Spiritual tourism is one of the current beauties of people who believe in Buddha, follow Buddha. The increasing development of Vietnamese society means that temples with spiritual beliefs have also sprouted up. Renovated, built to become more complete. But few people can know which temple is the oldest in our country. Let’s take a look at some of the oldest temples in our country today.
Strawberry Pagoda – Bac Ninh
As the first pagoda of Vietnam built in the 3rd century, Dau Pagoda is currently located in Thuan Thanh district, Bac Ninh province. In addition to the name of the rustic Dau pagoda, this temple is also known by familiar names such as Thien Dinh, Duyen Ung, Phap Van or Ca pagoda, Co Chau Tu, Dien Ung Tu. According to some documents, Dau Pagoda was built in 187 and completed in 226. This is considered the earliest pagoda in Vietnam.
Along with the oldest history of formation and development, Dau Pagoda is also recognized by historians and Buddhist scholars as “Dau Pagoda is the ancestral home of Vietnamese Buddhism”, ranked as a historical relic in 1962.
Dau Pagoda Festival is held on August 4 every year.
One Pillar Pagoda – Hanoi
Dubbed the “thousand-year-old lotus flower of the Capital”, the One Pillar Pagoda located in the middle of Ha Thanh land witnessed many changes happening here. In addition to the name One Pillar Pagoda describing its shape, this temple is also known with flowery names such as Dien Huu Pagoda, Lien Hoa Dai.
Built in the reign of King Ly Thai Tong with the most unique architecture forming a lotus shape below, it looks like a fanciful spray of water. This is also one of the most popular tourist attractions in Hanoi.
In the past, every 8th day of the 4th lunar month, the kings and mandarins came here to burn incense and pray to Buddha. Today, on the first and full moon days, people also come to this ancient sacred place.
Yen Tu Pagoda – Quang Ninh
As a relic complex located from the foot to the top of Yen Tu mountain, Yen Tu pagoda is the place associated with the name of the Buddha, King Tran Nhan Tong. It can be said that the Yen Tu relic is “the capital of Dai Viet Buddhism, the source of Vietnamese Buddhism”. Going back to the place where Yen Tu Thien sects Truc Lam, we seem to be lost in an ancient fairyland with legendary stories and legends about the “King turned Buddha”, about a Sacred Realm of Buddhist heaven and earth.
People tell each other that anyone who goes to Yen Tu pagoda for three consecutive years will have a lot of luck in life. And people often walk all the way to show their sincerity (replace by cable car). In Yen Tu, there is a Spring Festival, usually held every year starting on January 10 and lasting until the end of March (lunar calendar).
Tran Quoc Pagoda – Hanoi
Located on an island east of West Lake, Tran Quoc Pagoda has the oldest history in Thang Long (Hanoi) over a thousand years. The architecture of Tran Quoc Pagoda is a harmonious combination between the majesty but ancient with the elegant and elegant landscape of a beautiful and calm lake in the capital.
This place was the Buddhist center of the citadel in the Ly – Tran dynasties. Tran Quoc Pagoda is a famous sacred place of Buddhist followers and also a destination that attracts many domestic and foreign spiritual tourists to gather.
On the first day, the full moon day or even weekdays, this place is also a place to attract spiritual tourists from all over the world to gather.
Sung Nghiem Dien Thanh Pagoda – Thanh Hoa
Like an ancient temple that appeared before the Ly Dynasty, Sung Nghiem Dien Thanh Pagoda is currently located on Hau Loc land, Thanh Hoa province. Once recognized as a national monument, this temple is the place to worship the famous general Tran Hung Dao.
The pagoda festival is held every year on February 8-10 of the lunar calendar. This place attracts a large number of Buddhists from all over the country to attend the festival.
Temple of Saint Duyen – Hue
Located in the dreamy land of Hue, Thanh Duyen Pagoda was built in the Nguyen Dynasty around the second half of the 17th century. Located on Thuy Son mountain, the ancient temple is like a picture that blends with mountains and clouds, a true fairy-tale place for many generations.
Once known as the “national temple” under King Minh Mang, Thanh Duyen temple is also the mootjt in the places that attract tourists to find and enjoy.
The festival of Thanh Duyen Pagoda is held on January 25 of the lunar calendar every year.
Thien Buu Pagoda – Khanh Hoa
Located in Ninh Hoa, Khanh Hoa, Thien Buu Pagoda is an ancient temple more than 300 years old. With the architecture in the shape of the word “Mon”, Thien Buu Pagoda is the place built by To The Hien – Buu Duong.
In addition to the name Thien Buu Pagoda, Khanh Hoa people also call the pagoda with names such as To Pagoda, Ky Pagoda. Every year on February 18-19 of the lunar calendar, Thien Buu Pagoda often organizes the Quan The Am Bodhisattva Festival.
Linh Phong Pagoda – Binh Dinh
As an ancient temple located in Binh Dinh, Linh Phong Pagoda is also known as Ong Nui. Linh Phong Pagoda is a place with a beautiful location, in front of the temple is the sea, around the temple is the river. This place has a peaceful atmosphere and is very wild. Because of that, Linh Phong Pagoda has become a destination that attracts many tourists to visit.
Linh Phong Pagoda Festival takes place on 2 days 24-25/1 lunar calendar every year.
Giac Vien Pagoda – Ho Chi Minh City
Located in District 11, Giac Vien Pagoda is an ancient temple that was recognized as a national historical-cultural relic in 1993. In addition to the name Giac Vien pagoda, this temple is also called Ho Dat pagoda. . This is one of the more than 150-year-old ancient temples in Ho Chi Minh City possessing an architecture classified as rare. Currently, the temple is also in the process of being restored. Every year on the first and full moon days, the people of District 11 come to the temple to burn incense and pray for good luck and peace for the whole month.
