HANOI, Vietnam — Quan Thanh Temple in the Ba Dinh district of Hanoi next to the southeastern corner of West Lake is a Taoist temple that dates back to the 11th century.
Quan Thanh Temple sits on the southeastern corner of West Lake (Ho Tay). While not especially large, the temple is one of the city’s oldest–it dates back to the 11th century–and amongst the four designated as its most sacred.
At the heart of the main shrine is an impressive bronze statue depicting Huyen Thien Tran Vu (usually shortened to Tran Vu and transliterated as Xuan Wu), one the higher-ranking Taoist deities and often known as the God of the North. He’s also of particularly revered by martial artists–the reason that martial arts classes are hosted at the temple. The statue was cast in 1677, stands 13 feet high and weighs in at nearly 4 tons.
Photos of Quan Thanh Temple in Hanoi
HANOI, Vietnam – A large bronze statue is the centerpiece of the main shrine at Quan Thanh Temple in Hanoi. The statue, measuring nearly 4 meters tall and weighing nearly 4 tons was cast in 1677 and depicts Huyen Thien Tran Vu, the God who administered the North and after whom the temple was originally named. The Taoist temple dates back to the 11th century and is located close to West Lake (Ho Tay). Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will TravelHANOI, Vietnam – The main gate at Quan Thanh Temple in Hanoi. The Taoist temple dates back to the 11th century and is located close to West Lake. This gate is one of the more recent additions to the temple, having been added in the last major renovations in the late 19th century. Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will TravelHANOI, Vietnam – Incense sticks burn in an urn at Quan Thanh Temple in Hanoi. The Taoist temple dates back to the 11th century and is located close to West Lake. Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will TravelHANOI, Vietnam – Blue smoke from the burning incense wafts through the air outside Quan Thanh Temple in Hanoi. The Taoist temple dates back to the 11th century and is located close to West Lake. Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will TravelHANOI, Vietnam – The ornate interior of one of the outer shrines at Quan Thanh Temple in Hanoi. The statue, measuring nearly 4 meters tall and weighing nearly 4 tons was cast in 1677 and depicts Huyen Thien Tran Vu, the God who administered the North and after whom the temple was originally named. The Taoist temple dates back to the 11th century and is located close to West Lake (Ho Tay). Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will TravelHANOI, Vietnam – The main courtyard at Quan Thanh Temple in Hanoi. The Taoist temple dates back to the 11th century and is located close to West Lake. Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will TravelHANOI, Vietnam – A large bronze statue at Quan Thanh Temple in Hanoi. The statue, measuring nearly 4 meters tall and weighing nearly 4 tons was cast in 1677 and depicts Huyen Thien Tran Vu, the God who administered the North and after whom the temple was originally named. The Taoist temple dates back to the 11th century and is located close to West Lake (Ho Tay). Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will TravelHANOI, Vietnam – A large bronze statue sits in the middle of the main shrine at Quan Thanh Temple in Hanoi. The statue, measuring nearly 4 meters tall and weighing nearly 4 tons was cast in 1677 and depicts Huyen Thien Tran Vu, the God who administered the North and after whom the temple was originally named. The Taoist temple dates back to the 11th century and is located close to West Lake (Ho Tay). Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will Travel
What to Know Before You Go
Quan Thanh Temple is right next to the West Lake.
Next door is a military base. I don’t recommend taking photos of the military building.
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