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Non Nuoc Soc Son Pagoda is one of the oldest and most famous pagodas in Hanoi. Hidden among the green mountains, the pagoda offers visitors a peaceful and sacred space. Join BDATrip to explore this pagoda through the article below!
Non Nuoc Soc Son Pagoda, a historical relic with a rich tradition, was founded in the time of Ly Nam De (544 - 602), the first king of Van Xuan - the independent country of the Vietnamese. In a legendary legend, when Ly Nam De faced the siege of the Tang army at Non Nước mountain, he prayed to the Buddha and received the miraculous appearance of the Buddha on the top of the mountain. With the Buddha’s transmission stick, Ly Nam De defeated the Tang army, winning the victory. To commemorate this blessing, he built the Non Nước pagoda right on the mountain.
Through the historical stages, the pagoda received the respect and protection from many dynasties. The pagoda was renovated and expanded many times, notably in the periods of Le So (980 - 1009), Tran (1225 - 1400), Le Trung Hung (1428 - 1789), and Nguyen (1802 - 1945). The pagoda also witnessed the presence of great historical figures such as Pham Ngu Lao, Nguyen Trai, Le Loi, and Quang Trung.
Non Nuoc Soc Son Pagoda is located in Phu Linh commune, Soc Son district, Hanoi city, built on Non Nước mountain, belonging to Tam Dao mountain range. From the center of Hanoi, the pagoda is about 30 km to the north and only 10 km from Noi Bai international airport to the east.
Visitors can go to the pagoda by many means such as:
- Car: The journey starts from highway 2, turns into Phu Minh road, crosses Nhat Tan bridge, and continues on Phu Cuong road. Another route is to go from highway 3, turn into Nguyen Van Linh road, then to Phu Cuong road. Travel time varies from 45 minutes to 1 hour depending on traffic conditions.
- Motorbike: Choose the same routes as the car, but remember to obey traffic laws and wear helmets. Travel time from 1 to 1 hour 30 minutes, depending on speed and road conditions.
- Bus: You can choose route 58 from My Dinh bus station to Soc Son, then switch to route 64 to the pagoda. Or take route 07 from Giap Bat bus station to Soc Son, then change to route 64. Travel time ranges from 2 to 2 hours 30 minutes, depending on the traffic situation.
Non Nuoc Pagoda is open to visitors all year round, but the ideal time to visit is spring and autumn. This is when the weather is pleasant, the climate is fresh, creating a great condition to enjoy the beauty of the forest filled with green and feel the vitality and vitality of nature.
In addition, the pagoda also attracts visitors in the traditional festivals. Notably, the Non Nước pagoda festival takes place on the 4th of January lunar calendar, the Phu Dong pagoda festival on the 9th of April lunar calendar, and the Thượng pagoda festival on the 14th of June lunar calendar. This is an opportunity for tourists to participate in unique cultural and religious ceremonies such as praying, worshiping, carrying palanquins, and even watching horse racing.
Non Nuoc Soc Son Pagoda is a prominent architectural work, where harmonizes between tradition and modernity. The architecture of the pagoda includes three main gates: Tam Quan gate, Thượng gate, and Hạ gate. Tam Quan gate, built in 2005, is the highlight with modern design, inspired by the image of lotus leaves. On the contrary, Thượng and Hạ gates, from the Le Trung Hung period, reflect the traditional style with unique stone carving art.
Within the pagoda, visitors will discover attractive architectural works such as the main hall, the Buddha platform, the great hero palace, the stupa, and the Guan Yin platform. Each work not only carries the value of belief, history but also is decorated by exquisite and artistic patterns, sculptures.
Non Nuoc Pagoda stands out with the statue of Buddha Shakyamuni, the tallest in Vietnam. Completed in 2012, the statue is 33 meters high and weighs 300 tons, made of pure copper. Sitting on a 6-meter lotus platform with 8 entrances, symbolizing the eight paths of practice in Buddhism, the Buddha meditates, his right hand resting in his left hand, his face facing south, expressing peace and compassion.
