CO LOA TEMPLE FESTIVAL

CO LOA TEMPLE FESTIVAL

Dong Anh, Hanoi

Co Loa Temple Festival is one of the oldest festivals of Vietnamese culture, and is also the largest festival of Dong Anh land, held at Thuong Temple (Co Loa Temple) - the place to worship King Thuc Phan and those who have contributed to the People.

Legend has it that on the 6th of the first lunar month, King An Duong Vuong entered the palace, and on the 9th of the first lunar month, a military parade was held, so the people of Co Loa citadel took the 6th day as a political festival to commemorate the merits of King An Duong Vuong. In particular, the Co Loa Temple festival also demonstrates its importance to the people of Dong Anh through the saying that is still preserved today "If you die, leave your children and leave your grandchildren, but if you live, you will not leave the 6th of January".

Therefore, every year, after celebrating the traditional Tet, on the 6th day of the Lunar New Year, Dong Anh people enthusiastically organize the Co Loa temple festival to commemorate the merits of King An Duong Vuong - the person who had the merit of merging the tribe. Au Viet - Lac Viet established the first state of our country, the powerful Au Lac nation, expanding its territory to the plains and seas, establishing the capital Co Loa.

King An Duong Vuong reigned for 50 years, including 18 years of building ramparts and citadels and 10 years of fighting foreign invaders.

According to tradition, Co Loa Temple festival will last from January 6 to 16 with many cultural activities and festivals in Co Loa Bat commune, including villages: Co Loa, San Gia, Mach Trang, Dai Bi, Cau Ca, Ngoai Sat, Thu Cuu, Van Thuong.

From 15/02/2024 - 25/02/2024

Discover Hanoi

One Pillar Pagoda

One Pillar Pagoda was started construction in the year Ky Suu 1049, under the reign of King Ly Thai Tong. According to folk legend, in a dream, King Ly Thai Tong dreamed of Guan Yin Buddha sitting on a lotus, radiating light and inviting the king to come with him. When the king woke up from his dream, he immediately told his servant. Monk Thien Tue advised the king to build a pagoda on a stone pillar just like in his dream, making a lotus throne for the Buddha to sit on. In history books, it is recorded that at the current location of the One Pillar Pagoda, there is a stone pillar above which there is a jade pagoda. In the jade pavilion, there is a statue of Guan Yin Buddha that was built in a square lake. The king often came here to chant Buddhist scriptures and pray. Later, the next prince repaired the pagoda and built a pagoda next to it 10 meters to the southwest. This cluster of relics was named Dien Huu Tu with the hope of "long-lasting blessings". In 1105, King Ly Nhan Tong repaired the pagoda and built two white porcelain-roofed towers in front of the yard. In 1108, Nguyen Phi Y Lan ordered someone to cast a large bell and named it "General Enlightenment" with the meaning of awakening the hearts of the world. During the war against the French, the One Pillar Pagoda was mined and destroyed by the French expeditionary force. After taking over the capital, the Ministry of Culture of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam researched and established a major restoration project to rebuild the One Pillar Pagoda exactly like the original architecture. In 1955, Hanoi's One Pillar Pagoda was restored and preserved until now. Next to it, there is still a pagoda with a three-entrance gate with a horizontal panel inscribed with the three words "Dien Huu Tu". In 1962, the One Pillar Pagoda complex in Hanoi was recognized as a National Historical Architectural and Artistic Monument. By 2012, the One Pillar Pagoda was honored by the Asian Records Organization to set the record for "The temple with the most unique architecture in Asia". The original structure of the One Pillar Pagoda is supported by wooden beams holding firmly to the stone pillars. The structure of the One Pillar Pagoda currently includes: Pillars, Lotus pedestal, and pagoda roof. The pillars of the one-pillar pagoda are built with two stone pillars overlapping each other, forming a vertical pillar with a height of 4 m, not including the sunken part below the base. The diameter of the stone column is 1.2 m wide, making the viewer feel "as solid as stone". The Lotus Palace has a square shape of 3 m on each side, blocking the surrounding balcony, supported by a system of solid military columns, underneath are large wooden beams securely attached directly to the stone pillars. The tenon joints are precisely chiseled to each inch and the joints fit tightly together, creating an extremely sturdy structure. Inside the Lien Hoa station is luxuriously decorated, with an altar above which is placed a gilded statue of Guan Yin Buddha with a thousand eyes and a thousand hands. Surrounded by many worship objects: a pair of ceramic water vases, a lotus flower vase, a set of altar tea and bowls, and a bronze incense burner. The altar is painted with gilded vermilion and decorated with many yellow cloud motifs. On the innermost ceiling, there is a small horizontal panel with three golden words "Lien Hoa Dai" written on it, painted red. The pagoda's roof is covered with traditional brick-red scale tiles covered with moss over time. Each tile is a manifestation of the skill and meticulousness of the craftsman. When roofing tiles, the most difficult step is to match the tiles at the corner of the gutter so that there are no gaps, because this is the junction between the four edges of the pagoda roof, which often have gaps. If you want to roof tiles in this location conveniently, right from the stage of making and joining the joints, the joints must be really tight and match each other. One Pillar Pagoda has four curved roofs with knife heads soaring into the sky, also known as "blade ships". The pagoda's roof is supported by a system of levers extending close to the bottom. On the top of the pagoda's roof is the image of "two dragons flanking the moon", this is a typical architectural feature in pagodas, temples, communal houses and shrines. The two dragons bend their bodies and turn their tails toward each other, but their heads are facing the moon. This architectural feature symbolizes fertility and harmony of yin and yang. The pair of dragons symbolizes positive energy, and the moon shape represents negative energy. The sum total is the number three of fertility, that's why when people go to temples, they often light 3 incense sticks to symbolize the 3 objects in "two dragons flanking the moon". This is an image imbued with humanity in the nation's spiritual artistic architecture. The lotus flower is considered a symbol in Buddhist culture, reminding people of the virtues of honesty, patience, innocence, direct action... Lotus Flower Dai is crafted in the image of a lotus placed on a high stone pillar. In the middle of Linh Chieu lake, it seems as if it is reaching up to escape the worldly world. An extremely elegant, pure and unique image. Linh Chieu Lake has a surrounding flower wall decorated with cubic motifs. Outside, another large lake is dug, called Bich Tri lake. Bich Tri Lake is located within the grounds of Dien Huu Pagoda, located to the right of One Pillar Pagoda. In front of the yard of Dien Huu pagoda is the Bach Tuynh stone tower. From the stone tower there is a small bridge leading to the One Pillar Pagoda. On the full moon day or the first day of every month, the administrators organize a cleaning ceremony and perform worshiping ceremonies in the temple. People also often come to visit and worship from afar. In the summer, the temple is open to welcome visitors every day of the week, in the winter it is closed every Monday and Friday of the week. There is no charge to visit the temple. Coming to One Pillar Pagoda, people often pray for perfect wisdom and full vitality. Through extremely beautiful artistic and humanistic architectural features such as the purity and serenity of lotus petals symbolizing perfect wisdom. Cylindrical pillar - positive energy located in the middle of Linh Chieu lake - negative energy combined to bring about continued longevity.

