a rectangular piece of land extending from the sloping courtyard to the wall separating the flat land and Mount Sau Chua. The architectural style of Thien Tru is called 'Five gates, three levels,' meaning five doors and three levels. Beyond the gate is the courtyard. On both sides of the courtyard are two rows of houses serving as resting places for visitors during the festival. Beyond the courtyard is the first terrace - also a courtyard. In front of this terrace is a 3m high bronze peak used for burning incense. It can be said that Thien Tru Pagoda is a cultural and artistic architectural work of the Le - Nguyen period. The arrangement is very harmonious: three towers, front hall, ancestral hall, mother's hall, guest house, warehouses, etc., providing all the living facilities for hundreds of people staying overnight for the Buddha's festival. This is a famous temple in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Currently, with its magnificent architectural complex, especially the efforts of the late Most Venerable Thich Vien Thanh and Venerable Thich Minh Hien - who is currently the abbot of Huong Pagoda. Thien Tru Pagoda has become the center of Huong Son's scenic beauty.

Thien Mu Pagoda is considered the most beautiful ancient pagoda in Hue. Thien Mu Pagoda, also known as Linh Mu Pagoda, is located on Ha Khe hill, on the left bank of the Perfume River, about 5km west of the city center of Hue. Thien Mu Pagoda was officially established in the Year of the Buffalo (1601), during the reign of Lord Nguyen Hoang - the first Lord of the Nguyen dynasty in the Central region. With its natural beauty and expansive scale established since then, Thien Mu Pagoda has become the most beautiful pagoda in the Central region.

Through many historical upheavals, Thien Mu Pagoda has served as the Earth Sacrifice stage under the Tay Son dynasty. Thien Mu Pagoda is not just a spiritual place but also a picturesque site, once ranked by kings as one of the scenic beauties of Hue. Standing by the temple's fence, looking upstream, the Perfume River appears majestic yet inherently poetic. The water divided by Hen Islet then converges, flowing gently in front of the temple gate. In summary, if you visit Hue and miss Thien Mu Pagoda, it would be a regrettable omission.

The architecture of Bai Dinh Pagoda stands out with massive, grandiose structures bearing the distinctive mark of Vietnamese architecture, using various local materials such as Ninh Binh's green stone, carved wood, and Bat Trang ceramic tiles. The most distinctive feature of Bai Dinh Pagoda's architecture is the dark brown curved roof resembling a phoenix tail. The intricate architectural details bear the strong imprint of traditional renowned craft villages in Vietnam.

Bai Dinh Pagoda, during its construction, was referred to as a 'grand construction site' with 500 artisans from many famous craft villages such as Phu Loc carpentry, Ninh Van stone carving, Cat Dang lacquer, Y Yen bronze casting, Nam Dinh, Van Lam lace embroidery, and more. Through the hands of these artisans, Bai Dinh Pagoda embodies the pure Vietnamese essence. Located to the west of the ancient capital Hoa Lu, Bai Dinh Pagoda is recognized as a national heritage site. This extensive project includes various sections, main architectural structures: Tam The Hall, Phap Chu Hall, Quan Am Hall, Bao Thap Stupa, Bell Tower, and various infrastructure, auxiliary facilities, and the Buddhist academy area, reception area, etc., built in different phases.

Nestled peacefully by the beautiful West Lake in Hanoi is an ancient pagoda with a thousand years of history, named Tran Quoc. Tran Quoc Pagoda is not only renowned as the most sacred place in Hanoi but also earns praise for its unique architecture, leaving tourists in awe. Despite more than a millennium of history and several renovations, Tran Quoc Pagoda still retains the ancient architectural features of a unique and massive tower pagoda complex amidst West Lake.

The entrance of Tran Quoc Pagoda is built skewed to one side, blending with the gracefully curved path leading to the pagoda. Passing through the gate, visitors only need to follow the single red brick path to reach the internal architectural structures, including the main hall in the center facing west. The corridor extends further with the incense house and upper sanctuary, followed by the bell tower. A distinctive feature of Tran Quoc Pagoda is the ancient tower garden behind the pagoda with numerous ancient towers dating back to the 18th century. The most prominent one is perhaps the 11-story lotus-shaped tower, 15 meters high, built in 1998.

Each floor of the tower has 6 windows, each with a statue of Amitabha Buddha made of precious stones. On the top of the tower is the Nine-Story Lotus Tower (9-story pagoda) made of stone. From a distance, Tran Quoc Pagoda and its tower complex seem to harmonize with the surrounding trees, water, and West Lake, creating a serene and elegant meditation place. Despite undergoing several renovations that altered the original appearance of Tran Quoc Pagoda, with its thousand-year historical value, this pagoda remains a sacred place that any visitor to the capital wants to revisit. Recently, Tran Quoc Pagoda was honored to be voted by Thrillist into the list of the most beautiful temples, shrines, palaces, and towers with beautiful landscapes and architecture in the world.

This pagoda is situated on the slopes of Son Tra Mountain, resembling a turtle shape. Standing here, you can easily admire the beauty of the clear blue sky and enjoy the refreshing sea breeze. Linh Ung Pagoda is a complex with various sections, including the ancestral house, monks' residences and library, main hall, lecture hall, and more. The pagoda is built in a modern style combined with the traditional features of Vietnamese temples. The curved tile roof is shaped like a dragon, and the sturdy columns are intricately carved to form graceful and artistic dragon figures.

