5 famous and ancient temples in Vietnam

Dau Pagoda

Dau Pagoda, also known as Dien Ung Pagoda, Phap Van Pagoda, or Co Chau Pagoda, is located in Thanh Khuong Ward, Thuan Thanh Town, Bac Ninh Province. Construction began in 187 and was completed in 226. This oldest pagoda is closely associated with the cultural history and Buddhism of Vietnam, and was classified as a historical monument by the State on April 28, 1962.

Dâu Pagoda is associated with the legend of the Buddhist Mother Man Nương, worshipped at the ancestral pagoda in Mèn village, Mãn Xá. The pagoda was rebuilt in 1313 and has been renovated many times over the following centuries. King Trần Anh Tông commissioned the scholar Mạc Đĩnh Chi to reconstruct Dâu Pagoda into a hundred-room pagoda with a nine-story tower and a nine-span bridge. Currently, only a few fragments of carvings from the Trần and Lê dynasties remain in the main hall.

The most prominent structure in the pagoda is the Hoa Phong Tower. According to ancient texts, during the Tran Dynasty, the scholar Mac Dinh Chi renovated Dau Pagoda and built a nine-story tower. The remaining architecture of the tower dates back to the Le Trung Hung period. The tower was built with old fired bricks, with three stories and a height of 15 meters.

Tran Quoc Pagoda

Tran Quoc Pagoda (also known as Khai Quoc Pagoda) is one of the oldest pagodas in Hanoi and Vietnam. Built during the reign of King Ly Nam De (544-548), it is located on a small island in the northeast of West Lake, Hanoi. It was once the center of Buddhism in Thang Long (Hanoi) during the Ly and Tran dynasties. Tran Quoc Pagoda is renowned for its sacredness, attracting many Buddhist followers, tourists, and visitors from both within and outside the country.

The temple complex consists of several layers of buildings, with three main structures connected to form the Chinese character "Công" (meaning "work" or "achievement"), including: the front hall, the crematorium, and the main sanctuary. The three characters "Phương Tiện môn" (meaning "Means of Ease") are still visible on the temple gate. Both couplets are beautifully written in Nôm script: "The sound of carriages and horses passing by on the mundane road / The face of the mountains and rivers opens up at the gate of Zen."

Tran Quoc Pagoda's architecture resembles a blooming lotus flower, evoking the image of the Buddha's lotus pedestal. In the large courtyard in front, a large incense burner is placed in the center for visitors and Buddhists to offer incense. In addition to the original architecture, in 2003, the pagoda inaugurated the 15-meter-high, 11-story Six-Degree Lotus Pagoda, each floor containing six elegant white statues of Amitabha Buddha made of precious stone. A lotus-shaped tower, also carved from stone, sits atop the pagoda.

Immersing themselves in the serene and tranquil atmosphere of Tran Quoc Pagoda, tourists also have the opportunity to explore the architectural art in its intricate carvings. Many parts of the pagoda's tiled roof are covered in moss, but this does not detract from Tran Quoc's harmonious beauty. In fact, it only enhances the timeless charm of this sacred thousand-year-old pagoda.

Tay Phuong Pagoda

Some books and articles about Tay Phuong Pagoda claim it was built during the Mac Dynasty, but this cannot be proven. Tay Phuong Pagoda's official name is "Sung Phuc Tu 崇福寺," also known as Tay Phuong Co Tu. The pagoda is located approximately 40km from the center of Hanoi, on the summit of Cau Lau hill, Yen village, Thach Xa commune, Thach That district, Hanoi.

In 1632, during the reign of King Le Than Tong, the temple was rebuilt with a three-bay main hall, a rear sanctuary, and a 20-bay corridor. Between approximately 1657 and 1682, King Trinh Lac of Tay Do ordered the demolition of the old temple and the construction of a new one and a triple gate. In 1794, during the Tay Son dynasty, the temple was completely restored and given the new name "Tay Phuong Co Tu" (Ancient Tay Phuong Temple). Its exterior and architecture have been preserved exactly as they are today.

