Trấn Quốc Temple

An ancient temple beside West Lake

Hà Nội

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Documentary photo of Trấn Quốc Temple. The surroundings may have changed since the photo was taken.

About

Trấn Quốc stands on a small peninsula beside West Lake. Water, trees and Thanh Niên Road frame a quiet temple setting within the city.

Visitor information

Founded: Origins in the 6th century
Visiting hours: Fixed opening hours have not been confirmed. Please ask the temple.
Fees: Check the notices at the destination; the current fee schedule has not been confirmed.
Address: Đường Thanh Niên, bên Hồ Tây, Hà Nội

The entrance is reached from Thanh Niên Road. Walk slowly along the narrow approach, remain orderly in the main hall and ask permission before photographing shrines.

Highlights

The multi-storey stupa beside West Lake
The stupa garden and temple courtyard
A historic temple amid the city

History and origins

Trấn Quốc has a history of approximately 1,500 years. It has been relocated, renamed and restored over successive periods; the buildings within the grounds do not all date from the same time.

Architecture & surroundings

The temple contains worship halls, gardens, courtyards and stupas. The red stupa with statue niches is a conspicuous landmark when viewed from the lake.

The entrance connects the lakeside road to the temple grounds. Before entering the shrines, view the stupa, roofs and greenery together from the water’s edge to appreciate the temple’s distinctive West Lake setting.

Cultural value

The temple is an important witness to Buddhism in Thăng Long and to the long relationship between the West Lake landscape and religious life in Hà Nội.

It remains an active religious site while belonging to Hà Nội’s landscape and urban memory. Lakeside views and close details of the shrines reveal different aspects of the temple, both deserving respectful appreciation.

Events & festivals

Services and religious activities follow the temple’s announcements. Buddhist festivals may bring many worshippers; this should not be interpreted as extended opening hours.

Directions to the temple

Open this temple’s dedicated page ↗

References & photo sources

Information checked: 2026-10-20. Documentary photographs may differ from current conditions.

Photo 1. Documentary photo of Trấn Quốc Temple. The surroundings may have changed since the photo was taken.
Jakub Hałun · Original photo · CC BY 4.0
Resized and converted to WebP without altering the image content.

Photo 2. Documentary photo of Trấn Quốc Temple. The surroundings may have changed since the photo was taken.
Jakub Hałun · Original photo · CC BY 4.0
Resized and converted to WebP without altering the image content.

Photo 3. Documentary photo of Trấn Quốc Temple. The surroundings may have changed since the photo was taken.
Jakub Hałun · Original photo · CC BY 4.0
Resized and converted to WebP, preserving the original composition.

Photo 4. Documentary photo of Trấn Quốc Temple. The surroundings may have changed since the photo was taken.
Jakub Hałun · Original photo · CC BY 4.0
Resized and converted to WebP, preserving the original composition.

Photo 5. Documentary photo of Trấn Quốc Temple. The surroundings may have changed since the photo was taken.
Jakub Hałun · Original photo · CC BY 4.0
Resized and converted to WebP, preserving the original composition.