Van Nien pagoda Hanoi, Vietnam 2024

Van Nien Pagoda is located on Lac Long Quan Road to the west of the West Lake in Hanoi. The thousand-year-old pagoda is considered one of the most famous ones in the old capital of Thang Long.
According to historical records, Van Nien Pagoda was constructed in the 2nd Thuan Thien under the Ly Dynasty, one year after King Ly Thai To moved the capital from Hoa Lu to Thang Long. Previously, the pagoda was called Van Tue and situated in Quan La, present-day Ve Ho Village, Xuan La Ward, Tay Ho District.
According to ancient books, in 1014, Most Venerable Monk Huu Nhai, Patriarch of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha asked the king to establish a makeshift platform in the pagoda to organize rites for those who wanted to follow the Buddhist religion. The king issued an edict to agree with the monk’s suggestion. This fact shows that the pagoda was probably built before the Ly Dynasty because at that time it became the favourite place for many venerable monks to stay and lead a religious life.
The pagoda has five worshipping halls and three sanctums which connect together into the shape of the Chinese letter “Ding”.
Like other pagodas in the north, the pagoda has three Buddhist statues of the past, present and future which are placed at the highest position and followed by Buddha Amitabha and then Goddess of Mercy.
On the outside, there is a newborn Buddha statue. On the roof of the pagoda there are three letters of “Van Nien Tu” which mean the pagoda will exist forever.