The Notable Pagodas in Vietnam – stunning and remarkably intriguing. An integral part of the country’s culture!
There are plenty of notable pagodas in Vietnam. Being majorly composed of Buddhist believers, religious temples and pagodas have been built throughout the years to praise and pay respect to its faith.
Bai Dinh Pagoda
To top our list of notable pagodas in Vietnam is the Bai Dinh Pagoda. It houses the largest bronze Buddha in Southeast Asia.
The pagoda has been around for almost 1,000 years signifying the persistent devotion of Vietnamese people to Buddhism. It has also been a national historical and cultural relic that offers both spiritual and picturesque value.
The temple structure features large cubes, intricate imprints of Vietnam, the materials used were mostly locally available in the country such as the Ninh Binh green stone, Tu Thiet wood, Bat Trang glazed tiles, and a lot more.
Bai Dinh pagoda’s main attractions include Tam Quan gate, bell tower, the Quan Am, Phap Chu, Tam The palaces.
To reach an attraction, one must go through a long walk by stairs – this signifies a person’s patience to set foot in the pure land of humans.
Thien Mu Pagoda
Built during the reign of King Nguyen Hoang in 1601, the Thien Mu pagoda comes second to notable pagodas in Vietnam.
It is the oldest temple found in the capital city and has undergone ongoing rehabilitations to preserve the structure.
The pagoda features a 21-meter high tower with seven floors accessible through a spiral staircase. Each floor houses Buddha statues and the top floor is where the golden Buddha image is kept.
In addition to Phuoc Nguyen tower, Thien Mu pagoda also has architectural works such as Dai Hung Palace, Ksitigarbha Palace, and Quan Am Palace together with stelae and bronze bells.
Aside from its religious purposes, the temple is also home to important artifacts in the history of Vietnam as well as its arts.
The statues of Dharma protectors, the Ten Kings statue, Buddha Maitreya statue, Tam The Buddha statue or the galleries, the couplets here all mark the golden history periods of Thien Mu Pagoda.
Located on the banks of the iconic Huong River, Thien Mu Pagoda with ancient architecture has contributed to the beautification of the whole place making it more charming, solemn, and sacred.
One Pillar Pagoda
The One Pillar Pagoda is a must-visit destination for every visitor. Based on the country’s history, it is considered one of the best temples built by King Ly Thai in 1049.
The architecture of the unique One Pillar Pagoda is “unique”. It features a lotus-like shape blooming on the water. According to Buddhism, the lotus flower signifies purity and nobility.
Thus, people still call it Lien Hoa Dai. The entire temple space is located on a stone pillar under Linh Chieu Lake. The pillar consists of 2 stone blocks but is cleverly mounted as one to create a unique architecture for the temple.
The pagoda is made of several kinds of special wood. Its roof tiles were strategically designed and curved following a meticulous pattern. In temple architecture from ancient times to the present, dragons are an indispensable symbol. This is a symbol of divine authority and bold human values, reflecting the desire and intellect of man.
To reach the top parts of the temple, you have to go through 13 steps made of bricks and while ascending, you will notice that there are stone steles that show a brief history of the temple.
As you enter the temple, expect to see the statue of Quan Am Buddha bathed in sophistication. It is designed to mimic King Ly Thai Tong’s dream – Quan Am Buddha sitting at the heart of a shining lotus flower surrounded by the Linh Chieu lake.
The One Pillar Pagoda is also considered the pinnacle of Eastern philosophy. Many researchers believe that the temple space is built in accordance with the yin and yang.
The pagoda was built in a square shape to symbolize the yin. Meanwhile, the pillar supporting the temple is a circle of yang symbols.
That is the harmony of heaven and earth, birth-death, yin – yang.
Linh Ung Pagoda
The Linh Ung pagoda stands proud at an altitude of 693m above sea level since 2014. It is located in the heart of the Son Tra mountain and is shaped like a turtle. This is the perfect place to admire the vast sea of blue sky and a breath of fresh sea breeze.
It serves as a complex housing ancestor house, monastery, library, main hall, and lecture hall. The whole structure is a combined modern and traditional architectural design.
Its main hall is built with a curved tile roof and its pillars are accentuated by dragon carvings.
The main hall, ancestral house and amphitheatre of the Ling Ung pagoda were built in large creating a majestic finish to the whole place.
Linh Phuoc Pagoda
Another notable pagoda – especially in the Lam Dong Province – is Linh Phuoc. It has been attracting several tourists due to its intriguingly striking structure.
The whole pagoda is covered with fragments of porcelain and bottles, which creates such a strange and impressive appearance.
Expect to be in awe of the 7-floor tower considered to be the highest tower a pagoda can have in Vietnam.
According to the legend, there was a massive halo surrounding the tower for several days.
Another noticeable feature of this pagoda is the Long Hoa Vien, which is a work of a 49-meter-long dragon winding around the statue of Maitreya Buddha. The fins of this dragon are made of 12 000 fragments of beer bottles.
Under this wonderful work is a beautiful lake paired with several artificial mountains.
On the other hand, the Statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva is also a highlight of Linh Phuoc Pagoda. This statue is made of thousands of golden everlasting daisies on the occasion of Da Lat Flower Festival in 2011.
