Hochiminh Mausoleum:
This site is a huge building on a large square, holding the embalmed body of Vietnam's most prominent leader of the 20th century. Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum – built despite the fact that his requested cremation – was formally inaugurated on the 2nd September 1973 and used as the permanent memorial for Respected Uncle Ho. The arrangement of the entrance from three sides allows many people to pay homage to him at the same time. Through clear glass, Uncle Ho is lying as if he is taking a short nap, wearing simple kaki clothes and rubber sandals. The Mausoleum is 21m high and made of Vietnamese gray marble and granite. Like a lotus flower it was erected right at the historical place of Ba Dinh where President Ho Chi Minh declared independence for Viet Nam in 1945. The Vietnamese always stand in queue to visit him to show all good sentiments and respect to Dear Uncle Ho.
Uncle Ho’s Mausoleum just opens for a short time every morning except for Monday and Friday. Photography is not permitted inside the building. Nothing may be taken into the Mausoleum. All visitors must leave their bags and cameras at a reception hall.
The Mausoleum is closed for three months a year (usually from September to early December) when the embalmed corpse of Ho Chi Minh is brought to Russia for maintenance.
Van Mieu: The Temple of Literature:
Located in the centre of Ha Noi, Van Mieu, or the Temple of Literature, is the oldest school in Viet Nam, giving it the distinction of being the most significant temple in both Ha Noi and Viet Nam. It is representative of Confucian ways of thought and behavior, and is a historical and cultural relic.
According to historical records, during the 8th lunar month of the Canh Tuat Year (1070), King Ly Thanh Tong raised several important monuments, including the Temple of Literature and the carvings of Confucius, Chu Cong, four disciples, and 72 other scholars who were considered to be model Confucians. Ceremonies were dedicated to them once every season of the year. Crown Princes were traditionally educated here.
In 1076, Vietnam's first university, Quoc Tu Giam (National University), was established under the direction of King Ly Nhan Tong near Van Mieu for the purpose of instructing the children of Mandarins, of Noblesses, and the brightest commoners. During its more than 700 years of instruction (1076-1779), thousands of talented men were educated at Quoc Tu Giam, and most of them became helpful and kind-hearted Mandarin of Viet Nam.
Tran Quoc Pagoda:
Located beside the dazzling West Lake, Tran Quoc Pagoda is a cultural symbol of Vietnamese Buddhism. This pagoda was built under the reign of King Ly Nam De (544-548) under its original name of Khai Quoc (National Founder). It was originally built on the bank of the Red River (then West Lake and the Red River met).
In the time of King Le Kinh Tong (1600-1618), the pagoda was removed to the Kim Ngu (Golden Fish) Islet due to the river bank crumbling and was renamed Tran Quoc (National Defence).
One-Pillar Pagoda:
One-Pillar Pagoda is famous for its ancient architecture. It was originally called Dien Huu (Longevity) Pagoda. For many Vietnamese people, the image of the pagoda is the symbol of Viet Nam.
History says that the One-Pillar Dien Huu Pagoda was characterized as the symbol of Buddha. The Pagoda was built in 1049 by King Ly Thai Tong, who ruled from 1028 to 1054. According to the annals, one day, King Ly Thai Tong dreamed that he had met Quan The Am Bo Tat (Goddess of Mercy) taking him to a lotus flower. The King told his men the dream and he was told that it was the symbol of Longevity. The King immediately ordered the construction of the Pagoda in the shape of the lotus flower to worship Avalokitevara.
The pagoda was built in the Forbidden Citadel with a special architecture, all from wood. It was raised designedly on a single stone pillar to resemble a lotus blossom. It can stand firmly on top of the pillar because it is supported by a system of wooden rafters joined by tenons and mortises. The small pagoda in cubic-shaped covered with a curved roof. Each side is nine feet long with a curved roof placed on a round stone pillar. From the edge, there is a narrow brick path running through the pond to a nice ladder leading up into the Buddhist tower where there is a notice reading that the Lotus tower and pagoda were built in memory of a dream had by King Ly.
The West Lake:
There are two legends that explained the origins of the West Lake. According to one legend, the "Ho Tinh" story, the lake was called "Xac Cao" because there was a nine - tailed fox hiding itself here to cause harm to the people. Long Quan, the God of Waters, raised the level of the waters to destroy the nine - tailed fox in his lair; the cave it occupied collapsed and created a lake. Another legend named "Khong Lo casting a bell". In the 11th century, a Vietnamese Buddhist monk, Khong Lo, had the power to attract all the black bronze from the North, from which he cast a huge bell. The bell’s sound echoed far and wide, and spread northwards, it was heard by a Gold Buffalo. Because black bronze is the mother of gold, the Northern Gold Buffalo followed the sound of the bell to look for its mother. It stopped at the site of the West Lake and turned it into a lake. From there on the lake was called "Gold Buffalo".
Actually, Ho Tay (the West Lake) was created when the Red River changed its course. Geographers have shown that West Lake was once a part of the Red River. It covers an area of five hundred hectares and used to be crowded with many surrounding palaces and pavilions. These were destroyed in the course of various feudal wars.
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