Top 15 Famous Pagodas in the Mekong Delta

Located approximately 2.5 km southeast of downtown Soc Trang, Doi Pagoda (also known as Ma Toc Pagoda or Mahatúp) is the only temple dedicated to Gautama Buddha among the Khmer people in the Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang. Particularly, the pagoda is home to thousands of flying foxes weighing from 1 - 1.5 kg with a wingspan of up to 1.5 m.

According to ancient records, Doi Pagoda was built around the 16th century (1569) with the Khmer name 'Serây tê chô mahatúp,' meaning the temple 'created by accumulated blessings.' Initially constructed, most of the structures used materials such as bricks, wood, thatched roofs, and mud walls. Over time, the pagoda underwent regular renovations, expanded its campus, and perfected the traditional Angkor Cambodian style combined with distinctive Vietnamese architecture as it is today.

After nearly 400 years, Doi Pagoda still preserves valuable artifacts, including a statue of Gautama Buddha carved from a solid stone placed on a 2-meter-high lotus, a statue depicting the Buddha riding on the divine serpent Muchalinda, precious oil lamps, traditional Khmer musical instruments, and ancient palm-leaf manuscripts. In 1999, the Ministry of Culture and Information (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) recognized Doi Pagoda as a national-level historical and cultural site.

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Address: Van Ngoc Chinh, Ward 3, Soc Trang

Built in 1533 on a spacious campus of 3,825 square meters, Kh' Leang Pagoda is one of the ancient and famous Khmer pagodas in Soc Trang. Like Doi Pagoda and Chen Kieu Pagoda, Kh’ Leang Pagoda was initially constructed with wood, bamboo, bricks, clay, stones, and leaves. However, after several renovations and expansions, it is now built with tiled bricks and features traditional Angkor-style architecture.

According to legend, Kh’ Leang Pagoda was built by order of King Chan Lap Ang Chăn during a geographical exploration of the regions along the Hau River. Arriving at Srok Kh’leang (Khmer for 'land with treasure,' present-day Soc Trang province), the king noticed the absence of any Buddhist pagoda, so he ordered the local official Tác (the guardian of this region) to urgently construct a pagoda for people to practice their faith.

Following the king's decree, in 1532, Tác summoned followers and representatives of the 'sóc' (srok, meaning land) to contribute labor and effort to build a Buddhist pagoda. After discussions, Kh' Leang Pagoda (named after the land) commenced construction on the 16th day of the 12th month of the Buddhist calendar in 2076 (equivalent to 1532 in the Gregorian calendar). On April 27, 1990, the Ministry of Culture and Information (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) officially recognized the pagoda as a National Architectural Art Monument.

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Address: 53 Ton Duc Thang Street, Ward 6, Soc Trang City, Soc Trang Province

Located on Nguyen Trung Truc Street, Ward 8, My Tho City, Tien Giang Province. Vinh Trang Pagoda is considered one of the most unique religious structures in Vietnam with exceptional architecture. The pagoda is particularly deserving of many titles associated with 'majestic,' 'excellent,' 'special,' and 'wonderful.' Before becoming a large-scale pagoda in Tien Giang province and the Mekong Delta, it was initially a small bamboo grove built by Mr. and Mrs. district chief Bui Cong Dat at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century (during the reign of King Gia Long) for home practice.

After 1849, Venerable Thich Hue Dang from Giac Lam Pagoda (Gia Dinh) returned to become the abbot and organized the reconstruction into a larger-scale pagoda. Over the years, the pagoda underwent continuous expansion and renovation with many new construction projects under various generations of abbots. By the time of Venerable Thich Nhut Long, the pagoda was perfected, featuring a magnificent fusion of European and Asian architectural styles.

