The One Pillar Pagoda was built between 1028 and 1054 and restored after the departing French partially destroyed it in 1955. The small wooden structure sitting atop a single concrete (originally stone) base was meant to resemble a lotus flower rising from the lotus pond in which it is sited.

Worshippers at a temple close by the One Pillar Pagoda

Entrance to the Ho Chi Minh Museum

The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

Military guard at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

The French-Colonial style Presidential Palace, under construction from 1900 to 1906, was originally built to accommodate the Governor General of Indochina.

Tran Quoc Pagoda, on the eastern shore of Hanoi's West Lake (Ho Tay), is the city's oldest Buddhist temple and one of the oldest pagodas in Vietnam, possibly dating from as far back as the 5th century.

Tran Quoc Pagoda was rebuilt in the 15th century and again in 1842.

Worshippers at Tran Quoc Pagoda

Another small temple bordering Ho Tay, the West Lake

Ngoc Son Temple sits on a small island at the northern end of Hoan Kiem Lake. The name translates as 'Temple of the Jade Mountain,' and the island it is on is called Jade Island.

The main entrance to Ngoc Son Temple, reached via a wooden bridge that spans the water of Hoan Kien Lake

A main temple building at Ngoc Son Temple

In the background, an altar at Ngoc Son Temple

Pavilion on the grounds of Ngoc Son Temple

The flag of the city of Hanoi, displayed at Ngoc Son Temple

Ngoc Son Temple grounds

Ngoc Son Temple grounds

Ngoc Son Temple grounds

The entrance pavilion at the Temple of Literature

The Temple of Literature is the site of the oldest university in Vietnam. Dating from the year 1070, it was dedicated to Confucius and to scholars and sages.

Tiger guardian at the main entrance

Dragon guardian at the main entrance

The superstructure of the entrance pavilion viewed from the inside

An interior entry pavilion at the Temple of Literature

Decorative dragon detail on a column at the Temple of Literature

A main altar at the Temple of Literature

Dragons on the roof at the Temple of Literature

One of five inner courtyards at the Temple of Literature

View of the main entrance pavilion from inside the temple grounds

Approaching the main entry pavilion while leaving the temple grounds