Ngoc Son Temple

Ngoc Son Temple is a historic temple located on Jade Island in Hoan Kiem Lake in central Hanoi, Vietnam. Connected to the lakeshore by the iconic red Huc Bridge, it is one of Hanoi's most visited cultural landmarks. Originally built in the 19th century, the temple honors national hero Tran Hung Dao, scholar Van Xuong, and patron saint La To, reflecting Confucian and Taoist traditions and Vietnamese heritage.

Visitors can expect to cross the bright red Huc Bridge over Hoan Kiem Lake to reach Jade Island, where the temple complex sits among trees and lake views. The site includes traditional Vietnamese temple architecture with ornate gates, courtyards, altars, preserved giant turtle specimens, calligraphy displays, and incense-filled worship halls. The surroundings are tranquil despite the central city location, with views of the lake, Pen Tower (Thap But) and Dap Nghien (Ink Slab) at the entrance.

The temple was established in the 19th century, with major construction in 1841-1842 on Jade Island, on a site associated with earlier structures. It was expanded and restored by scholar Nguyen Van Sieu. It commemorates the 13th-century military leader Tran Hung Dao, the scholar Van Xuong De Quan, and La To, the patron saint of physicians, and is linked to the legend of the Hoan Kiem Lake and the returned sword.

Ngoc Son Temple is an important example of Vietnamese religious architecture blending Confucian and Taoist traditions. It serves as a place of worship and cultural education honoring national heroes, scholarship and traditional medicine, and remains a central cultural symbol of Hanoi and Hoan Kiem Lake.