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- Destinations
- Asia
- Vietnam
- Hanoi
- One Pillar Pagoda
One Pillar Pagoda
One Pillar Pagoda was constructed to celebrate the tale of the
heirless Emperor Ly Thai Tong, who dreamt about receiving a son
from the Buddhist goddess of mercy and compassion, seated on a
lotus flower. He married shortly after and bore a son, and the
pagoda was built to honour the event. It is the most interesting of
the city's numerous pagodas, and beneath the ornate curved roof
people come to pray for fertility and well-being, with allegedly
miraculous effects. The unique wooden structure was designed to
resemble a lotus flower, the Buddhist representation of
enlightenment, emerging out of the water, with the single stone
pillar its symbolic stalk.
Information & Facts
Address
Ong Ich Kiem Street, Ba Dinh District
Admission
Free, but a donation is expected
Language
The official language in Vietnam is Vietnamese. Some
Chinese, English and French are spoken. Tour guides can also speak
Russian and Japanese. Numerous ethnic languages are also spoken in
parts.
Money
The official currency is the Dông (VND). There are no smaller
denominations. Currency can be exchanged at banks, bureaux de
change, hotels and on the black market. Visa, MasterCard and
American Express are becoming more widely acceptable, particularly
in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, but it is best not to rely on them
elsewhere. It is recommended that visitors bring travellers cheques
in US Dollars, which can be cashed at major banks in the main
cities and tourist areas. US currency acts as unofficial tender and
is useful as a back-up when banks won't cash travellers cheques
outside the main cities, but notes must be relatively new and
unmarked. Dông can be withdrawn from ATMs, which are becoming more
widespread.
Opening Times
Time
Local time in Vietnam is GMT +7.