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Phuoc Kien Pagoda (Phuoc Kien Tu) in Dong Thap province was established before the reign of Emperor Thieu Tri and served as a revolutionary base during the two wars of resistance against France and the United States. However, locals still commonly refer to the pagoda by the colloquial name "King's Lotus Pagoda" because of the many giant lotus plants in its pond.
The upper surface of the leaf is smooth and glossy, light green, while the underside is spiny and has many large veins, divided into small squares that are light red when young and darken as the leaf matures.
According to Abbot Thich Hue Tu, this unusual lotus species appeared in the pond in 1992. No one knew its name; they only heard locals call it the king lotus, the giant lotus, or the long-stemmed lotus...
During the dry season, lotus leaves are only 1-1.5 meters in size, but during the rainy season, when full of water, they can expand to nearly 3 meters and remain fresh for 3 months before wilting. Lotus flowers bloom for 3 days, opening twice each day and changing color continuously.
In August 2011, inspired by the ancient folk verse: "When will we be united as a couple/Like the Twin Lotus with two blossoms on one stem," architect Doan Duc Thanh, photographer Tran Bich, and Kim Chihoo spent several days "hunting" and discovered pink Twin Lotuses in Luong Tai, Bac Ninh.
The Twin Lotus is characterized by two flowers blooming on a single stem, making it very rare and considered the most precious of all flowers. It is elegant, pure, and favored by emperors and literati of the past, who had it cultivated extensively in Kinh Bac and the capital city.
For Buddhists and residents living around the white lotus pond in front of the Nun's Pagoda (also known as Can Linh Pagoda) located in the southwest of Vinh City (Nghe An province), this lotus pond always holds spiritual mysteries that are difficult to explain.
More than 10 years have passed since the land was cleared and the lotus seeds were sown, and this lotus pond has surprised the locals with its unprecedented wonders. The white lotus of Can Linh has a longer lifespan than typical lotuses. As summer draws to a close, while other lotus ponds have faded and begun to bear fruit, the lotus at the temple remains pristine, with its large, delicate white and green buds.
There seems to be a magical, otherworldly contrast between the vast lotus pond in the temple garden and the hurried pace of life on the roadside.
Thai lotus, also known as Hundred-Petal Lotus or Guanyin Lotus, comes in two colors, white and pink. Its most striking feature is the abundance of tiny petals inside when it blooms, creating a unique and beautiful appearance. This hundred-petal lotus is grown at Ninh Xa Pagoda (Thanh Tri, Hanoi).
