HÀ NỘI — Trấn Quốc Pagoda in West Lake – a Hanoian landmark - was named one of the world’s 16 most beautiful pagodas by the Daily Mail, a  British tabloid newspaper. 
Trấn Quốc Pagoda is located on a small island on the east side of Hà Nội’s West Lake and is the oldest pagoda in the city at more than 1,500 years-old. 
The pagoda was the centre of Buddhism in Thăng Long imperial city (former name of Hà Nội) during the Lý Dynasty (1009-1225) and the Trần Dynasty (1225-1400). 
The pagoda attracts Buddhist followers as well as domestic and foreign tourists. 
The top 16 beautiful pagodas also include Toji Pagoda (Japan), Shwedagon Paya (Myanmar) and a pagoda at Meidai Lamasery Inner in Mongolia. — VNS