From January to December

Ba Dinh Square - Uncle Ho's Mausoleum

Ba Dinh Square is located right in the center of Hanoi capital at 2 Hung Vuong, Dien Ban, Ba Dinh district. Ba Dinh Square is where President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence. The square is open for visitors to visit from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. every day. The overall square is about 320 meters long and about 100 meters wide with 210 grass plots. In the center of the square there is a flagpole with a height of 25 meters. Around Ba Dinh Square, there are many important works such as: Uncle Ho's Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh Museum, Presidential Palace, one-pillar pagoda, stilt houses and Uncle Ho's fish pond. The ideal time to visit Ba Dinh Square, Hanoi is from September to March every year. During these months, the weather in Hanoi is quite cool and not too hot. This makes visiting and exploring Ba Dinh Square as well as other locations in the capital more convenient. Besides, in the last months of the year, the scenery in Hanoi is extremely poetic. When traveling to Ba Dinh Square, you will see more typical flowers. The transition from autumn to winter to spring brings a very unique beauty to the capital. When you arrive at Ba Dinh Square, don't forget to take photos as souvenirs. No matter what time it is, the vast scenery here will bring beautiful frames. If you go in the morning or afternoon, you will get natural light. If you come to Ba Dinh Square at night, you can take advantage of the light from the light poles to make the photo more beautiful. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is one of the photo-taking views that many tourists love when coming here. In addition, you can also easily find other beautiful shooting angles. You should use devices with wide-angle lenses to capture the panoramic beauty of the square. Located right behind Ba Dinh Square, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is a place you should visit. The mausoleum is open every day of the week except Monday and Friday. Opening times of the day will vary between different times of the year. There will be no fee for Vietnamese citizens to enter the mausoleum, but for foreign tourists it will be 25,000 VND per visit. The overall architecture of Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is built in a square shape with 3 layers, 21.6 meters high and 41.2 meters wide. With a solid structure, President Ho's mausoleum is able to withstand bombs, floods and earthquakes. Outside the mausoleum, there are stone-covered columns and the words "PRESIDENT HO - CHI - MINH" in prominent red. The Presidential Palace is where Uncle Ho lived, worked and many important events in history took place. Built in French neoclassical architecture in 1902, the presidential palace has a total of 30 rooms with symmetrical design. Besides the unique motifs and decorations, the yellow paint color is also a factor to help make the presidential palace more prominent. In the campus of Hanoi's presidential palace, there are many green spaces. Walking under the trees, visitors can feel peaceful in the heart of the vibrant capital. The interior of the presidential palace has been preserved almost intact from the time Uncle Ho used it until now. Mainly simple wooden items. Similar to Uncle Ho's mausoleum, the Presidential Palace also does not accept visitors on Mondays and Fridays. Ho Chi Minh Museum was built in 1990, this will be a very interesting attraction on your Ba Dinh Square travel itinerary. Coming to the museum, you will learn about the life and career of President Ho Chi Minh. This is the place where documents, images of statues and historical items related to Uncle Ho's life are kept. Exploring the Ho Chi Minh Museum, visitors will not only learn about a great historical figure of the country, but also visit and explore a special architectural work with bright exhibition areas. create, animate.

September to March

Sword Lake

Hoan Kiem Lake is located in the center of the capital, surrounded by 3 streets: Hang Khay - Le Thai To - Dinh Tien Hoang. Previously, the lake also had a number of other names such as Luc Thuy Lake (green lake) or Thuy Quan Lake (because the lake used to be a place to train naval soldiers to fight). In the 15th century, the lake was renamed Hoan Kiem Lake (returning the sword), associated with the story of returning the precious sword to the golden turtle of King Le Thai To. Hoan Kiem Lake is a gathering place, an ideal meeting point for four seasons: Brilliant in peach colors and traditional festivals in spring; The wind blows away the sultry heat of summer; Fall in love with the weeping willow branches in the magical mist of autumn; Gorgeous in the rain of yellow leaves and drizzling raindrops of winter. Not only is it a beautiful landscape that tourists cannot miss in the list of Hanoi tourist destinations, but it is also a place associated with the capital's historical and spiritual traditions. Hoan Kiem Lake has two floating islands: Ngoc Island is located in the north of the lake, with a curved The Huc bridge connecting to the island. In the middle of the lake is a smaller Turtle Island, above which is a hundred-year-old ancient Turtle tower, sitting quietly amid sparkling water waves. On 3 weekends, the streets around Hoan Kiem Lake will become walking streets with many attractive activities such as street music, folk games... attracts a lot of tourists. Located on Ngoc Island, Ngoc Son Temple is not only a historical relic and famous scenic spot of Hanoi but also a place to worship the god Van Xuong, the leading star of literature and examinations, and Saint Tran Hung Dao. Around the temple is a complex of architectural relics with many historical values ​​and humane significance, including The Huc bridge, But tower, Nghien tower, Tran Ba ​​communal house. The combination of the Ngoc Son temple complex and Hoan Kiem Lake has created an ancient architectural ensemble of harmony and balance between humans and nature. Next to Hoan Kiem Lake are old streets such as Hang Ngang, Hang Dao, Hang Duong,... where visitors can visit and explore the life, culture and people as well as the unique cuisine of Hanoi. Ly Thai To monument is located at Chi Linh flower garden on Dinh Tien Hoang street. This is a typical cultural architectural work at Hoan Kiem Lake to honor the king who publicly founded the capital city of Thang Long. Located on the shore of the lake, Hoa Phong tower is an ancient relic left over from Bao An pagoda after it was destroyed by the French to make way for a post office. Around the lake, there are countless items that you can buy as gifts for friends and relatives such as crafts, cute small gifts, clothes, shoes, and special dishes. Hanoi products such as green rice cake, apricot fruit... Hang Ngang, Hang Dao, Hang Bac, Hang Duong, Dong Xuan market... are some reputable and quality addresses for you to enjoy shopping. According to many people's experience, you should go shopping in the afternoon because the stores here are very strict about customers coming in the morning to ask for things but not buy anything.

