Som Rong Soc Trang Pagoda is one of the beautiful Khmer architecture in the southwestern region with its ancient and attractive stupas.
History of Som Rong Soc Trang Pagoda
Coming to Soc Trang, tourists cannot ignore the opportunity to learn about the culture and famous places of the Khmer people. Among them, the most prominent is Som Rong pagoda located at 367 Ton Duc Thang street, ward 5, city. Soc Trang. Temple Wat Rong Som Patum Wongsa or Som Rong was built for the first time since 1785, initially only a simple thatched bamboo walls. The new temple is now rebuilt 1km from the old temple, through many remodeling to become more spacious and beautiful.
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Although appearing for a long time, it was not until 2000 that the main hall of Som Rong Soc Trang pagoda was completed. In 2003, building more sala and adding to many missing items, then until 2017 officially inaugurated all. Over the past 12 years, Venerable Ly Minh Duc is presiding over. The reason for this place is so called because in the past, around the campus there were many som rong trees, now only a few and instead of the old trees.
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The pagoda is not only a place where Khmer ethnic people in Soc Trang come to live, keep proud traditional culture. But this is also becoming an attractive destination for tourists every time they have the opportunity to visit, because the ancient campus has been preserved over time. Along with that are the impressive architectures that turn into the irresistible beautiful super magic background. 
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Impressive architectural campus
If you go to Som Rong pagoda in Soc Trang once, you will see a very unique and impressive architecture. Mixing between traditional Khmer style, there is a bit of modern and eye-catching attraction for tourists. Each line hides cultures, ancient and rich in aesthetics and art. The campus is spacious, cool with green trees decorated everywhere, the temple also has many statues of Buddha Shakyamuni with different poses.
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Right from the temple gate area, you can see the traditional Khmer patterns with the Nagar snake image. 5 towers on the roof are like 5 gods living and are also symbols of 5 Mount Meru. If you go from the entrance to the main area, you will pass the ancient trees radiating shade on both sides, the far side is the giant Nirvana Buddha. Pure and cool air is different from the noise of the city outside. 
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Like the Khmer Western temples in other places, the pagoda includes works such as: main hall, sala, house, book library for people to study culture. There are ancient points that have been tinged with time, some have been remodeled and new spacious. Each place has its own impressive beauty, but when combined in harmony with each other to create a beautiful overall, Som Rong Soc Trang Pagoda is loved by many people as well as tourists. 
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Main hall area
This is where there is an altar with the wrist Buddha statue facing out, inside there are 6 supporting columns surrounded by a unique pattern of Theravada Buddhism. The entrance has a statue of unicorns on both sides of the door, around the wall hung pictures of Buddha’s life from birth to nirvana which are vividly depicted. The roof is layered 3 layers on top of each other, the corners are decorated with the Khmer dragon statue, the Krud god bird … creates a serious and solemn. 
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The magnificent stupa
Located in parallel to the main hall area, extremely prominent is a tourist attraction, especially young people coming to Som Rong Soc Trang Pagoda . The stupa was built in a 100-square-meter campus, with a striking gray color inaugurated in 2012, like a fairytale not inferior to the stupas in Thailand. This is the place where the ashes of the great virtues are kept in the temple and the followers have no place to rely. An equally important and sacred place in this temple.
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Possessing a rare impressive design that is 25 meters high and 11 meters wide, four sides are separate steps and paths representing Tu – Bi – Hi – Xa. Below the steps is a 5-headed Nagar snake statue on both sides with eye-catching Khmer sculpture patterns. In the center is a golden Buddha statue facing the East, on each corner there is also a Buddha statue placed on each floor above. Just standing in any corner here you can capture impressive pictures like a place. 
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The majestic nirvana Buddha statue
Equally outstanding at Wat Som Rong Soc Trang Temple is the 63-meter-long and 22.5-meter high Buddha Shakyamuni Buddha that is considered the largest in Vietnam. The 490-ton statue with an estimated construction cost of over 20 billion is extremely prominent, becoming a highlight in the whole. What attracts Buddhists as well as tourists every time they have the opportunity to come to the peaceful Soc Trang land. 
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The Buddha statue is in the lying position, even if you go from a few hundred meters away, you can clearly see the compassionate gaze looking at sentient beings. Standing in front of the statue as if wanting everyone to love each other makes the heart calm down, feeling indescribably peaceful. Especially in the afternoon, while visiting the pagoda to pray for peace, admiring the view of the harmony between modern and ancient, you cannot help but be immersed in that scene.
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Traveling to the southwestern region of Vietnam , the pagoda architecture always brings great attraction in both cultural and artistic architecture. Som Rong pagoda with quintessence crystallized from hundreds of years, is typical for the spiritual life of the Khmer ethnic people in Soc Trang as well as the horticultural waters. Do not forget to once visit this fairyland to visit and bring yourself impressive photos.