Ngoc Son Temple Hanoi

In the northern part of Hoan Kiem Lake, and accessed from the eastern side, sits Ngoc Son Pagoda, or Pagoda of the Jade Mountain, first used as a site of worship in the 14th century.

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To get to the pagoda, you'll cross The Huc, or Rising Sun, bridge, a beautiful red wooden structure built in 1885 in classic Vietnamese style, and one of Hanoi's most iconic images. Then you'll find various little buildings on the island, including an outdoor area with space for just relaxing to take in the lake-side breeze and the colourful crowd—for crowded it usually is.

Takin' in the view and the breeze at Ngoc Son. Photo taken in or around Ngoc Son Temple, Hanoi, Vietnam by Samantha Brown.

Takin' in the view and the breeze at Ngoc Son. Photo: Samantha Brown

At the entrance to the bridge are two monuments constructed in 1864, one representing an ink brush (a nine-metre tower) and the other an inkwell (a hollow rock held by three frogs). In the early morning of the festival of Doan Ngo, held on the fifth day of the fifth month, the shadow of the brush is positioned at the centre of the inkwell. The Chinese characters on the ink brush announce it's an instrument to write ... Travelfish members only (Full text is around 400 words.)

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