Ba Da Pagoda

Ba Da Pagoda has many different names through historical periods such as Tien Thi Pagoda, Tu Thap Pagoda or Huong Nghia Pagoda. The pagoda is said to have been built during the Thang Long period, in Tho Xuong district. According to the stone stele discovered in the temple grounds, Ba Da Pagoda was originally named Sung Khanh Pagoda. It was built in 1056 AD, in the year of Binh Than, during the reign of Ly Thanh Ton. By the time of Hong Duc (1470-1498), the original temple had disappeared. During the construction of Thang Long citadel, workers discovered a stone slab shaped like a woman. Believing that this is a sacred sign of the Mother of God of the country, the locals have set up a temple in the area in memory of the stone. However, that stone slab disappeared later and the temple was also badly damaged.

During the Le Trinh Dynasty (1767-1782), the workers once again excavated the site to build a new pagoda. The walls of the old temple had mostly collapsed, so they continued to dig deeper into the ground and once again, the stone statue was found. When the pagoda was completed, people from all over the world flocked to the temple to pay their respects to the statue and the temple was called Ba Da Pagoda. Throughout its history, the pagoda has been restored many times, but its sacred Buddhist imprint is still retained.

In 1793, a monk named Khoan Giai Tu Son Mon Hong Phuc visited Ba Da Pagoda. He rebuilt the pagoda and renamed it Linh Quoc Tu. However, the name Ba Da Pagoda is still the most commonly used for this temple.

During the French colonial period, Ba Da Pagoda became the base for the resistance movement. The movement received support from Buddhist monks who were highly influential in the society at that time. After the victory of the August Revolution, the pagoda welcomed President Ho Chi Minh to visit in a ceremony to remember the soldiers who died for the revolution.

Today Ba Da Pagoda is ranked as one of the historical and heritage sites of Hanoi. It is also the headquarters of the City Buddhist Association. The people of Hanoi, mainly the elderly, often go to Ba Da Pagoda to worship, meditate or listen to the preacher or pray for the best in their lives. More and more young people are coming to the temple, for them, it is better to be in this quiet place and re-balance life after hard working hours. It helps their mind to relax to better prepare for the upcoming working days.

Going deep into the narrow alley of Nha Tho Street, you will find the temple located in a very quiet corner, in contrast to the busy city life outside. The peaceful space here makes you feel like you are in a very different place than in the heart of Hanoi capital, a special city where old and new coexist.

The best time to visit Ba Da Pagoda is on the 1st and full moon of every month, when you can discover a part of the spiritual life of Hanoians. Locals come here to worship, pray for peace and burn paper money in the votive area with the belief that it will be sent to their ancestors and these items can be used in another world.

The temple with a large yard is also a place to park motorbikes of office workers working nearby. On weekdays, the temple welcomes local meditators and tourists from all over the world to visit.

Ba Da Pagoda, located in the heart of Hanoi's Old Quarter, remains one of Hanoi's most distinctive Buddhist attractions, where you can find a piece of local spiritual life while walking around the area. ancient city of Hanoi.

Opening hours: 07:00 - 21:00

Address: No. 3 Nha Tho Street, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi.