Chua Mot Cot
The One Pillar Pagoda is seriously old! Well not the one you see, it was restored in 1954 after the French destoryed it prior to leaving!
Hanoi's most famous pagoda was originally built in 1049, by the Emperor Ly Thai Tong (1028 - 1054).
According to the history books, the Emperor, single at the time, had dreamt of meeting the Goddess of Mecery. On meeting the Goddess, she was seated in the blossom of a Lotus Flowerand handed Ly Thai Tong a male child.
After this, the Emperor went on to meet and marry a young peasent girl he had meet by chance and together they had a son and heir. To express his graditude for this, he built the One Pillar Pagoda.
Built on a single stone pillar, some 1.25m in diameter, the temple has been designed to resemble a lotus flower, the symbol of purity. The Pagoda is located on Ong Ich Khiem Street, next to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Museum.
Note: Great spot for taking photos! Please remove your hats etc before going up to alter.