Temples and pagodas around Hanoi - Part 2

More and more pagodas with AMAZING festivals in Hanoi attract tourists in Spring. These pagodas are becoming a necessary part of local people life.

Keo Pagoda - Thai Binh province

Location: Dung Nhue Hamlet, Duy Nhat Commune, Vu Thu District, Thai Binh Province

Name: Than Quang pagoda

Main festival: 13th to 15th of the ninth lunar month

It is said that Duong Khong Lo Monk built Keo Pagoda between 1133 and 1154. He is both a famous Monk and famous doctor in Ly Dynasty. After successful treatment for King Ly Thanh Tong from a serious disease, he was honorably given the title of Quoc Su (Royal Teacher) and plenty of money and land. He used that to build the pagoda.

Ancient Keo Pagoda

Architecturally, Keo Pagoda is impressive to both domestic and foreign tourists in Vietnam travel who have chances to visit the pagoda at least once time. The pagoda stretches the area of 7,200 square meters, bordering the Red River. There are two passages which separate the pagoda and temple. They are decorated with curved roofs that join together at the 11.5 meter-iron wood bell tower. This iron wood bell tower has three stories, each of which possesses its own tiled roof and bronze bell. Up to now, Keo Pagoda has proudly preserved one of the few surviving sets of rod puppets in Vietnam.

Carving in pagoda

It is said that Keo Pagoda is a home to a wealth of ancient relics which ranges from intricately engraved wooden dragons to a collection of over 100 statues. Here is also preserved many valuable antiques, such as a pair of candlesticks from the Mac Dynasty, some pottery ware and altars from the Le Dynasty, imperial boats, etc. It is surprising that all of them are kept intact as they were during the time of the Le Trung Hung Dynasty in 16th century. 

Keo pagoda in rainy day

Keo Pagoda Festival is held from the 13th to 15th of the ninth lunar month annually, 100 days after the death of the Monk Duong Khong Lo. As with all other Vietnam festivals & events, Keo Pagoda Festival in Thai Binh also begins with a procession to remind people of the anniversary of the Buddhist monk. This is followed by a boat race and a literary recital competition during the day. The night is welcomed by the trumpet and drum competition.

Keo pagoda festival

The second day’s ceremony of the Keo Pagoda Festival, Thai Binh Vietnam also begins with a procession with a carriage pulled by a red and white horse. This is accompanied by 8 flag bearers and 42 men in their tradition verve. A ceremony is held in the Gia Roi temple in the later half of the day. 

Keo festival

The final day’s ceremony includes more of entertainment and games like duck catching, rice cooking competition and firecracker hurling competition. Keo Pagoda Festival, Thai Binh Vietnam is a three days festival celebrating the traditional customs and religious ceremonies of Vietnam.

Dau pagoda  - Bac Ninh province

Location: Dau Village, Thanh Khuong Commune, Thuan Thanh District, Bac Ninh Province.

Characteristics: Built in the 3rd century, Dau Pagoda is the oldest pagoda in Vietnam.

Main festival: 8th of the fourth lunar month.

As Dau Pagoda was the biggest and oldest pagoda in the Buddhist center region, many monks from either India or China came there to do research and spread Buddhism to the local residents.

Dau pagoda in Bac Ninh

This ancient pagoda has undergone many restorations and expansion, with the largest construction undertaken under the Ly - Tran dynasty. Going through the fluctuation of history, although many structures in the region were destroyed, the pagoda still exists and preserves the traditional oriental architecture style especially the wood block aged about 1752 years old and two bronzes' Xa Loi bodies of Vu Khac Minh and Vu Khac Truong monk.

Hoa Phong tower

The yard in front of the pagoda hosts a three stories tower name Hoa Phong. The tower originally had six stories but it was partly destroyed. Inside the tower, there are a number of valuable artifacts such as a large bell dating back in Canh Thinh Dynasty (1793), a big bronze gong casted in Ming Mang Dynasty (1817) and several statues of Gods in Buddhist legends.

AMAZING statue in dau pagoda

The Dau Pagoda Festival was held on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month, commemorates the goddess Man Nuong and is dedicated with the Cloud, Lightning, Rain and Thunder Spirits. This is also the birth date of Buddha, further adding significance to this festival.

Inside Dau pagoda

People come from all over the province to enjoy the country fair, where there are lion dances, wrestling and a human chess game. A stick dance is held where thirty-two sticks are brought from one pagoda to the other. People from two nearby villages Phung Quan and Thang Dao were competing for the title of the swiftest at fetching a pail of water. This day has great meaning for the Buddhists who make their annual pilgrimage to the Dau Pagoda, among the oldest pagodas in the country. Many Buddhists believe they must visit this site every fourth lunar month to pay respect to the goddess Man Nuong.

Tay Phuong pagoda - Hanoi

Location: Yen Village, Thach That District, Hanoi

Characteristics: It is also an exposition gallery for many national engraving and sculpture masterpieces.

