Vinh Long is a beautiful region in the Mekong Delta, home to 3 ethnic groups: Chinese, Khmer, and Kinh. In particular, the Khmer people live very densely, so the cultural traditions here are imbued with Khmer colors, most prominently the system of pagodas and temples. Currently, in Tra Vinh, there are more than 140 Khmer pagodas with unique, eye-catching architecture, and Ong Met Pagoda is one of them. Today, let’s join Viet Dream Travel to learn and explore this many-year-old pagoda!
General information about Ong Met Pagoda
Ong Met Pagoda (Vietnamese: Ông Mẹt) is located on 50/1 Le Loi Street, Tra Vinh ward. The pagoda was founded in 642. Previously, the pagoda was called Wat Kompong, which translates to Ben Pagoda (Vietnamese: Bến Pagoda), because there used to be a wharf on a river and canals where boats could anchor. Later, the pagoda was named Bodhisàlaraja, meaning the Bodhi tree symbolizes enlightenment and is like the king of trees.
Located in the city center, convenient for road and waterway transportation, Ong Met Pagoda is not only a large pagoda but also the center of Khmer Buddhism. The pagoda is connected to other Khmer pagodas in the province and in the southwestern provinces, and was chosen as the site of the Khmer Buddhist Administration Office of the Mahanikay sect.
In addition, the pagoda became a training center for many generations of talented monks, making an important contribution to the development of Buddhism and Khmer national culture, and to the history of the revolutionary struggle of ethnic communities in Vinh Long. That’s why Ong Met Pagoda has been highly appreciated and recognized as a national historical-cultural relic by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and was also recognized as a unique art form in 2009.
From Ho Chi Minh City, it would take nearly 3 hours of driving, so renting a private car to Tra Vinh would be the best way to visit the pagoda. The pagoda’s location is very favorable, in the center of Tra Vinh ward, making it convenient for tourists to visit and explore.
The three ancient and great pagodas in old Tra Vinh (currently merged to Vinh Long Province) are: Ang pagoda, Hang pagoda and Ong Met pagoda, of which Ong Met pagoda is the oldest recorded by historical documents, several hundred years earlier than Ang pagoda.
Architectural beauty of Ong Met Pagoda in Vinh Long
Like other Khmer pagodas, Ong Met Pagoda includes many architectural elements such as a gate, main hall, sala (assembly house), flagpole, monkshood, and memorial tower. Although it was built in different stages, made of different materials, and used for different purposes, these independent architectures exist harmoniously in a common architectural whole imbued with Southern Khmer cultural identity.
The gate of Ong Met pagoda is built firmly and majestically, with 8 pillars supporting the gate roof. At the top of each column is carved the image of the god Keyno bird, as if to send a friendly invitation to visitors. On both sides of the gate are beautiful walls decorated with pairs of seven-headed snakes, which are sacred symbols for the Khmer people.
The pagoda currently has a very large area of 12,900 square meters with many landscapes, beautiful scenery and a solemn main hall. The pagoda consists of many harmonious structures surrounding the main hall, on a campus of nearly 1.3 hectares, surrounded by a closed wall, the front facing Le Loi Street.
The main hall is built with 32 pillars of precious wood, arranged in 4 rows. At each end of the column and the horizontal skewer, there are carved patterns painted red and gilded in gold. The two gables in front and behind the main hall are two precious wooden panels elaborately carved with many images representing the spiritual and cultural life of the Southern Khmer people.
The main hall of Ong Met Pagoda was built facing east, rectangular in shape, and located on steps. That’s why the pagoda is cool and dry all year round. The main hall is roofed with 3 layers of pyramidal roofs.
At the first corner of the tile layers, there is a winding dragon tail, very sharp and delicate. This dragon motif is the sacred symbol of the snake god Nagar. The tiled roofs are also carved with intricate patterns. The main hall is located on 1.35m-high steps, creating a majestic, imposing posture, and is surrounded by a fence.
All parts of the pagoda, such as columns, rafters, beams, and ceilings, are meticulously designed, and the patterns are painted with luxurious gold lacquer. There are two gables: one is carved with sunflowers, and the other with two lions holding parasols that cover a tray of scriptures.
On both sides of the main hall’s walls are paintings illustrating Buddhist relics. When exploring the main hall, the first thing that catches visitors’ eyes is the statue of Shakyamuni Buddha on a large lotus, placed on the altar at the center of the hall, measuring 4.4 m high, 5 m long, and 5 m wide. 4.3 m wide. This is one of the largest Buddha statues in Khmer pagodas in Vinh Long province. On the right is a large altar; in the middle is a statue of Preaschi meditating on a lotus, surrounded by Buddhas who attained enlightenment; all of them look very majestic and solemn.
Behind the main hall is the library with the unique architecture of a traditional wooden stilt house of the Southern Khmer people. All 24 column heads, central and longitudinal… are elaborately carved and painted with gilded vermilion. The library has three compartments; the middle compartment is a bookstore, including many ancient bibliographies. The two other rooms on either side are reading and study rooms for monks.
Furthermore, the space at the pagoda is very large, pure, and peaceful, helping visitors find moments of relaxation after tiring work hours.
Ong Met Pagoda converges Khmer cultural characteristics and is also a symbol of the Southern Khmer Theravada sect. The pagoda is not only a place to practice religious rituals but also a center for community cultural activities.
Useful information about Ong Met Pagoda
- Best for: solo, family, and pilgrims.
- Entrance: Free
- Tourist spots nearby: Ba Om pond, Ang Pagoda, Museum of Khmer Ethnic Culture, Vinh Long Ancient House, Nodol Pagoda, Truc Lam Zen Monastery, Phuoc Minh Palace …
Source: collected by An
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