Visitors to the pagoda today, within a space of over 2 hectares, can admire a structure that combines five styles, including French, Roman, Thai, Burmese, and Cham. Alongside these are couplets, horizontal lacquered boards, ornamental motifs, and reliefs that are both grand and beautiful. Particularly noteworthy are the colossal Buddha statues, over 20 meters high, such as the standing Bodhisattva, the seated Maitreya, and the reclining Buddha measuring over 18 meters. Aside from the name Vinh Trang, the pagoda is also known as Vinh Tuong, a name deeply connected to profound meaning in the verse: “Eternal against mountain heights, Enduring on this earthly plane.” From this symbolism, the local Buddhist community has affectionately called it Vinh Tuong as a cherished aspiration.

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Address: My An Hamlet, My Phong Ward, My Tho City, Tien Giang

Xiêm Cán Pagoda is renowned as the largest, most splendid, and beautiful Khmer pagoda in the entire Khmer temple system in the South. According to the stone stele erected on the left of the main hall, engraved with ancient Khmer script on the front and back facades. Xiêm Cán Pagoda was commenced on the 7th day of the 5th lunar month in 1887 on an area of about 4.5 hectares by Mr. Nen (63 years old) and Mrs. Net (54 years old), the wealthiest family in the Phum (hamlet, village) at that time. Another 30 households joined the construction, clearing the forest daily to obtain wood and land for the temple.

Upon completion, the villagers in Phum invited the Dharma Master Thach Mau (1829 - 1909), a knowledgeable Buddhist monk, to become the abbot. Initially, the pagoda was called Prét Chru in Khmer, where Prét means 'river' and Chru means 'deep,' combined to mean 'deep river.' Over time, a group of ethnic Chinese from Chaozhou (China) came to settle. Due to the difficulty in reading the Khmer name of the pagoda, they translated Prét Chru to Xiêm Cán. The meaning of Xiêm Cán is 'bordering the water,' representing a pagoda situated on land next to the coastal alluvial area.

Although sharing architectural styles with Khmer pagodas in Vinh Long, An Giang, Soc Trang, and Bac Lieu, Xiêm Cán Pagoda in Bac Lieu stands out in terms of scale and artistry. This is evident in elements such as the surrounding walls, triple gate, main hall, pavilion, bell tower, symbolic columns, tomb tower area, monks' residence, lecture hall, and more. All distinctly embody the traditional Angkor Khmer style and reflect the Theravada Buddhist ideology of the Khmer people, depicting the spiritual path according to the Khmer Buddhist perspective.

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Address: Highway 31, Hamlet Bien Dong B, Vinh Trach Dong Commune, Bac Lieu City, Bac Lieu Province

Chén Kiểu Pagoda, also known as Sà Lôn Pagoda, is situated along National Highway 1A, approximately 12 km from the center of Soc Trang city towards Bac Lieu, in the area of Dai Tam commune, My Xuyen district. Chén Kiểu Pagoda was initiated in 1815 with its original Khmer name being Wath Sro Loun, derived from Chro Luong - the name of a creek running along the former village road near the pagoda. Due to the difficulty in reading the Khmer language, the Vietnamese people changed it from Sro Loun to Sà Lôn.

Similar to other Khmer pagodas in Soc Trang province, the pagoda was initially constructed with materials such as mud walls, wood, palm leaves, and coconut water trees. During the war, especially the main hall suffered severe damage due to bombing. In 1969, the pagoda was reconstructed to its present architecture, including the main hall, hall for ceremonies, stupa, and scripture storage.

Notably, during the construction, due to a shortage of materials, the monks came up with the innovative idea of collecting donated bowls and plates from the locals in Phum Soc to adorn the walls. This idea saved construction costs and created impressive decorative patterns. From then on, the pagoda has been known by the locals as “Chén Kiểu Pagoda”. On November 20, 2012, the pagoda was recognized as a provincial-level Historical and Cultural Relic.

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Address: QL1A, Dai Tam Commune, My Xuyen District, Soc Trang Province

Great Buddha Pagoda (officially known as Great Buddha Monastery) is a renowned pagoda in the Chau Doc - An Giang region, built by Mr. Cao Van Long (Bay Do) in 1912 at an elevation of 562 meters. The pagoda earned its name, Great Buddha, because it houses a 1.8-meter tall Buddha statue. At that time, this Buddha statue was larger than others in the area, distinguishing it from the Small Buddha Pagoda in the east on the same mountain.

