One Pillar Pagoda
A small wooden shrine on a single column, built as a lotus in 1049 and rebuilt several times since, most recently in 1955.
Updated 20 October 2026
Chua Mot Cot was built in 1049 under the emperor Ly Thai Tong, and the story given for it is that the childless emperor dreamed of Quan Am seated on a lotus handing him a son, and afterwards had a shrine built in the shape of a lotus rising on a stem from a pond. The result is a small wooden hall on a single stone pillar in a square pool, reached by a short stair. It was restored under the Nguyen in 1840-1850 and again in 1922, and the present pagoda was rebuilt in 1955 in the style the Nguyen restorers had left. It is small - the size surprises most visitors.
The main sights
- A hall on a single pillar - built as a lotus on its stem.
- Founded in 1049 - after a dream recorded in the chronicles.
- Rebuilt in 1955 - in the style of the Nguyen-period restorations.
- Very small - a few metres square, which catches people out.
When to go
Year round; it is next to the mausoleum, so timings interact. An hour.
Before you go
It is tiny and takes ten minutes. What stands is a 1955 reconstruction. The surrounding area is a controlled government precinct with dress rules and closures. Crowds arrive from the mausoleum queue.
Nearby
The Ho Chi Minh complex and the citadel are adjacent in Ba Dinh.
Key facts
Source: Wikidata, item Q1186292, read on 18 October 2026.
What to pack for One Pillar Pagoda
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Comfortable walking shoes - Sightseeing means kilometres of pavement and cobbles daily. Find on Amazon
- Modest clothing - Shoulders and knees covered - the single most common requirement. Find on Amazon
- A slim anti-theft daypack - Zips that close properly; keep it in front in crowds and on transit. Find on Amazon
- A scarf or shawl - To cover the head or shoulders on entry; women especially at mosques. Find on Amazon
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