From January to December

Ancient city of Hanoi

Referring to the history of Hanoi's 36 streets or Hanoi's old quarter, we probably have to go back to the period from the Ly - Tran dynasties, when this residential and commercial area began to form, with residents from all over the villages. around the Northern Delta gathered and became the busiest area in the capital at that time. Not only that, this urban area also focuses on many handicraft and trade activities, from which the name "Hang" is formed, a call that refers to typical craft streets, imbued with traditional features. system. Experiencing many ups and downs of the capital, that neighborhood still goes through the years, lasting until now, preserved and preserved to become Hanoi's old town in the hearts of many Vietnamese people. In terms of area, according to regulations of the Ministry of Construction, the official scope of Hanoi's Old Quarter is determined as follows: to the north is Hang Dau street; To the west is Phung Hung street; In the south are Hang Bong, Hang Gai, Cau Go and Hang Thung streets; and on the east side Tran Quang Khai street and Tran Nhat Duat street. Hanoi's 36 streets, the name has entered the subconscious of many people with the most simple and rustic features from names such as Hang Mam, Hang Non, Hang Duong, Hang Muoi... representing the main items that are popular. Small businesses here trade. The old town has a very unique urban character, a prosperous and crowded place, always crowded with people but still retains the traditional cultural values ​​from thousands of years ago of the capital. Each street gathers workers from famous craft villages around the ancient capital of Thang Long, turning each street here into a miniature craft village in the heart of Hanoi. Architecture is another unique feature that makes up the unique character of the old town, with the structure of tube houses, tilted tile roofs and facades of shops specializing in trading, built mainly in the 19th century. The 18th and 19th centuries. At first glance, the houses look shabby and small, but they are arranged very skillfully and reasonably by people, still fully serving the life needs of the people here. Hanoi's Old Quarter is beautiful with small roadside shops. Even though they are not luxury restaurants, the rich flavor attracts travelers, once they go they will never forget them. A session sitting by Hoan Kiem Lake, enjoying the wind, eating Thuy Ta ice cream, watching the flow of people passing by, or going to the street without enjoying Trang Tien ice cream is truly a mistake. Old Hanoi with its bustling street vendors weaving through each street with simple yet rustic dishes such as donuts, balut, or simply green rice, a hometown gift that pleases the people of Trang An. can captivate any picky diner. Old town cuisine is associated with traditional dishes such as bun cha, pho, fish vermicelli, tofu vermicelli with shrimp paste, snail vermicelli, vermicelli vermicelli,... from small roadside shops, or in old houses, there are dozens of them. five years old. "Hanoi's 36 streets" is not only famous as the most entertaining place in Hanoi, but also preserves many historical and cultural values ​​of more than a thousand years of civilization. You definitely should not miss this destination when visiting Hanoi.