There was a period when the pagoda ceased its activities because Mr. Bay Do was arrested by the French on suspicion of supporting the revolution. Afterward, the former village chief of An Khanh sought Mr. Co Mi Chan (Deputy Head of South Vietnam Buddhist Research) to request permission for the reconstruction of the pagoda. Mr. Bay Do was released, and the pagoda resumed its activities, regularly renovated for the local Buddhist community.

In 2005, the pagoda erected a 33.6-meter tall Buddha statue of Maitreya, establishing a Vietnam Record as the tallest Buddha statue in Vietnam in 2006. Seven years later (2013), this Buddha statue at Nui Cam Pagoda set an Asian record. In July 2008, the pagoda officially reclaimed the original land to expand the area to 13.6 hectares. Substantial investment was made in various construction items such as the main hall, bell tower, guesthouses, power, water systems, etc., providing a grand setting for locals and visitors to worship, pilgrimage, and enjoy the scenery.

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Address: An Hao Commune, Tinh Bien District, An Giang Province

This is one of the typical pagodas in the system of 141 Khmer pagodas in Tra Vinh. According to the Historical Site Board, Lotus Temple has been in existence since 990... By 1695, the main hall was rebuilt with bamboo leaves. In 1842, the pagoda was reconstructed with precious wood (teak, ironwood, and 60 columns), tiled roofs, and brick walls. Subsequently, the pagoda underwent several more renovations.

The pagoda is located within a campus of about 4 hectares, surrounded by deep water ditches, and built in the architectural style of Southern Khmer pagodas.

The gate of the pagoda is constructed with three towers on top, adorned with chàn patterns. On either side of the gate are statues of the Kẽn naarr goddess and bird-headed (Krũd) figures. The main hall faces east, seated on a 2-meter-high platform. The roof of the main hall is composed of three tiers, with the two uppermost roofs sloping and higher than the rest. The roof ridges feature Naga serpents, with raised curved tails symbolizing eternal strength. At the column ends are statues of Kẽn naarr goddesses and bird-headed (Krũd) figures supporting the roof with their hands. Around the main hall are columns and fences with four-faced Bayon deity heads. Additionally, there is a statue of the fierce-faced Yeak wearing armor within the pagoda compound... Furthermore, the pagoda compound also includes other construction items such as monk houses, lecture halls, monks’ quarters, and relic towers...

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Address: National Highway 53, Ward 8, Tra Vinh City, Tra Vinh Province

Part of the Southern Khmer Pagoda system, Ky Son Temple stands as a remarkable architectural masterpiece with over 200 years of cultural and artistic value. Particularly, the temple serves as a hub for cultural activities, religious worship, and the organization of major festivals of the Khmer people, such as the traditional Chol Chnam Thmay New Year, Sendolt festival, Ok Om bok festival, and many other religious ceremonies.

According to records, the temple was initiated by Venerable Thach E in 1812 on a vast land of nearly 2 hectares in Soc Rung hamlet, Loan Tan commune, Tra On district, Can Tho province (now Loan My commune, Tam Binh district, Vinh Long province). Most of the structures at that time were built using wooden columns, along with walls and roofs made of simple palm leaves. Consequently, over time, most of these structures deteriorated and were severely damaged.

In 1884, the temple underwent extensive renovations, with many new structures such as the temple gate, main hall, hotray, sala, lecture hall, reading room, and foundation towers being rebuilt using sturdy materials and precious wood. The highlight of all these structures is their striking and harmonious traditional Angkor-Cambodian style.

