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Buu Long Pagoda was founded in 1942. Through investment in construction and restoration until 2007, it has become a magnificent architectural masterpiece, combining Thai style with the essence of Nguyen Dynasty architecture and Southeast Asian culture.
Buu Long Pagoda has the distinctive features of pagodas in the Land of the Golden Pagodas.
Officially known as Buu Long Ancestral Monastery, this temple, located about 20km from the center of Ho Chi Minh City, has become a popular tourist attraction and Buddhist pilgrimage site not only for city residents but also for people from surrounding areas.
Currently, the temple complex comprises various areas such as the grounds, main hall, refectory, monks' quarters, and hermitages. The combination of these elements has created a unique architecture that attracts the attention of visitors.
Many tourists come to visit and admire the unique architecture of this place.
According to Theravada Buddhism, this temple only houses a statue of Shakyamuni Buddha and never burns incense like temples of other sects. This sets it apart.
Upon entering the ancient Buu Long Pagoda, visitors are immediately impressed by the entrance, enveloped in a fresh and tranquil atmosphere thanks to the lush green foliage. The pagoda grounds are vast, spanning 11 hectares, with many shady trees lining the western hillside. A prominent emerald-green lake in front, with a dragon-shaped fountain in the center, adds to the serene ambiance of the pagoda.
Buu Long is covered in the refreshing green of trees.
The temple's highlight is the Gotama Cetiya stupa, constructed from 2007 and completed after six years. This stupa houses relics of the Buddha and other holy monks. Covering an area of over 2,000 square meters and standing 70 meters tall, it was built in the Funan cultural style, surrounded by smaller bronze stupas with a gleaming golden color.
Upon entering the temple grounds, visitors will have the opportunity to admire the Gotama Cetiya stupa.
The pagoda, reaching a height of 56 meters, is surrounded by four smaller pagodas representing the Birth, Enlightenment, Dharma Wheel, and Nirvana. Its architecture is inspired by Thai temples, predominantly white with a vibrant gold spire. Wind chimes adorn the top of the pagoda, further enhancing its reverence. Two 15-meter-tall bell towers flank the main pagoda. Additionally, a total of 32 lamps, each approximately 4 meters tall, surround the pagoda, adding an interesting visual touch.
The interior design of the pagoda is created with a balance of proportion and contrast, yet maintains harmony. This is a key highlight in the pagoda's architecture.
The crescent-shaped lake covers an area of 280 square meters, with a dragon-shaped fountain in the center.
Besides venerating the relics of the Buddha and the Arhats, this place also houses a large lecture hall used for meetings, sermons, and meditation. The abbot of the temple also stated that this stupa embodies the distinctive architecture of Theravada Buddhism in Southeast Asia. Unique decorative motifs such as dragons winding on the dome, embossed patterns, reliefs, and the Dharma wheel all originate from the ancient Funan culture, creating a unique cultural heritage for this temple.
The unique architecture of the temple
Buu Long Pagoda, a spiritual tourist destination in Saigon, is famous for being known as the "smokeless pagoda," and is no longer unfamiliar to spiritual followers in the South. When visiting the pagoda, tourists are only allowed to worship and pray; lighting incense is prohibited within the pagoda grounds.
Tourists can go up to the upper floors to enjoy a panoramic view of the temple, but they must adhere to the dress code, wearing only shorts and short skirts.
The sacred space behind the temple, where the image of Buddha Shakyamuni under the Bodhi tree is recreated.
The area dedicated to the worship of Arhats.
