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In National Geographic's list of the 20 most beautiful temples in the world, many structures are featured, such as: Wat Rong Khun (White Temple), Chiang Rai (Thailand), Seiganto-ji Temple (Japan), Paro Taktsang Buddhist Monastery (Bhutan), Angkor Wat temple complex (Cambodia), Bagan Buddhist sanctuary (Myanmar), Man Mo Temple (Hong Kong), Wat Xieng Thong temple in the ancient capital of Luang Prabang (Laos)... and two temples in Vietnam: Tran Quoc Pagoda (Hanoi) and Buu Long Pagoda (Ho Chi Minh City).
Tran Quoc Pagoda, located on an island in the eastern part of West Lake (Tay Ho District), has a history of nearly 1,500 years, making it the oldest pagoda in Thang Long - Hanoi. The pagoda's architecture harmoniously combines solemnity and antiquity with the elegant landscape amidst the tranquil setting of the vast lake. As the center of Buddhism in Thang Long during the Ly-Tran dynasties, with its historical and architectural values, Tran Quoc Pagoda is renowned as a sacred Buddhist site, attracting many Buddhist followers and tourists from both within and outside Vietnam.
According to the Dictionary of Vietnamese Cultural Relics, Tran Quoc Pagoda was originally Khai Quoc Pagoda, built during the Early Ly Dynasty (Ly Nam De, 541-547), in Y Hoa village, near the Red River. During the Le Trung Hung Dynasty (1615), the pagoda was moved inside the Yen Phu dike, built on the old foundation of Thuy Hoa Palace (during the Ly Dynasty) and Han Nguyen Palace (during the Tran Dynasty). In 1624, 1628, and 1639, the pagoda was further renovated and expanded. Nguyen Xuan Chinh, a scholar who passed the imperial examinations, composed an inscription on a stele erected at the pagoda in 1639 about this renovation work. At the beginning of the Nguyen Dynasty, the pagoda was again renovated, a bell was cast, and statues were sculpted. In 1821, Emperor Minh Mang visited the pagoda and granted 20 taels of silver for repairs. In 1842, Emperor Thieu Tri visited the pagoda, granted one large gold coin and 200 quan (Vietnamese currency), and renamed the pagoda Tran Bac. However, the name Tran Quoc Pagoda, which dates back to the reign of King Le Hy Tong, has been commonly used by the people until today.
Meanwhile, Buu Long Pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City has been praised by National Geographic magazine for its unique architecture. Located in District 9, about 20km from the city center, Buu Long Pagoda is officially named Buu Long Ancestral Monastery. Founded in 1942, and subsequently renovated and expanded until 2007, Buu Long Pagoda has become a prime example of the harmonious blend of Thai and Indian architecture with the finest elements of Nguyen Dynasty architecture.
