The One Pillar Pagoda was originally built by the Emperor Ly Thai Tong between the years of 1028 to 1054. Built of wood on a single stone pillar in the center of a lotus pond, the pagoda was designed to resemble a lotus blossom.

The shrine inside the pagoda is dedicated to the Vietnamese Buddhist deity Quan Am. One of Vietnam's iconic temples, the pagoda is set in a beautifully tranquil garden.

The pagoda was rebuilt in 1955 when the base was destroyed during the French evacuation of Hanoi.