Tran Quoc pagoda in Hanoi (Photo: baophapluat.vn)

Tran Quoc pagoda is located on a small peninsula on the east side of the West Lake and is nearly 1,500 years old. It was the Buddhist centre of Thang Long citadel during the Ly and Tran Dynasty.

According to the magazine, the 11-story red pagoda is topped by a nine-story gemstone lotus. Gold and bronze statues clutter altars throughout the temple, and three different female Buddhas, called “Mothers,” can be found in Tran Quoc’s front courtyard.

With its historical and architectural values, Tran Quoc pagoda has attracted many Buddhists and visitors in Vietnam and from abroad.

Buu Long Pagoda, which is located on an area of over 11 hectares at the Ethnic Culture Historical Park in District 9, Ho Chi Minh City, formed by Venerable Vo Ha Thuat in 1942.

The National Geographic highlights that the pagoda features carved dragons that curve down the temple stairs and a turquoise pool reflects the temple’s white walls and golden spires.

Other 18 most beautiful Buddhist temples voted by the US magazine are Bagan (Myanmar), Wat Benchamabophit (Thailand), Seiganto-ji (Japan), Wat Rong Khun (Thailand), Paro Taktsang (Bhutan), Taung Kalat (Myanmar), Wat Xieng Thong (Laos), Buddhist and Taoist Man Mo Temple in Hong Kong (China), Kye Gompa (India), Mahabodhi (India), Byodo-In (Hawaii), Angkor Wat (Cambodia), Gyeongbokgung Palace(the Republic of Korea), Datsan Gunzechoinei (Russia), Gangtey Monastery (Bhutan), Kopan Monastery (Nepal), Borobudur (Indonesia) and Thean Hou (Malaysia).

Buu Long pagoda, HCM City, Vietnam   Complex of temples in Bagan, Indonesia     Wat Benchamabophit, Bangkok, Thailand   Seiganto-ji, Japan   Wat Rong Khun, Thailand     Paro Taktsang, Bhutan   Taung Kalat, Myanmar     Wat Xieng Thong, Laos     Man Mo, Hong Kong, China

VietNamNet/Nhan Dan/National Geographic