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Address: Soc Rung Hamlet, Loan My Commune, Tam Binh District, Vinh Long Province

Mud Pagoda (Buu Son Tu in Vietnamese) is located at 286 Ton Duc Thang Street, Ward 5, Soc Trang City. It's a renowned temple in Soc Trang listed among the most beautiful temples in the Mekong Delta, featuring magnificent artworks by the Ngo family, particularly Mr. Ngo Kim Tong (1909 - 1970). Currently, Mud Pagoda houses over 208 clay Buddha statues and 156 winding dragons surrounding each tower roof.

This temple is over 100 years old, representing over 40 years of diligent creative labor. Notably, it boasts 8 giant candles, with 6 large ones yet to be lit and 2 smaller ones burning. Each large candle weighs about 200 kg, standing 1.6 meters tall, estimated to burn continuously for about 70 years. Additionally, the temple stands out for its harmonious arrangement of statues representing the 'Three Teachings Unified' (Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism). From statues of Amitabha Buddha, Maitreya Buddha, Guanyin Bodhisattva, Confucius, the Jade Emperor, Laozi... to the statue of the Mother Goddess Lieu Hanh. All convey profound insights into a society embracing diverse moral teachings of the past.

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Address: 186 Ton Duc Thang Street, Ward 5, Soc Trang City, Soc Trang Province

Located at 7C Hoang Lam Street, Ward 5, Ben Tre City on an area of over 3,500 square meters, Vien Giac Pagoda is an ancient temple with beautiful traditional architectural style built around the year Canh Ngo 1870. Originally, the temple was built by the Khmer people, but the Khmer monks did not stay long, leading to the deterioration and collapse of the temple. In the year Canh Ty (1900), Venerable Vien Giac (1876 -1947) saw that the temple was heavily damaged, so he called on Buddhists to contribute money to rebuild the temple. Construction began on November 4, At Mao year (1915), but due to the war, it was not completed until 1921 with the architecture as it is now.

Vien Giac Pagoda is not only famous in Ben Tre but also throughout the South because it is closely associated with the Buddhist revival movement of Venerable Le Khanh Hoa - a highly knowledgeable monk (abbot of Tuyen Linh Pagoda). In addition, the temple is also known as a place where underground patriotic activists rallied against the French colonialists. Through 150 years of formation and existence, the temple is now a place that preserves many valuable Buddhist scriptures related to the Buddhist revival period in the South. Along with that are documents recording the contributions against the French colonialists of the abbots, typical of Master Chi An.

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Address: 7C Hoang Lam Street, Ward 5, Ben Tre City, Ben Tre Province

Renowned as the largest monastery in the Mekong Delta, proposed for construction by General Pham Van Tra - former Minister of Defense (1997 - 2001). The proposal for construction was entirely based on the desire and aspiration of monks and Buddhist followers in Can Tho City to restore the Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen Monastery of Emperor Tran Nhan Tong. After completing the paperwork and receiving donations from Buddhist devotees, Truc Lam Phuong Nam Zen Monastery in Can Tho officially commenced construction on July 16, 2013, on an area of 38,016 square meters and was inaugurated on May 17, 2015. The total construction cost for all items at the Monastery was 145 billion VND.

The highlight of this Zen monastery is its architecture built in the traditional style of the Ly - Tran period, not harmonizing with any other style. This is evident through items such as the main hall, Quan Am hall, Di Lac hall, One Pillar Pagoda, Lecture Hall, Guest Hall, Monks' Hall, Library, Southern Herbal Medicine Room... all constructed with sturdy materials. Additionally, Truc Lam Phuong Nam Zen Monastery also attracts attention with a 3.5-ton bronze statue of Lord Buddha, a 1.5-ton bronze bell, many Du Sam wooden statues over 800 years old... along with many other stone-carved statues.

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Address: My Nhon Hamlet, My Khanh Commune, Phong Dien District, Can Tho City

Hang Pagoda, also known as Phuoc Dien Tu, is a beautiful temple with a history of over 100 years founded by Mrs. Le Thi Tho (nickname Mrs. Tho), Buddhist name Dieu Thien. Initially, the temple was just a small bamboo hut with leaf roofing. In 1885, appreciating Mrs. Tho's merit, Mr. Phan Thong (Nguyen Ngoc Cang) and the people of Chau Doc contributed money and labor to rebuild the temple, with a brick-paved foundation, cam xe columns, thatch rafters... From 1937 until now, the temple has been renovated, rebuilt, and perfected as it is today.