The statue of Buddha Shakyamuni, with its huge size and exquisite details in each carving, is an admirable architectural masterpiece. From a distance, this impressive statue looks like a lighthouse, shining faith and hope for everyone, becoming a meaningful symbol.
The center of Non Nuoc Pagoda is the main hall, the most sacred area in the pagoda. Completed in 2008, the main hall displays modern architecture on an area of 1,500 square meters, with a capacity of up to 3,000 people. Highlighted by the red tile roof, white painted walls, large windows and sturdy pillars, the main hall also boasts a 3.5-meter high copper Buddha statue on the roof, symbolizing the nobility and wisdom of the Buddha’s teachings.
Inside the main hall, three main altars honor the Three Jewels - Buddha Shakyamuni, Buddha Maitreya and Buddha Amitabha. In addition, this sacred space also contains secondary altars for bodhisattvas such as Guan Yin, Ksitigarbha and Manjushri. Decorated on each altar are lamps, vases, and incense, creating an atmosphere of solemnity, imbued with spirituality.
When exploring Non Nuoc Soc Son Pagoda, pay attention to the following instructions to ensure a respectful and complete visit:
- Dress politely and modestly; avoid wearing shorts, skirts, tank tops or off-the-shoulder tops.
- Do not bring pets, do not smoke, do not drink alcohol, avoid eating too much, keep quiet, do not use flash when taking pictures, and do not touch the worship objects.
- Strictly follow the rules and guidelines of the pagoda management, do not enter prohibited areas, and do not damage or steal objects in the pagoda.
- If you have the opportunity, participate in charitable activities such as donating, volunteering, or learning about Buddhism, to contribute to the preservation and development of the pagoda.
After visiting Non Nuoc Pagoda, if you want to find a place to rest or enjoy the cuisine, there are some ideal options nearby:
- Non Nuoc Hotel: Only about 1 km from the pagoda, this hotel offers clean, comfortable rooms, including a restaurant with a diverse menu from local to international cuisine, spa, massage, free wifi and spacious parking. Room rates range from 300,000 to 500,000 dong per night.
- Hoa Sen Guesthouse: Located about 2 km from the pagoda, this guesthouse offers cozy, simple rooms, along with a restaurant with delicious dishes, reasonable prices. There are laundry, airport shuttle, free wifi and safe parking services. Room rates range from 150,000 to 300,000 dong per night.
- Non Nuoc Restaurant: About 500 meters from the pagoda, this restaurant has a large, airy space, garden and fish pond. Serving many delicious dishes, Soc Son specialties such as hill chicken, wild boar, stream fish with prices from 50,000 to 100,000 dong per person. Tourist attractions near Non Nuoc Soc Son Pagoda.
When visiting Non Nuoc Soc Son Pagoda, you can extend your trip by exploring more attractive tourist destinations nearby:
- Soc Son Temple and Phu Dong Thien Vuong Complex: A national historical relic, honoring Saint Giong - a national hero. This area includes Trinh Temple, Thượng Temple, Mau Temple, Dai Bi Pagoda and a 12-meter high statue of Saint Giong. The festival activities take place on the 9th of April lunar calendar and all year round, you can enjoy the poetic mountain scenery.
- Viet Phu Thanh Chuong: A unique cultural tourist area, where reproduces Vietnamese culture through periods with traditional architectural works such as ruong house, stilt house, pagoda and church. You also have the opportunity to enjoy special cuisine and participate in entertainment activities such as water puppetry, circus and folk games.
- Dong Quan Lake: Located in Ban Rom ecotourism area, this natural lake with an area of about 10 ha and green landscape. Here, you can participate in activities such as boating, fishing, watching the sunset, and staying overnight in stilt houses or tents by the lake.
- Ham Lon Mountain: This 462-meter high mountain, about 7 km from the pagoda, is an interesting destination for mountain lovers and camping. The shape of the mountain resembles a pig, from here you can admire the panoramic view of the Soc Son area from the top of the mountain, and experience adventure on the steep and dense forest roads.
Non Nuoc Soc Son Pagoda is a spiritual and cultural tourist destination worth visiting when you come to Hanoi. Schedule and visit the pagoda to have interesting and meaningful experiences.
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