Within the vicinity of Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum, the One Pillar Pagoda attracts a steady stream of tourists and devotees alike. Unlike the grand mausoleum, the pagoda is petite and looks delicate – it stands on a single pillar in the center of a pond, resembling a lotus flower.

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The interesting story behind the pagoda talks about an 11th century emperor, Ly Thai Tong, who build the pagoda is an act of thanksgiving to the goddess of mercy for giving him a wife, and more importantly a male heir.

The sad part of the story, is that of the pagoda itself. The one standing today is not the original pagoda built by the emperor – credit goes to the French colonialists who destroyed the original structure before they left the city. Sounds senseless.

See more: The beauty of Ham Rong Mountain in sa pa, Lao Cai.