Vietnam’s capital city of Hanoi is rife with cultural elements simply waiting to be discovered and explored, such as the intriguing array of temples gracing the cityscape. If you’re looking for the ideal locale to host your excursion into the city, consider the stellar options luxury serviced accommodation Hanoi has to offer its leisure and corporate visitors, which you will find at the Somerset West Lake Hanoi. With a central location graced by elegant interiors, this is an ideal option for five-star accommodation in Hanoi Vietnam. Make the most of your trip here by exploring the stunning selection of spiritual centres scattered throughout Hanoi, and start with one of the most famous Confucian temples in the country, the Temple of Literature. Built in 1070 in honour of Confucius by the ruling monarch of the time, the temple quickly grew into an esteemed institution for higher learning that specialized in Confucian ideals and classical subjects. A very esoteric institution of the time, only a select handful of students were able to gain entrance and graduate from the school. The One Pillar Pagoda is a cultural landmark of the city, situated near the presidential palace. Legend tells of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara appearing to a 2nd century king on a lotus in a dream and bestowing a child upon him. In gratitude for the dream becoming reality, the king built a pagoda that sits in a lotus pond to commemorate the vision, and it is a tranquil spiritual centre that draws visitors in droves. Tran Quac Pagoda is also a well-known temple in this famous city, as it is the oldest pagoda in Hanoi, built in the mid sixth century. Perched on the banks of the pristine West Lake, it is a resplendent tribute to Vietnamese Buddhism. It hosts a fine array of ancient Buddhist relics and artefacts that beg exploration. Bai Dinh Pagoda is another famous site, as it contains the most number of arhat statues in the ASEAN region, numbering more than 500 magnificent life-sized stone statues. Although Hanoi is home to many more intriguing centres of worship, these are some of the more notable ones and should be visited to enhance your stay here.
Angela Fernando is an impassioned travel writer who composes pieces under the pen name Sumaira Narayan. She loves writing about new and exciting places around the world and intends to visit them all someday.