From January to December

Quoc Tu Giam Temple

Temple of Literature is located in Dong Da district, Hanoi, right in the middle of 4 main streets including Nguyen Thai Hoc, Ton Duc Thang, Temple of Literature and Quoc Tu Giam. Traveling to Hanoi with thousands of years of culture, this is definitely a place you should visit. If starting from Hoan Kiem Lake, you follow Le Thai To street, turn right onto Trang Thi street, go towards Cua Nam street, Nguyen Khuyen street and then turn left onto Van Mieu street to arrive. Because Hanoi has many one-way streets, especially around the Temple of Literature area, remember to pay attention to avoid breaking traffic laws. The Temple of Literature was built in 1070 under the reign of King Ly Thanh Tong, as a place to worship Confucius, Cong Chu and Tu Phoi. In 1076, King Ly Nhan Tong established Quoc Tu Giam next to it, a university exclusively for the king's children and noble families. During the reign of King Tran Thai Tong, Quoc Tu Giam was renamed Quoc Tu Giam and accepted children of commoners with excellent academic ability. In the post-Le period, King Le Thanh Tong began to erect steles of those who passed the doctoral exam. During the Nguyen dynasty, Quoc Tu Giam established Hue. The Thang Long Temple of Literature was renovated and became only the Temple of Literature of Bac Thanh town, later changed to the Temple of Literature of Hanoi. The current Temple of Literature - Quoc Tu Giam relic complex is located on an area of ​​54,331 m2, including many different small architectural works. Surrounding the campus are brick walls. Having undergone many renovations, this relic complex includes Ho Van, Temple of Literature, Dai Trung Mon, Khue Van Cac, Thien Quang well, doctoral stele, Dai Thanh Mon, and Thai Hoc house. The teaching house on the east and west sides has 14 rooms. The students' classrooms in the three halls have three rows, each row has 25 rooms, and each room has 2 people. The entire current architecture of the Temple of Literature is from the early Nguyen Dynasty. The architectural complex of the Temple of Literature - Quoc Tu Giam is arranged symmetrically in each area, each layer along the North-South axis, simulating the overall planning of the Temple of Literature dedicated to Confucius in China. However, the scale here is simple. than and in the traditional way of national art. In front of the Temple of Literature there is a large lake called Van Chuong lake, its old name was Thai Ho. In the middle of the lake there is Kim Chau mound, which used to have a pavilion for sightseeing. Outside the main gate there are four pillars, on both left and right sides there is a stele "Ha Ma", around the area is built a high wall. The gate of the Temple of Literature was built in the style of Tam Quan, with three words "Temple of Literature" on it in ancient Chinese characters. The Temple of Literature is divided into 5 distinct areas, each area has a separating wall and a gate connecting with each other. The main gate of the Temple of Literature is built in the style of Tam Quan, with three words "Temple of Literature" on it in ancient Chinese characters. The Temple of Literature has a surrounding wall built of bricks. Inside there are also walls divided into 5 areas, each area has a dividing wall and a gate to each other. First area. Starting with the main gate of Van Mieu Mon, go to Dai Trung Mon gate, on both sides there are small gates, Thanh Duc Mon and Dat Tai Mon. Second area. From Dai Trung Mon to Khue Van Cac. Khue Van Cac is an architectural work that, although not massive, has harmonious and beautiful proportions. The architecture consists of 4 square brick pillars (85cm x 85cm) below supporting the upper floor, with very beautiful wooden structures. The upper floor has 4 circular doors, a convenient railing and a simple, rustic wooden roof support. The two-layer overlapping tile roof creates a structure with 8 roofs, ridges and a flat roof surface. The attic is a square floor with eight roofs, on all four sides of the attic are round windows shaped like the sun radiating rays of light. On the right and left sides of Khue Van Cac are Bi Van Mon and Suc Van Mon, leading to the two Doctor's stele houses. Khue Van Cac at the Temple of Literature - Quoc Tu Giam has been recognized as a symbol of Hanoi city. Third zone. Consists of Thien Quang Tinh lake (meaning well of sunlight), square in shape. On both sides of the lake are the doctor's stele houses. Each stele is made of stone, engraved with the names of those who passed the Poinsettia, Longan, Tham Hoa, Hoang Giap, and Doctoral exams. The stele is placed on the back of a stone turtle. There are still 82 steles of examinations from 1442 to 1779. These are the most precious relics of the relic. Fourth zone. Is the central area and main architecture of the Temple of Literature, consisting of two large works arranged parallel and consecutive to each other. The outer building is the Bai Duong, the inner building is the Upper Palace. This is the area worshiping Confucius and Tu Phoi (Nhan Tu, Tang Tu, Tu Tu, Mencius). Fifth zone. This is Thai Hoc's house. During the Nguyen Dynasty, the Quoc Tu Giam school in Hanoi was abolished, the Thai school was changed to the Khai Thanh house, worshiping Confucius's father and mother. However, this house was destroyed during the resistance war against the French. The new Thai Hoc building was rebuilt by Hanoi city in 1999. In this fifth area, there is also the Tien Duong - Hau Duong house, which is the place to worship kings Ly Thanh Tong, Ly Nhan Tong, Le Thanh Tong and private businesses. Quoc Tu Giam Chu Van An. Things to note when visiting the Temple of Literature. First, respect the monument and comply with the regulations of the monument management unit. Do not harm artifacts or relics. Do not pat the turtle's head, write, draw, stand, or sit on the Doctor's stele... Second, clothes when going to the Temple of Literature should be clean and neat. Do not wear skirts or pants that are too short, revealing clothing, or indoor clothing. Do not smoke, wear hats or hats in the Temple area, exhibition hall... Finally, Implement a civilized lifestyle in places of worship: Do not have uncultured behavior, profanity, or cause disorder and security; Have the right attitude when performing the ceremony, each person only lights one incense stick; Offer offerings and burn incense in the right place.

From January to December

St. Joseph's Cathedral, Hanoi

As one of the earliest Christian architectural works built in Hanoi, the Cathedral has experienced many ups and downs in the country's history, imbued with the lives and souls of many Hanoi people. The land on which the church was built was originally where Bao Thien Pagoda was located, existing since the Ly Dynasty. By the end of the 18th century, Bao Thien Pagoda was destroyed and became a small market before the first church was built. From 1884 - 1888, the Catholic Church built a brick church on the original wooden temporary church foundation. This is the largest church built in Hanoi, honored as the "Cathedral of Saint Joseph". The church was inaugurated at Christmas 1887. In 1890, Nha Chung Street was expanded and the Cathedral became a central place bustling with passersby. From Hoan Kiem Lake, following Nha Chung Street, visitors can easily find their way to the church. Standing out in the neighborhood with a large square with a statue of the Virgin Mary holding the baby Jesus. Visitors will have to enter the church through the side gate. Known as the oldest church and with the most beautiful architecture in Hanoi, the Cathedral has been meticulously designed by the hands of talented artisans. With European and Gothic design style, the Cathedral was built according to the motif of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. The church has a length of about 65m, a width of 21m and two bell towers of nearly 32m high, fixed by large stone pillars. The exquisitely designed stone cross attracts everyone's eyes from the moment they enter. The entire floor is made from terracotta tiles, and the four sides of the wall are plastered with sandpaper, creating an ancient and extremely beautiful space. Because it is hundreds of years old, the church wall is covered with moss, creating a wild and mysterious scene. The main doorways and doors all have pointed arches, typical of the Gothic style. The large dome curves upward, creating a lofty space. The highlight in the middle is the sophisticated, round flower-shaped window. With deep colors, mainly European style, mixed with many motifs bearing Vietnamese images, making the two sides of the church's walkway attractive, attracting tourists to look and admire the unique beauty. The church is divided into 3 spaces: the reception hall - a place for the choir and musicians, the ceremony area and the sanctuary for ceremonies. Right in the cathedral are hidden three tombs of Cardinal Trinh Nhu Khue, Cardinal Pham Dinh Tung and Cardinal Trinh Van Can. In the middle is a statue of the Virgin Mary, covering the entire church scene, creating an unusually warm feeling, like a mother is opening her arms to embrace her young children. The church usually has 2 masses on weekdays and 7 masses on Sunday. On March 19 every year, the procession of the Patron Saint of the Archdiocese of Hanoi will be held here. During ceremonies, people often hear music playing along with prayers in the Cathedral. This is also where absolution sessions for the congregation take place. Like other churches, Christmas and Easter are the two biggest ceremonies at the church, often holding lavish ceremonies, crowded with Catholics to celebrate the ceremony. Not only is it a famous religious site of the capital, Hanoi Cathedral is also a destination that attracts many young people and tourists to visit and take photos. Especially at Christmas time, the Cathedral is most splendidly decorated with elaborately decorated pine trees and colorful sparkling lights. However, you will need to come early because at dusk this place is already crowded with people. When talking about the Cathedral, of course we can't help but mention the "specialty" "smooth lemon tea" here. Cups of tea scented with jasmine flowers, sprinkled with a few slices of fresh lemon with a sour, sweet, and astringent taste have become a familiar drink to many Hanoians. Just a plastic chair on the sidewalk, sipping tea, chatting with friends or watching the traffic go by. Perhaps from such simple things, Church lemon tea always retains its unique charm for Hanoi people. In addition, it would be a mistake to come to Hanoi Cathedral and not enjoy all the dishes here. From Asian and European dishes to Hanoi snacks such as grilled spring rolls, pillow cakes, fried porridge... all will be found within just a few steps around the Cathedral.