One of the attractions for visitors to Tay Phuong Pagoda is its many statues – rare masterpieces in religious sculpture. If you look closely, you'll see intricately carved statues of flowers, chrysanthemums, dragons, phoenixes, and tigers everywhere. These carvings were all created by skilled artisans from Chang Son village – a renowned woodworking village.

Huong Pagoda

Huong Pagoda has a history dating back to the 15th century. The pagoda was built on a large scale around the end of the 17th century, then destroyed during the Indochina War in 1947, and subsequently restored in 1989 by Venerable Thich Vien Thanh, under the guidance of the late Venerable Thich Thanh Chan.

In fact, Huong Pagoda, or Huong Son, is an entire Vietnamese cultural and religious complex, comprising dozens of Buddhist temples, several shrines dedicated to deities, and communal houses dedicated to agricultural beliefs. The center of the Huong Pagoda complex is located in Huong Son commune, My Duc district, Hanoi, on the right bank of the Day River. The central temple in this area is Huong Pagoda itself, situated within Huong Tich Cave.

It is believed that if one visits Huong Tich Cave at the beginning of the year to light incense and sincerely pray, all their wishes will surely come true. Its reputation has spread far and wide, so every year Huong Pagoda welcomes millions of Buddhists who come to worship, enjoy the spring scenery, and admire the landscape. Huong Pagoda has become a journey to the realm of Buddha for Buddhists and tourists from all over, and a source of inspiration for many famous poets and writers.

Thầy Pagoda

Located approximately 20km from the center of Hanoi, Thầy Pagoda sits at the foot of Sài Sơn Mountain (also known as Thầy Mountain or Phật Tích Mountain) in Sài Sơn commune, Quốc Oai district, formerly Hà Tây province. Amidst the majestic mountains and hills, Thầy Pagoda exudes an air of peace and tranquility.

Initially, Thầy Pagoda was just a small hermitage (Hương Hải hermitage) – where Zen Master Từ Đạo Hạnh resided. King Lý Nhân Tông ordered its reconstruction into two pagoda complexes: the Upper Pagoda (Đỉnh Sơn Tự) on the mountain and the Lower Pagoda (also known as the Main Pagoda, or Thiên Phúc Tự). In the early 17th century, Dĩnh Quận Công and the royal family oversaw the restoration and construction of the Buddha Hall and the Saint Hall; later, the rear building, the stele house, and the bell tower.

According to feng shui principles, the temple is built on land shaped like a dragon. To the left of the temple is the shape of Long Dau (Dragon's Head), while the back and right side rest against Sai Son mountain. The temple faces south, with a large lake called Long Chieu (Dragon's Pond) situated in front of it, between Sai Son and Long Dau. The temple courtyard resembles the dragon's mouth, and the water pavilion is like a pearl held in the dragon's beak. The Nguyet Tien Kieu and Nhat Tien Kieu bridges are like the dragon's whiskers.

The ancient temple, with its curved tiled roof, is quite grandly constructed in a unique "Tam" (three-part) architectural style, consisting of the Lower, Middle, and Upper temples running parallel to each other. The temple is surrounded by a clear blue lake with blooming flowers, a water pavilion, a water puppet theater, and two small bridges: the Nhat Tien Bridge leading to the Tam Phu Temple, and the Nguyet Tien Bridge connecting to the path up the mountain.

Thầy Pagoda, with its beautiful natural landscape and rich cultural and historical values, truly makes it an attractive tourist destination. Set against the majestic mountain backdrop of Sài Sơn, Thầy Pagoda emerges in tranquility, shrouded in ethereal mist or amidst bustling crowds of worshippers. This pagoda is closely associated with the Zen master Từ Đạo Hạnh, who made significant contributions to education, healing the people, and the creation of water puppetry.

Bi Le