From this place onwards, you can see silkworms flying. Quang Ngai Thien An Pagoda built in the 17th century is also more than 300 years old, not listed, going to list the temple has 150 years old but calling it old.ten8
Giac Lam Pagoda – Ho Chi Minh City
As one of the oldest pagodas in Ho Chi Minh City, Giac Lam Pagoda located in Tan Binh district is considered the “family house” of the Zen Lam Te school in the South of our country. In addition to the name Giac Lam pagoda, the temple is also known by names such as Cam Son pagoda, Son Can pagoda or Cam Dem pagoda.
In 1988, the temple was also recognized as a national historical and cultural heritage. This is a temple over 270 years old and is one of the few temples that is known by almost all the people of the South.
On the first day, the full moon day or even weekdays, this ancient temple always attracts many tourists to visit.
Huong pagoda
Perfume Pagoda is a way of saying in folklore. In fact, Perfume Pagoda or Huong Son Pagoda is an entire cultural-religious complex of Vietnam, including dozens of Buddhist temples, several temples worshiping gods, communal houses, and agricultural beliefs. The pagoda is located in Huong Son commune, My Duc district, Hanoi, on the right bank of the Day River. The center of the cluster of temples and pagodas in this region is Huong Pagoda located in Huong Tich cave, also known as Trong pagoda.
Perfume Pagoda Festival starts from January 6 to March 3 of the lunar calendar. The peak of the festival is from the full moon of January to February 18 of the lunar calendar.
Thay Pagoda
Thay Pagoda is a temple at the foot of Sai Son mountain, Quoc Oai district, former Ha Tay province, now Sai Son commune, Quoc Oai district. The temple is about 20 km southwest of Hanoi center, along the Lang – Hoa Lac highway. Sai Son’s Nom name is Thay Mountain, so the pagoda is called Thay Pagoda. The pagoda was built during the Dinh Dynasty. This used to be the place of practice of Zen Master Tu Dao Hanh, now Thay mountain is also known as Phat Tich mountain.
The Thay Pagoda Festival is held on the 5th day of the 3rd lunar month. During the 3 days of the festival, Buddhist monks and nuns, tourists from all over the region come here to attend the ceremony, sightsee, offer incense and pray to the Buddha, pray for grace…
Bai Dinh Pagoda
Located at the western gateway of Hoa Lu ancient capital, Bai Dinh pagoda is located in Gia Sinh commune, Gia Vien district, 15 km from Ninh Binh city. This is a complex of pagodas including an old temple and a new temple built in 2003. The ancient temple is quiet, quiet and sacred. Meanwhile, the new pagoda is massive but still imbued with traditional identity.
Bai Dinh is a temple that holds many records of Vietnam and Asia such as:
- The pagoda has the largest area in Vietnam
- The temple has the largest gilded bronze Buddha in Asia
- There are the most Arhat statues in Asia
- The temple has the largest Maitreya Buddha statue in Asia
Thai Binh Keo Pagoda
Keo Pagoda is located in Duy Nhat commune, Vu Thu district, Thai Binh province. The pagoda is named Tran Quang Tu, built-in 1630 and completed in 1632. Over nearly 400 hundred years of existence, Keo Pagoda is one of the beautiful pagodas in Vietnam with the Le Dynasty architecture. preserved almost intact.
Currently, Keo Pagoda has 17 works including 128 booths built in the style of “Foreign interior and exterior”. In particular, the steeple of the pagoda is considered a feat of architectural art. The attic consists of 3 floors, 11.50m high, each floor hangs a common persimmon. The roof of the steeple has a structure of nearly 100 elephant heads, which is really a gem in Vietnam’s architectural heritage. The dragon-carved door set is a unique set of doors in the country. In addition to the ancient architecture, the pagoda also preserves many precious relics and worshiping objects. Those are Dai Hong Chung cast from the Le Dynasty, a pair of Bat Trang porcelain vases, an incense table… It can be said that Keo Pagoda is an art museum of the early seventeenth century, with many unique masterpieces.
Thien Mu Pagoda
Also known as Linh Mu, Thien Mu Pagoda is also one of the beautiful pagodas in Vietnam. Not only entering the romantic poems of Hue but also in the verse, Thien Mu is also considered a sacred temple that every visitor should not miss when coming to this ancient capital.
Thien Mu Pagoda is located on Ha Khe hill, in Kim Long ward, about 5km from Hue city center. The pagoda was built in 1601 by Lord Tien Nguyen Hoang – the first Nguyen lord in Dang Trong. This is also considered the oldest pagoda in Hue.
Vinh Nghiem Pagoda
Located on Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street, Vinh Nghiem is the most famous pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City. The pagoda was founded by two northern monks, Thich Tam Giac and Thich Thanh Kiem. In 1964, the pagoda was started to build and was basically completed in 1971.
Vinh Nghiem Pagoda has an overall architecture including the three gates, the central building and the stupas. In particular, the Vinh Nghiem stone tower is recognized as the tallest and most elaborate stone tower in Vietnam. The tower is 7 floors (14m) high, worshiping the late Venerable Thich Thanh Kiem. According to the assessment, Vinh Nghiem Pagoda is one of the typical works of Vietnamese Buddhist architecture in the 20th century.
Spiritual tourism, towards the Buddha realm, is a beauty in the Vietnamese tradition of our country. Coming to the sacred realm, we feel like we can relax our souls and travel to the Buddha realm and the fairyland. Please approach the Buddha door with a pure heart!