From January to December

Tran Quoc Pagoda

Tran Quoc Pagoda was originally called Khai Quoc Pagoda, built in 541 during the Early Ly Dynasty. At that time, the pagoda was located near the banks of the Red River, so when the dyke collapsed in 1615 (during the reign of King Le Trung Hung), the pagoda was moved inside the Yen Phu dyke to the Kim Nguu mound area. Then, around the 17th century, Lord Trinh built Co Ngu dike (now Thanh Nien road) to connect with Kim Nguu island. The pagoda changed its name to Tran Quoc Pagoda during the reign of King Le Hy Tong (1681 - 1705) with the hope that this would be a place to help people ward off natural disasters and bring a peaceful life to all people. And that name is used to this day. In the past, Tran Quoc Pagoda was the Buddhist center of Thang Long capital. Kings Ly and Tran often visited sights and worshiped on holidays and Tet at the pagoda, so many palaces were built to serve the king's rest: Thuy Hoa palace, Ham Nguyen palace. The pagoda is located on an island east of West Lake, nestled quietly on busy Thanh Nien street. As an ancient pagoda built a long time ago, Tran Quoc Pagoda has undergone many restorations, its appearance has changed somewhat, the current scale and architecture of the pagoda is the result of a major restoration in 1815. The total area of ​​the pagoda is about more than 3000m2, including the tower garden, ancestral house and upper palace. The pagoda belongs to the Northern sect with structure and architecture according to strict principles of Buddhism including 3 main temples: Front hall, incense burning house and Upper hall connected together to form the letter Cong (工). The Tien Duong house is facing west, behind is the Tam Bao house. Two corridors are located on both sides of the incense burning house and the Upper Palace. Behind the Upper Palace is the bell tower located on the main hall axis with a three-compartment architecture with a match roof. The ancestral house is located on the left of the Upper Palace and on the left is the stele house which still preserves 14 steles with many historical and cultural values. In 1998, the six-level lotus stupa was built, and in 2003, it was completed to form the pagoda's tower garden. The Stupa is 15m high and has 11 floors. On each floor of the tower, there is a white gemstone statue of Amitabha Buddha in each arched doorway. In particular, at the top there is a 9-storey lotus tower (Nine Lotus Flower) carved from precious stones, creating a majestic, sacred yet very soft beauty. The Stupa was built symmetrically with the Bodhi tree given by the President of India in 1959 during his visit to the capital Hanoi. This Bodhi tree is extracted from the Maha Bodhi tree in Dao Trang - where Buddha Shakyamuni sat and practiced more than 25 centuries ago. Currently, the pagoda still preserves many valuable Buddha and Bodhisattva statues located mainly in the Upper Palace. The most prominent among them is the statue of Shakyamuni Buddha entering Nirvana made from wood, lacquered with gold, and is a beautiful Nirvana statue in Vietnam. Through many ups and downs of time, Tran Quoc Pagoda still stands there majestically, bringing a peaceful yet ancient look in the heart of bustling Hanoi. Every year, the pagoda attracts many Buddhists from all over, domestic and foreign tourists to offer incense, worship Buddha as well as visit the pagoda.

From January to December

Hanoi Opera House

Located at the center of No. 1 Trang Tien Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi Opera House is a place that many tourists love to visit every time they have the opportunity to come to the capital. This is an architectural work built by the French in the years 1901 - 1911 (during the period of Vietnamese domination), at that time the theater was a place specializing in performing luxurious classical art performances such as Opera, chamber music, drama... for the mandarin class, the French elite and some Vietnamese bourgeoisie. Inspired by famous European architectural works such as the Paris Opera House, Tuylory Castle... so the "soul" of Europe permeates this place. A century has passed with many ups and downs, the Hanoi Opera House has deteriorated a lot and has recently been renovated, giving it a new look and vitality. Saying goodbye to the original pale yellow color, the theater now wears a coat of dark yellow mixed with white to create a majestic and beautiful look. Right from outside the theater, we can feel the "breath" of Europe with delicate lines and classic carved patterns. Entering the main lobby, visitors cannot help but feel overwhelmed by the splendor of this place. The entire room is paved with white stone imported from Italy and red carpet in the middle aisle, creating a luxurious and noble feeling like the British royal palace. The ceiling and surrounding walls are decorated with a system of small copper or gold-plated chandeliers in a vintage style that looks very noble. Next is the audience room where artistic performance activities take place for audiences today. The space here is delicately designed with a stage in the middle and the stands are designed in an arc inspired by the Roman arena, embracing the stage, helping to keep the audience's view unobstructed. the best possible sound quality. With 598 seats reasonably distributed across 3 floors, creating the most comfortable enjoyment space. Finally, there is the mirror room, where important ceremonies are held or high-ranking figures are welcomed... The space here is filled with classic looks from the design that combines many large windows combined with Mozaic technology, to the Hanging lamps and chandeliers are plated with gold or copper... all exude luxury and splendor. In addition, inside the Hanoi Opera House, there are also a few other auxiliary works such as: administration room, 18 makeup rooms, 2 vocal rehearsal rooms, library and meeting room. When coming to the theater, visitors can stop by and buy some small souvenirs at the showroom and souvenir sale room. Recently, Hanoi Opera House officially announced its opening for tourists with a fee of 400,000 VND/person, with students receiving a half discount. In addition, you can buy show tickets at the theater with prices ranging from 300,000 VND - 1,000,00 VND/person and take the opportunity to visit some beautiful architectural works here.

