Vietnam: Tran Quoc Pagoda (Tran Quoc Buddhist temple), Ho Tay (West Lake), Hanoi

Hanoi’s oldest temple, Chua Tran Quoc, sits on a tiny island just west of the causeway at Ho Tay (West Lake). The pagoda’s precise origins are unknown, but according to legend it was originally established by the banks of the Red River during the reign of King Ly Nam De (544–48) in a brief interregnum during the millennium of Chinese occupation. It was moved to Kim Ngu Island during the 17th century, and is more remarkable for its lovely setting than for its somewhat austere interior.

Copyright:

CPA Media Co. Ltd.

Photographer:

David Henley

Credit:

Pictures From Asia