Ngoc Son Temple
11 images 1 contributors Shoot with care
Sue Wolfe
Shoot with care
When entering the temple you will enter through the doors on the side, not the middle. In addition, you should speak in a low voice, dress politely, and not point at the shrine statue in the temple. Pics are not allowed in the worship area. Do not wear a hat, use an umbrella, chew candy or smoke if offering incense.
About this spot
Ngoc Son Temple (The Temple of the Jade Mountain) is located on Pearl Island in Hoàn Kiem Lake in Hanoi’s Old Quarter. According to an inscription found in the Temple, construction began in 1865.
The temple was dedicated to General Tran Hung Dao (who defeated the Mongols), La To (patron saint of physicians), and the scholar Van Xuong. The temple is small and includes the Pen Tower, the Moon Contemplation Pavilion, and the Pavilion against Waves. All have symbolic meanings. Ngoc Son celebrates the harmony of the religions of that time—Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism.
To access the temple, you must cross The Huc Bridge which symbolizes the sun that brings you into the temple. The red bridge has 32 circular pillars made from concrete. In Vietnamese culture, odd numbers bring luck and fortune, and that may be why most temples feature the traditional tam quan or triple gate. The first gate is decorated with two large red Chinese characters—happiness on the right and prosperity on the left. The second gate is decorated with colorful relief panels containing the Taoist symbols of yin and yang—a dragon and a tiger.
In 2013, Ngoc Son Temple was ranked as a special national relic. Known as one of the most sacred temples of Hanoi, every year many students still come here to worship before exams. During Tet the people of Hanoi make offerings at Ngoc Son Temple and pray for blessings, peace, and luck.
The temple was dedicated to General Tran Hung Dao (who defeated the Mongols), La To (patron saint of physicians), and the scholar Van Xuong. The temple is small and includes the Pen Tower, the Moon Contemplation Pavilion, and the Pavilion against Waves. All have symbolic meanings. Ngoc Son celebrates the harmony of the religions of that time—Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism.
To access the temple, you must cross The Huc Bridge which symbolizes the sun that brings you into the temple. The red bridge has 32 circular pillars made from concrete. In Vietnamese culture, odd numbers bring luck and fortune, and that may be why most temples feature the traditional tam quan or triple gate. The first gate is decorated with two large red Chinese characters—happiness on the right and prosperity on the left. The second gate is decorated with colorful relief panels containing the Taoist symbols of yin and yang—a dragon and a tiger.
In 2013, Ngoc Son Temple was ranked as a special national relic. Known as one of the most sacred temples of Hanoi, every year many students still come here to worship before exams. During Tet the people of Hanoi make offerings at Ngoc Son Temple and pray for blessings, peace, and luck.
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