With its opulent beauty and widespread reputation throughout the country, Linh Ung Pagoda always arouses curiosity and a desire for visitors to come and admire the beauty of the most sacred pagoda in the coastal city of Da Nang. It can be said that Linh Ung Pagoda is built within a newly formed tourist area of the city - the Son Tra Peninsula tourist area, at the most advantageous location in this area. The pagoda has become a place of worship, activities, and learning for monks and Buddhists. At the same time, it is also a scenic spot for tourists from all directions, an attractive spiritual tourism destination of Da Nang, where the vitality of the land, sky, and people converge. If you are planning a trip to Da Nang, don't forget to visit Linh Ung Pagoda!

Hoang Phuc Pagoda is an ancient temple dating back to the early 18th century in Quang Binh, Vietnam. This beautifully designed ancient temple, formerly known as Am Tri Kien, later changed to Kinh Thien Pagoda or 'King's Pagoda' (as Emperor Tran Nhan Tong once visited and offered incense during a journey to the central region), or Hoang Phuc Pagoda (renamed by King Minh Mang).

Here, you'll find a bronze bell cast during the reign of King Minh Mang when the temple was officially renamed Hoang Phuc. Therefore, when you visit, you not only witness the scenery of the ancient temple and offer prayers but also have the opportunity to explore and learn more about a historical and religious aspect of your country. Currently, Hoang Phuc Pagoda has been restored, so you'll notice many 'brand new modern' features in the temple grounds. Nevertheless, Hoang Phuc Pagoda remains one of the famous temple destinations in Vietnam and is worth a visit.

From a desolate temple hidden deep in the mountains, Ba Vang Pagoda in Uong Bi City, Quang Ninh, has now become the largest Grand Temple in Vietnam with architectural landscapes deeply rooted in Eastern cultural beliefs. Ba Vang Pagoda, originally named Bao Quang Tu (meaning 'precious light'), was built in the year At Dau (1676). The pagoda is situated on the slopes of Thanh Dang Mountain at an altitude of 340m above sea level. Located to the west of Uong Bi City, it faces the river in front, leans against the mountain in the back, and is surrounded by lush pine forests on both sides. Ba Vang Pagoda follows the feng shui vein originating from Dong Pagoda (Yen Tu), with the lower terrain forming the shape of a majestic dragon on the left and a white tiger on the right.

After four renovations, Ba Vang Pagoda now exhibits the characteristics of Northern temples, comprising three worship halls, one rear palace with altars dedicated to Buddha, Mother Goddess, and Deity Ong. The 'Grand Treasure Temple' boasts the largest scale with a two-story, exquisitely decorated architecture. In the Tam Vang Pagoda, aside from worshiping the Three Jewels, it houses the largest recognized wooden solo drum in Vietnam. The wooden statue system in the pagoda, including statues of the Three Jewels, Quan Am, Mr. Thien, and Mr. Ac, are all over 2m tall. Among them, the statue of Amitabha Buddha is one of the largest wooden Buddha statues in the Northern region.

Adjacent to the main pagoda are structures such as the preaching area, monks' quarters, library, bell tower, all connected and spacious, creating a harmonious architectural style conducive to the passage of monks and worshippers attending Buddhist ceremonies. The Grand Treasure Temple resembles a colossal throne, its back facing North, situated at the highest peak. On both sides, there are two gradually diminishing peaks symbolizing the two arms of the throne: The left arm faces East - Azure Dragon (Internal Tăng), and the right arm faces West - White Tiger (Internal Ni).

Big Buddha Pagoda, officially known as Big Buddha Meditation Pagoda, is a beautiful and uniquely designed temple in Vietnam. It is currently situated on Cam Mountain, An Hao commune, Tinh Bien district, An Giang province, Vietnam. Big Buddha Pagoda was built in 1912 on a spacious piece of land along the slope near the mountain peak (at an altitude of 526 meters above sea level). The name 'Big Buddha' originates from a 1.8m tall Buddha statue inside the temple, which, at that time, was larger than other statues in the region. It was named so to distinguish it from the nearby Small Buddha Pagoda, also on this mountain. After Mr. Bay Do (Cao Van Long), the first person who built and resided in the temple, was arrested by the French colonialists, the pagoda became desolate. It wasn't until 1914 when the former village chief of An Khanh came to Cam Mountain and saw the dilapidated state of the temple that he went to Linh Son Pagoda (Saigon) to seek permission from Co Mi Chan (Vice Chairman of the Nam Ky Research Association of Buddhism) to rebuild the temple.

Despite various attempts, the authorities did not approve, and Mr. Chan advised Mr. Lau to daringly construct a large leaf canopy to shield the Buddha statue from rain and sunlight. Someone reported this to the Chau Doc Provincial Chairman, Mr. Lau was interrogated, and Mr. Co Mi Chan received a province's letter demanding the demolition of the canopy. However, Mr. Co Mi Chan replied in writing that, according to Annam customs, it was impossible to let the Buddha sit in the open air, enduring rain and sun like that… The provincial chairman sent another letter, and this time, Mr. Co Mi Chan responded: The canopy has been built; I am a Buddhist, fearing to commit a sin, I dare not dismantle it… Thanks to this standoff, the canopy was not dismantled, and the Buddha statue has been well-preserved to this day. Currently, Big Buddha Pagoda has been restored on the original foundation and expanded to an area of 13.6 hectares, including the main hall, bell tower, guesthouse area, and utilities for worship and pilgrims.