From January to December

Hoa Lo prision

Hoa Lo Prison is located at 1 Hoa Lo Street, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi. The relic still stands the test of time until today, a clear testament to a period of hardship and hardship, symbolizing the indomitable and resilient spirit of the Vietnamese people. Men love their country. Hoa Lo Prison, also known as Hoa Lo Prison, formerly known in French as Maison Centrale, meaning central prison, and in Vietnamese as Hanoi Prison, is an old prison located on Hoa Lo Street. , Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi. This prison was built by the French in 1896 in an area that was still on the outskirts of the city at that time, with the purpose of being a central prison for both Central and Northern regions, detaining mainly political prisoners. and patriots who opposed the colonial government. During the French colonial period, Hoa Lo prison was designed and built with a structure consisting of 4m high, 0.5m thick stone walls reinforced with electric steel wires. The entire prison area is divided into 4 zones: A, B, C, D, of which: Areas A and B: for prisoners under investigation, unimportant prisoners or prisoners who violate prison discipline. Area C: for French or foreign prisoners. Area D: for prisoners awaiting death penalty. The total area of ​​the entire former prison area was more than 12,000 square meters. However, today only 2,434 square meters are retained and preserved to become a relic site, serving the purpose of sightseeing and tourism for those who want to come and witness firsthand the scenery of what a colonial prison looks like. how. Dubbed the "hell on earth" and the scariest prison in Southeast Asia, during its time of operation, Hoa Lo prison has become a place of detention for many generations of soldiers and activists. Vietnam's revolutionary activities with prison architecture designed with extremely barbaric and cruel forms of torture and forced confessions, the most typical being the guillotine machine, have brought the prison to be listed in the top 10. The most notorious prison in the world. After liberating the capital in 1954, Hoa Lo prison was once used to detain American pilot prisoners of war until 1973. With its historical role, Hoa Lo prison has now become a place to detain American pilot prisoners of war. Interesting attractions in Hanoi attract many domestic and foreign tourists. This place is open to everyone who needs and wishes to visit with an extremely affordable ticket price of 30,000 VND/person, 50% discount for pupils, students, people with disabilities, and the elderly. or those who belong to social policy. In addition, children under 15 years old, people with severe disabilities or people with meritorious services to the Revolution will be completely exempt from ticket prices.

From January to December

Imperial Citadel of Thang Long

Thang Long Imperial Citadel is a complex of relics associated with the history of Thang Long - Dong Kinh capital city and Hanoi province. This archaeological site is a living testament to the Red River Delta civilization throughout 13 centuries: starting from the pre-Thang Long period around the 7th century, going through the Dinh and pre-Le dynasties, and developing strongly under the Ly, Tran, post-Le, came to the Nguyen Dynasty and existed until today. The highlight of Thang Long Imperial Citadel was formed in 1010, when King Ly Thai To issued a decree to move the capital from Hoa Lu to Dai La and built the Imperial Citadel as well as a series of palaces and palaces, including the Thang Long Imperial Citadel. According to history books and archaeological documents, Thang Long Citadel was built according to the model of three overlapping citadels, including: the outermost ring is La Thanh or Imperial Citadel - where the residents live, the middle ring is the Imperial Citadel. – the main court area, the living and working place of court mandarins, and the innermost circle is the Forbidden City or Long Phuong Citadel – a place for the king, queen, and other royal family members. What we still see today in the capital Hanoi is the Thang Long Imperial Citadel Central Relic Area with an area of ​​about 20 hectares (out of the total area of ​​140 hectares of the Imperial Citadel), including two areas: Archaeological Area 18 Hoang Dieu and Hanoi Ancient Citadel Relics. Except for Bac Mon and Ky Dai, the remaining buildings are only reconstructions and archaeological relics found over the years. The central relic site of Thang Long Imperial Citadel is located at 19C Hoang Dieu, Dien Bien ward, Ba Dinh district, Hanoi city. In fact, the entire relic complex is surrounded by four roads: the North is Phan Dinh Phung Street, the South is Dien Bien Phu Street, the East is Nguyen Tri Phuong Street and the West is Hoang Dieu Street, within the area. Dien Bien and Quan Thanh wards, Ba Dinh district, Hanoi city. The first stop in the Imperial Citadel relic complex is Ky Dai, commonly known as the Hanoi Flagpole. This is a monument with a tower-like structure, built under the Nguyen Dynasty from 1805 to 1812, at the same time as Thang Long Imperial Citadel. The flagpole architecture includes three levels of base, body, and watchtower, with a total height of about 33.4m. Inside the building, there is a spiral staircase design leading to the top - where you can enjoy a panoramic view of Thang Long Imperial Citadel. The Hanoi Flagpole project still stands firmly and solidly today, and has become one of the symbols of the capital Hanoi. Leaving Hanoi Flagpole, you go a little further and you will reach Doan Mon, the main gate leading to the Imperial Citadel. Doan Mon has appeared since the Ly dynasty, but the architecture we see today was built by the Le dynasty in the 15th century and renovated by the Nguyen dynasty in the 19th century. Doan Mon is the southern city wall, built in an arched architectural style that is almost perfectly symmetrical across the "divine axis", with 5 city gates: the largest middle gate is for the king, the remaining 4 gates are for mandarins. , prince, prince. This is the most checked-in location because of the grandeur and majesty of the building. Starting from Doan Mon, you cross a large courtyard called Long Tri, then reach Kinh Thien Palace - the main nucleus in the overall Imperial Citadel relics. Kinh Thien Palace was built in 1428, where King Le Thai To was crowned, and later became the place to celebrate solemn royal ceremonies, hold court meetings and welcome foreign envoys. Currently, this project only retains the foundation and two stone dragon steps. However, the vestiges found here and the pair of flanking dragons partly recall the magnificence and splendor of Kinh Thien Palace in the past. Hau Lau, also known as Tinh Bac Lau, is a building built behind Kinh Thien Palace, in the past it was a harem - a living place for queens, princesses, concubines, and beautiful women. Hau Lau appeared after the late Le dynasty, built in a box-shaped architecture with three floors, combining traditional Vietnamese and French architecture. The most characteristic feature of Hau Lau is the thickness of the walls, making the rooms always cool in the summer and warm in the winter. At the end of the 19th century, Hau Lau was seriously damaged, and was renovated and rebuilt by the French as it is today. Bac Mon, or Cua Bac, is one of the five gates of the ancient citadel of Hanoi under the Nguyen Dynasty, and is also the only remaining gate. North Gate was completed in 1805, following the gazebo style: above is the floor, below is the citadel. Upstairs is currently the place to worship two Governors Nguyen Tri Phuong and Hoang Dieu - who together with the people of Hanoi fought to protect the citadel to the death. The palace gate is a guard place for soldiers, to keep the king and royal family safe. Each palace gate is a structure with sophisticated and sturdy design, enhancing the magnificence of the palace. In the Hanoi Ancient Citadel Relic Area, eight such palace gates still exist. Thanks to these palace gates, the work of determining the coordinates of the palaces and walls is more accurate. In addition to archaeological works, in the Hanoi Ancient Citadel Relics Area, there is also a system of French architectural works built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, now requisitioned as headquarters and agencies of the Government. State of Vietnam.