According to legend, next to Mrs. Tho's hut, there is a deep mountain cave, inside which there are two large, fierce pythons. Since Mrs. Tho practiced there, the pythons became gentle, often coming to Mrs. Tho's hut to quietly listen to Buddhist scriptures. Seeing that, Mrs. Tho named them Thanh Xa and Bach Xa and daily taught them Buddhism. After Mrs. Tho passed away, the pythons suddenly disappeared, many people speculated that they had returned to their old cave and died there.

Today, when visiting the pagoda, tourists will admire a complex of beautiful architectural structures. With a quiet space, panoramic views on all sides, Hang Pagoda is not only considered a spiritual tourism destination but also a place to enjoy breathtaking scenery.

Address: QL91, Vinh Te Commune, Nui Sam Ward, Chau Doc City, An Giang Province

Huynh Dao Pagoda is located in Vinh Dong II hamlet, Nui Sam Ward, Chau Doc City, right on the way to the Mieu Ba Chua Xu Temple. Huynh Dao Pagoda is a newly built temple in 1996 in a spacious area. Initially, the temple only had the main hall. In the following years, the temple invested in building a bell tower, Quan Am hall, meditation yard, lotus pond, and many other structures, creating a grand and beautiful temple complex.

The overall architecture of the temple is built in a combination of Chinese and traditional Vietnamese styles with a hint of Indian influence. This recognition makes the temple a famous scenic spot and historical site in An Giang Province.

Contact Information:

Address: Vinh Dong 2, National Highway 91, Tan Lo Kieu Luong, Nui Sam Ward, Chau Doc, An Giang

Tien Chau Pagoda is located in An Binh island, An Binh commune, Long Ho district, Vinh Long province. The pagoda is also known as Di Da Pagoda or To Chau, and it is widely believed to be one of the most sacred pagodas in Vinh Long province, attracting many visitors and pilgrims every year.

The architecture of Tien Chau Pagoda follows the shape of the Chinese character 'tam', consisting of three interconnected sections: the main hall, the rear ancestral hall, and the rear auxiliary chamber. The pagoda has a total of 96 round wooden columns, rafters, and beams intricately carved by skilled artisans, especially with the assistance of talented craftsmen from the former imperial capital of Hue. All the wood used in building the pagoda is precious timber imported from Cambodia.

Situated in the land of An Binh island, the pagoda is surrounded by lush orchards bearing ripe and fragrant fruits. Visitors here can experience a sense of tranquility and inner peace. Spiritual life serves as a potent tonic for many people amidst the bustling modern world. Although the outcome of our prayers remains uncertain, having a place to believe in and rely on provides solace and comfort. Furthermore, understanding the architecture of ancient pagodas is something that today's generation should explore.

Address: Binh Luong commune, Long Ho district, Vinh Long province

15. Ghositaram Pagoda, Bac Lieu

Together with Xiem Can Pagoda, Ghositaram Pagoda is considered one of the most beautiful Khmer pagodas in terms of space and architecture in Bac Lieu province in particular and the Mekong Delta in general. The pagoda was built in 1860 and the inaugural ceremony was held in 1872. Over the past 150 years, Ghositaram Pagoda has deteriorated, so the abbots decided to build a new main hall at the end of 2001.

After about 10 years of construction, the main hall of the pagoda was inaugurated in the middle of 2010, covering an area of over 400 square meters and nearly 40 meters high. Two towering columns over 40 meters high, two towers containing the remains of deceased Buddhists, a crematorium, and some other auxiliary buildings... all are decorated with intricate carvings, bas-reliefs, and embossed statues, with artistic motifs of high value.

Address: Hung Hoi commune, Vinh Loi district, Bac Lieu city