Located in Pleiku city, Gia Lai province, Minh Thanh pagoda stands out as a precious gem in the spiritual tourism picture of Vietnam. Built in 1964 under the dedication of Venerable Thich Giac Dao, this pagoda has a bold architectural beauty that blends the sophistication of the Land of the Rising Sun with the influence of Chinese architecture.
Located at 348 Nguyen Viet Xuan Street, Hoi Phu Ward, Minh Thanh Pagoda is influenced by Chinese and Japanese architectural styles.
The curved roof, decorated with reliefs of dragons, phoenixes, clouds, etc., makes this place even more ancient and impressive. According to Ms. Ngoc Minh (Gia Lai), this place has gone through historical upheavals, and some of the temple's structures have been degraded and damaged. In 1997, the temple was restored and some additional structures were built in the temple grounds. After more than 10 years of restoration, Minh Thanh Pagoda has shed its old coat and put on a completely new, more beautiful and spacious appearance. Not only is it an important spiritual place, the temple is also a place where Buddhists and local people come to on full moon days or holidays to pray for peace and find peace of mind.
Minh Thanh Pagoda is a place where Buddhists and local people come to pray for peace on full moon days or holidays.
Unique architecture of Minh Thanh Pagoda
The pagoda impresses visitors with its unique combination of Japanese architecture and charming antiquity. From afar, the pagoda stands out in the foggy mountain town of Pleiku like a miniature palace.
Inside the temple grounds, the statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva is placed in the center, surrounded by rows of trees and stone pillars. On the way to the main hall, visitors will encounter large paintings depicting the teachings of Buddhism for Buddhists and sentient beings.
From afar this place looks like a royal palace.
The airy temple grounds with lovely miniature landscapes, lakes, trees and flowers create a harmonious space, in keeping with the solemnity of the temple. The temple's architecture is built in a simple form of Mandala, with the circle symbolizing a fully bloomed lotus - the basis of Tantric cosmology. The carved motifs here are all based on the foundation of Tantric philosophy, creating a delicate space.
In front of the main hall, visitors will see the stone statues of 18 Arhats. On the right is a 9-storey stupa with unique sachu color and a pointed top like the typical sign of Minh Thanh Pagoda. This place preserves more than 10,000 precious Buddhist scriptures.
The statue of Buddha Quan Am and the green, harmonious miniature landscape further enhance the beauty of the temple.
The stupa with its main color scheme of red and bright yellow looks very eye-catching.
There are also other structures such as the abbot's office, the guest house and some other structures. The Tu An tower, which worships the founder, is also located on the left side of the main hall. The tower has three floors, covered with dragon-scale tiles, decorated with stylized dragons and lotus flowers. The statue of Amitabha Buddha made of stone is very delicately carved, 7.5m high, weighs 40 tons, and is solemnly placed in the middle of the lotus pond with rows of willows surrounding the lake. The scene is both solemn and poetic, making any visitor impressed from the first encounter.
Gate down to Lien Tri Lake.
The willow trees hanging down around the lake, the sky reflected on the water surface created a very poetic scene.
Tien Anh (a tourist from Ho Chi Minh City) shared: "This is my first time here and I am really overwhelmed by the grandeur and unique architecture of this place. The temple is peaceful, every corner makes visitors admire its sophistication. I love the experience of sitting in the lake next to the willow trees, watching the fish swim, and occasionally hearing the temple bell ring, it feels very peaceful."
Walking through the temple grounds, you will be surprised by many miniature landscapes, stone statues and elaborately carved statues and reliefs.
Like lost in some ancient place.
The gate and roof have bold Japanese and Chinese architecture.
Notes when visiting Minh Thanh Pagoda:
- Avoid making noise, walk softly and speak softly, do not cause disorder in the temple grounds.
- Do not touch or change objects used for display in the temple.
- When visiting, visitors should note that there are some areas that are not allowed to enter arbitrarily. You can ask the monks in the temple for instructions.
- On weekdays, you can only visit the outside area. On the 1st or 15th of each month, the temple opens to visit the inside area.