From January to December

Hanoi flagpole

The Hanoi flagpole is also known as the Hanoi Flag Tower, built in the early 19th century and now located on the campus of the Vietnam Military History Museum. After many years, this work is still intact and the most valuable in the Thang Long Imperial Citadel complex after the French and American resistance wars. Built from 1805 to 1812 under King Gia Long of the Nguyen Dynasty as an observatory. Hanoi flagpole is a place visited by many people of the capital as well as international tourists when traveling to Hanoi and taking souvenir photos. The first interesting thing that makes most tourists visiting Hanoi want to set foot here is the unique and ancient architecture. Visitors to Hanoi do not have to go too far, the flagpole is located right in the center of Hanoi capital. To get here, just ask for directions to Cua Nam and Uncle Ho's Mausoleum and you will find it. From the shore of Hoan Kiem Lake to the Flagpole is only less than 1km. Visitors can take a taxi or bus or rent a bicycle and stroll to admire the streets. The entire Hanoi flagpole is over 33m high, including the flagpole, it is 44m. Here you can visit both outdoor and indoor areas. Inside is very spacious and airy, displaying guns and statues of heroes. The base floors of the flagpole are square, gradually getting smaller, overlapping each other, and surrounded by tiles. That balanced layout has created straight, steady lines for the Hanoi Flagpole. What's special is that on Hanoi's hottest days, the inside temperature of the Flagpole is always cool. On the top of the Flagpole is the national flag, an important symbol of national unity, and is replaced every 2 to 3 weeks. Following the steps leading to the top of the flagpole, visitors can see the tanks and helicopters of the Lenin Park and Military Museum. Designed with a stone spiral staircase inside the flagpole, visitors can stop and look out at the hia-shaped windows dotted along the curved walls. There are 3 separate observation floors and a column. If you want to see the scenery, it is best to go to the top observation deck. From the top of the monument, one can observe a large area inside and outside the ancient citadel. Except for the North door, the remaining three doors of the Flag Tower are all engraved with their own names. The door facing East is "Nganh Huc" (receiving the morning sunlight), the door facing West is "Hoang Khuc" (reflecting light), and the door facing South is "Huong Minh" (facing the light).

From January to December

Long Bien Bridge

Long Bien Bridge connects Long Bien, Hoan Kiem and Ba Dinh districts. The bridge is the symbol of Hanoi. This is the first steel bridge across the Red River. The bridge was once in the top 2 longest bridges in the world, just behind the Brooklyn Bridge across the East-River of the US. After many years of formation and development, Long Bien Bridge in Hanoi has accompanied our people through two resistance wars against the French and American colonialists. The bridge has witnessed many heroic and memorable historical events and milestones. Long Bien Bridge has become a beautiful and meaningful symbol of Hanoi Capital. The bridge is always imprinted in memories and has become a source of national pride. Long Bien Bridge has an extremely unique architecture with a length of 2,290m across the river, 896m of bridge with 19 steel beam spans and 20 sturdy high pillars. When inaugurated, the bridge was compared to the "horizontal Eiffel Tower" with its harmonious and meticulous design. The bridge is 4.75m wide with 3 lanes. The two lanes on both sides for cars, motorbikes, and bicycles are 2.6m wide, the outermost lane for pedestrians is 0.4m wide. The middle lane is the railway lane, for trains, 1.75m wide. The bridge was built according to famous French architecture, designed and constructed by Daydé & Pillé company (Paris, France). Modern bridge construction techniques ensure safety and high aesthetics. The entire bridge is made from high quality steel, stacked tightly together to create a harmonious and impressive whole. From afar, the bridge looks like a giant, soft, winding dragon, lying across the fast-flowing river. Time passed, the devastation left behind by the war was extremely heavy, but the bridge was still there, still standing tall. Long Bien Bridge is a historical witness of the Vietnamese people, with the nation experiencing many important historical events and milestones. The bridge marked each step forward in the two resistance wars against the French colonialists and the American imperialists. The bridge has always accompanied our people during the arduous and difficult days of fighting against invasion. And until witnessing the moments of joy and excitement when the South was liberated and the country was unified. Let's look back at the historical events of Long Bien Bridge: September 2, 1945: At historic Ba Dinh Square, President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence, the bridge became a bridge leading thousands of suburban people to Uncle Ho in joy and jubilation. October 1954: On the day of liberation of the Capital, the bridge still stood tall, witnessing the joy and pride of the nation. 1965-1968: During the Rolling Thunder campaign, the bridge was bombed 10 times by American aircraft, losing 7 spans and 4 pillars. September 10, 1972: During Operation LineBacker II, the bridge was bombed 4 times, damaging 1500m of the bridge and 2 large pillars were cut off, causing heavy damage. December 30, 1972: When the US was forced to stop bombing Hanoi, workers repaired the railway on the bridge. 1975: On the day of liberation of the South and unification of the country, Long Bien Bridge once again witnessed this joy and pride with our people. Long Bien Bridge has witnessed and accompanied the Vietnamese people for a long time. Having gone through many ups and downs and events, now the bridge is not only a historical witness but also an extremely close companion to every Vietnamese person.

