Ngọc Sơn Temple
Place · Hoàn Kiếm Lake & French Quarter
Cross the red Thê Húc bridge at opening, before the tour groups; 20–30 minutes; pair it with the lake loop at sunrise.
- Red Thê Húc bridge
- Best at opening
- Go at opening
- Bring cash
- Works with kids
Highlights come from Voykit's own data and desk notes, not from reviews. Hover a tag to see its source.
Rules in force · 9Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…Old Quarter pavements are blocked by parked motorbikes an…
- Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
- Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
- Vietnam ↗Apply for the e-visa only on the official government portal; lookalike sites charge extra.
- Vietnam ↗Crossing streets: walk slowly and steadily; motorbikes flow around you — do not stop or run.
- Vietnam ↗Carry Vietnamese đồng in small notes; many stalls and taxis are cash-only.
- North Vietnam ↗Dec–Feb in the north is cool and damp (10–18°C): pack a warm layer.
- North Vietnam ↗Sa Pa and Hà Giang can drop near freezing in December–January and fog in for days; keep a spare night and do not plan a single-day summit.
- Hanoi ↗Old Quarter pavements are blocked by parked motorbikes and stalls: large suitcases go from the car to the door, never on a walk.
- Hanoi ↗Around Hoàn Kiếm Lake, streets close to cars on Friday–Sunday evenings; taxis drop you at the edge.
More
Map & directions
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Plan
Open now, best time to go, opening hours
Go now?
hours and prices: check on the day- Open
- Usually 07:00–18:00Usually 7:00 AM–6:00 PM
- Crowds
Go at opening
MonTueWedThuFriSatSunQuietest Mon–Thu · busiest Sat, Sun · desk estimate
- Tickets
- Adult: about ₫30,000–50,000 (≈ US$2) (2026 estimate)
check (reduced rate for children)
- Time to spend
- 20–30 min · up to 45 min if you linger
Best time to go
Quiet at opening; groups from 09:00; very busy on weekend evenings.
By weekday: quietest Mon–Thu, busiest Sat, Sun.
Opening hours
- Hours
- 07:00–18:00 (typical, check)
- Note
- Opening hours not printed until verified.
- Hours note
- Typical hours; not verified.
Which month is quietest
- Janheavy
- Febpacked
- Marbusy
- Aprbusy
- Maylight
- Junlight
- Jullight
- Auglight
- Sepbusy
- Octheavy
- Novheavy
- Decheavy
Quietest May–Aug · busiest Feb.
Estimate: desk reasoning from school-trip, weekend, season and holiday patterns; not counted. Holidays and events move these weeks.
Weather here, next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Not checked in the last 12 months (no check date on file).
On the ground
Getting in, access, sensory load, what to bring, and where to go if it does not work
Getting in
- Stop
- Đinh Tiên Hoàng street, north-east shore of Hoàn Kiếm Lake
- Ticket
- on site · official site · bring cash
- Stairs
- bridge: arched bridge with low steps
- Shoes
- Shoes on.
Accessibility
- PartialStep-free entrance · bridge: arched bridge with low steps
- NoLifts
- Check firstAccessible toilet
Sensory load
- Sensory load3/5 Medium
Exposure: medium
What to bring and the rules
- Cash · The ticket desk is likely to take cash only.
- Allowed; not of people praying up close.
Rules and prices change: check the official site before you go.
Bailouts
- heat: Tràng Tiền Plaza (AC)
- rain: Café on the lake's west side
Nearest rescue anchor: A — Lake north: Ngọc Sơn gate benches
Problem
Red lines
- Dress modestly; lower your voice at the altar.
Not checked in the last 12 months (no check date on file).
Map and nearby
Where it is, how to get there from your hotel or from where you stand, and what is around it
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Nearby places
Eat nearby
More detail
Everything else we know about this place
Tickets, prices and entry
Tickets & entry
- Where to buy
- Buy at the entrance on the day.
- Buy from the official site or the ticket desk; resellers add a fee for the same ticket.
- Bring cash; cards may not be taken (check).
- Free days
Free entry days in Hanoi (pick Hanoi in the tool; check)
- Photos
- Allowed; not of people praying up close.
- What's closed
- WeeklyOpen daily.
- Tết and full-moon dayscheckHeavy crowds and incense on the 1st and 15th of the lunar month.
“Check” dates move year to year: confirm on the official page for your date.
| Ticket | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Adult entry | about ₫30,000–50,000 (≈ US$2) (2026 estimate) | Buy at the booth before the red bridge; cash. |
Time on site, inside and your plan
Time on site
Minimum
15min
Worthwhile
20min
Typical
30min
p95
45min
How much time do you have?
Enough for a typical visit (30 min).
Nothing else in our notes is a short enough walk from here for the time that is left.
Visit times are typical figures, not promises; queues and closing times can change them.
Step-free check, who it suits, facilities
Step-free check
- Step-free entrance: partly · partlybridge: arched bridge with low steps
- Lifts: no · no
- Accessible toilet: check · check
The red Thê Húc bridge has low steps up and down; the island shrine has thresholds.
Rules on site
- altar
- Lower your voice and do not point your feet at the altar if you sit.
With kids
- with kids
- The bridge and the preserved giant turtle are the draw; hold hands on the bridge steps.
- child price
- check (reduced rate for children)
Combine with
Combine with
- 3 minThăng Long Water Puppet Theatre
- 5 minHàng Đào into the Old Quarter
- 10 minSt Joseph's Cathedral
- —Hoàn Kiếm Lake loop
Walk the Hoàn Kiếm Lake & French Quarter area · the cluster page has the walking order, rescue stops and after-dark notes
Best photo time
Best photo time today
Sun times for today load in your browser.
Deep dive
Questions, photos, and where our facts come from
Questions and answers
Questions and answers
Is there an entry fee?
Yes, a small fee at the bridge gate; bring cash (check the posted price).
Checked 2026-09-28 · Voykit desk
How long do I need?
20–30 minutes, then carry on around the lake.
Checked 2026-09-28 · Voykit desk
Photos
Photos
Ngọc Sơn Temple Photo: Richard Mortel from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, CC BY 2.0
Deep dive
Sources
- officialHanoi Department of Tourism
- secondaryWikivoyage — Hanoi
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Source: Price
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
Prices are 2026 estimates. The official site has the current price.
Source: Opening hours
Source: Best hour
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
No official source is recorded for this figure.
The quietest window written into this guide. Crowd levels are desk estimates, not counts.
Source: Bag rating
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
No official source is recorded for this figure.
Rated for the whole walking cluster, from desk research, not for this entrance.