Tay Phuong Pagoda locates in In Yen Village, Thach That District, Hanoi and about 30km from center Hanoi City. It is also an exposition gallery for many national engraving and sculpture masterpieces. From the long time ago, it is considered as one of Amazing destinations of North Vietnam.

Tay Phuong pagoda

In 1794 under the Tay Son regime, Tay Phuong pagoda was completely renewed, and the design has been kept till now. It comprises three successive constructions: the Hall of Prostration, the Main Shrine, and the Sanctuary, all with double tiered roofs. It seems that this architectural arrangement is inspired by Buddhist and Confucianism thought: the three constructions symbolize the three forces governing the world.

Right side of Tay Phuong pagoda

The central construction has a directing role and is consequently raised higher than the others. It symbolizes Heaven. The construction at the rear plays the role of a foundation: it symbolizes the earth. The construction closest to the world of man stands in front. The whole structure is the symbol of Thai Cuc (the Prime Principle, from which the whole world derives). The double tier of the roof symbolizes the double principle, LuongNghi, yin and yang. The slopes, the roof on the four sides symbolize the four elements of heaven, TuTuong; the sun, moon, stars and deities, while the slopes on the eight sides stand for the Eight Signs of the Sacred Octagon.

Ahart Statues

All the wooden parts of Tay Phuong pagoda are beautifully carved due to folk motifs: mulberry leat Ficusleat lotus flower, chrysanthemum; dragon, phoenix, etc. But the Tay Phuong Pagoda is mostly famous for the statues it contains, magnificent wooden sculptures representing Buddha as well as Vajrapanis and Arhats who are middle-ranking Buddhist deities. 

Tuyet Son Buddha

One in particular portrays Sakyamuni in meditation at the foot of Tuyet Son (Snow Mountain). He was then leading a life of extremely severe ascetics, and his emaciated body, as represented by the statue, shows good knowledge by the artist of human anatomy. The figures of the Arhats each bear distinctive features which depict meditation in original aspects. All are impressive works of art.

Ancient Statue

A festival is held in the grounds of the Tay Phuong Pagoda in early spring each year. It features many games and entertainment: marionette performances, tug-of-war, cock fighting, chess with human chess pieces... The central piece of the festival is the Sam Hoi (Expiation) ceremony, held on the 6th day of the 3rd lunar month, which calls on all men to practice compassion and charity, to avoid wrong doing, and aim for serenity and quietude. It is the end of the tour around one of AMAZING VIETNAM Destinations like this place.

Amazing Tay Phuong pagoda

Tây Phương Pagoda is not only an historical site with valuable architecture, but also a scenic spot in old Ha Tay Province. This place attracts a high number of tourists for this province each year, especially the Luna New Years’ time. Come to one of Vietnam Popular Destinations like this place at that time, you will probably like it too much. Hope you have a happy trip in my beautiful country.

Thay pagoda

Location: Thay Commune, Quoc Oai district, Hanoi.

Name: Thien Phuc Pagoda

Main festival: 5th -7th of 3rd lunar month

Thay Pagoda, or Thien Phuc Pagoda, is located at the foot of Sai Son Mountain, Quoc Oai District, Hanoi, just 30km southwest of Hanoi center.

Thay pagoda

Thay pagoda was built in the 11th century under the reign of Ly Nhan Tong King. Firstly, it was a small pagoda managed by Monk Tu Dao Hanh. The pagoda was initially built according to Sino-Vietnamese character Tam - this character is formed by 3 hyphens parallel to each other. 

Way to rach the pagoda

The pagoda therefore includes of 3 parts: Lower Pagoda, Middle Pagoda, and Upper Pagoda. The outside part, Ha Pagoda, is a place for offering and ceremonies; the middle part, Trung Pagoda, is a place for worshiping Buddha; and final part is a place for worship of monk Tu Dao Hanh. An automated sandalwood statue of Tu Dao Hanh that stands and sits is located in a red lacquered shrine trimmed with gold and covered with a curtain.

Traditional singing in Long Tri Pond

In front of the pagoda is Long Tri pond, in the middle of which is a stage called Thuy Dinh, where water puppet performances are held. Nhat Tien and Nguyen Tien bridges, built by doctor Phung Khac Khoan in 1602, are located on each side of the stage.
Interesting sites can be visited in the surroundings of the pagoda. For example, Phat Tich and Cac Co caves are located not too far behind the pagoda. A hole in the dome of Cac Co cave lets one see outside the cave

Peppet show on Long Tri Pond

The main festival of Thay pagoda takes place from 5th to 7th of the 3rd lunar month. In the festival, many monks and Buddhist followers come there to join that occasion. The ceremony of worshipping the Buddha and the ceremony of offering the God is the symbol for Thay pagoda festival. It is AMAZING. Besides, there are water puppets shows on Thay festival. Many couples come there as it is time for them to show their love to the other.