January to December

Quan Thanh Temple

Quan Thanh Temple is located at the intersection of Thanh Nien Street and Quan Thanh Street, opposite West Lake, which is always cool all year round. Built in the Ly Dynasty, Quan Thanh Temple is also called Tran Vu Quan because it is a place to worship Huyen Thien Tran Vu - a deity guarding the north of the ancient capital Thang Long. Right from the entrance gate, you will be impressed by four pillars decorated with back-to-back phoenix images and flanked by ancient screens. Around the pillars are a pair of striking red parallel sentences. Stepping inside, you will be amazed by the ancient space of the three-entrance gate, the courtyard, and the three layers of the front house - the middle house - the harem in Chinese architectural style. With extremely unique wood carvings in a harmonious space, the temple's architecture has extremely high artistic and aesthetic value. The most prominent highlight in Quan Thanh Temple is the statue of Huyen Thien Tran Vu cast in black bronze with a height of nearly 4 meters and weighing about 4 tons on a marble block more than 1 meter high. In ancient legends, Huyen Thien Tran Vu is the god who fought off many foreign invaders, helped the people of Thang Long exorcise evil spirits and monsters, and govern the North. The statue has a square face that is majestic but gentle and calm with straight looking eyes. This is a unique work of art and partly affirms the ingenuity and talent in sculpting and bronze casting techniques of Vietnamese artisans three centuries ago. The statue is placed in the Harem area. Every month or Tet holiday, people flock to Quan Thanh Temple to pray for health, peace and fortune. Legend has it that if you use your right hand to rub the left leg of Huyen Thien Tran Vu statue, the person rubbing will receive good luck and prosperity. In addition, the Quan Thanh Temple festival also takes place every year on the 3rd day of the third lunar month, attracting a large number of people to offer incense, sacrifice and pray for peace.

From January to December

Me Linh Flower Village

In Hanoi, perhaps everyone is too familiar with names like Nhat Tan flower village, Ngoc Ha flower village or Nghi Tam, Quang Ba. These are not only flower villages with famous beautiful scenery over time, but also carry deep historical and cultural meanings, contributing to the poetic and famous beauty of this ancient land. Not as old as Nhat Tan flower village, Me Linh flower village is known to many people because it is the main flower supplier for Hanoi and some northern provinces on holidays. Flower growing has been established on this land for more than 20 years. The soil here is most suitable for growing roses. On frosty nights, Me Linh flower garden is beautiful under the light of hundreds of lights running across the field, creating a special scene. With fresh, vibrant scenery and fresh, natural atmosphere, Me Linh flower village is becoming one of the interesting tourist destinations in Hanoi. Not only is it popular with young people, it has become the number one choice for many families' weekend picnics. The flower village is located 30 km from the city center, near Noi Bai airport. Visitors can ride a motorbike or take bus number 7. From the center of the capital, tourists follow Thang Long bridge to the overpass into Thang Long industrial park, turn onto the road to the industrial park but do not go inside. If you continue about 5km, you will reach Me Linh flower village. Visitors will also immediately see vast flower fields on both sides of the road. People in Me Linh grow many types of flowers such as roses, chrysanthemums, peonies... But the most popular are still roses including velvet roses and red roses. The flowers here have bright, diverse and eye-catching colors. Just standing from afar can feel the smell of flowers blowing in the wind, giving visitors a very enjoyable feeling. Visitors will be even more interested in the rustic, rustic simplicity of the scenery here. Fresh air and a feeling of relaxation are also factors that make visitors reluctant to leave. That is the advantage that makes Me Linh flower village a priority choice when compared to other flower villages such as Nhat Tan or Quang Ba. Because while other flower villages, because they emphasize commercialism too much, have replaced the natural beauty of the landscape with the gaudy, gaudy appearance of artificial decorations, the naturalness and rusticity of flower villages Me Linh has become an impressive attraction for tourists. If in 1995, Me Linh commune (Me Linh district) only had 2 hectares of flower growing, then now the whole commune has 236 hectares. In Me Linh, most households grow and trade flowers. Flowers in the fields and gardens are all covered, making the village here always colorful and bringing a prosperous life to the people. Of the 236 hectares planted with flowers, roses and chrysanthemums play the leading role. In addition, Me Linh farmers also grow a number of other flowers such as lilies, calla lilies, peonies, gladiolus...

From January to December

Ham Long Church

Ham Long Church is one of the largest churches in Hanoi, located at 21 Ham Long Street, Hoan Kiem District, whose patron is Saint Anthony of Pavoda. This architectural building was designed by architect Doctor Than, who studied abroad in France before returning to Vietnam. The church was completed in December 1934, is 17m high and has extremely unique architecture. The most special feature of Ham Long church lies in the choice of materials. Thanks to the use of folk materials such as cork, paper combined with lime straw and a few other special materials to create dome details without the help of equipment. Modern sounds, the sounds of ceremonies are still echoed very loudly. Not only that, the uniqueness of Ham Long church also comes from the motifs, the most famous of which is the rope motif, like the straps of the Franciscan order, carved on the church pillars as well as the on altar pedestals. The land of Hanoi has many architectural works with high historical value, but Ham Long church is always an attractive destination not only for parishioners but also for those who love to learn about public culture. teacher. Known as one of the most beautiful churches in Hanoi, don't miss the opportunity to visit Ham Long church if you have the opportunity.

From January to December