Vinh Long has great potential to develop spiritual cultural tourism associated with garden eco-tourism because there are many communal houses and pagodas designated as historical-cultural relics at the provincial and national levels. Recently, Phat Ngoc Xa Loi Pagoda has become widely known as a popular destination not only for Buddhists, seniors, and young people, but also for visitors from the province, the Mekong Delta, and other areas who come to visit and pray… And it is also an attractive place to save beautiful photo frames for tourists. Let’s find out why this pagoda is so famous!
Overview of Phat Ngoc Xa Loi Pagoda
The origin of this pagoda was the idea of Venerable Thich Thien Hoa, when Venerable NaRaDa (a Sri Lankan) requested three Buddha relics from Nepal and India to be donated to the Nam Viet Buddhist Association of Vinh Long province in 1970. Then, Venerable Thich Thien Hoa initiated the construction of the Stupa to worship the Buddha Relics and establish the Western Buddhist Cultural Center.
By 1972, construction of the ground floor and two additional floors had to be halted due to a lack of funding, partly because of the impact of the war. From 1975 to 2008, the Stupa was abandoned and suffered desolation. At this time, the People’s Committee of Vinh Long province assigned and re-granted 1.7 hectares of land to the Buddhist Sangha of Vinh Long province.
By 2010, it was intended to start construction of the Phat Ngoc Xa Loi Pagoda in Vinh Long province and the Buddha Relics Stupa, but due to the economic downturn, the sponsors did not carry it out. As expected at the beginning, the construction project was temporarily stopped. After five years, the project was unfinished for the second time.
By the beginning of 2015, following the enthusiasm of the previous generation, Venerable Thich Dac Phap and the Buddhist Sangha of Vinh Long province, along with the fervent belief in Buddhism of monks, nuns, and Buddhist followers, carried out the campaign to continue construction until now.
Phat Ngoc Xa Loi Pagoda is located in Vinh Hoa hamlet, Tan Ngai ward, Vinh Long Province, at the foot of My Thuan bridge, about 7 km from the ward center. From Ho Chi Minh City, it takes more than 2 hours to get here; therefore, renting a private car to Vinh Long to visit this pagoda would be the best option.
What is unique about the pagoda?
When we arrived, appearing before our eyes was a very large, majestic structure of three gateways which were cast from monolithic Granite, 9 meters high, 1.5 meters wide, 7 meters thick, weighing about 20 tons,… very rare in the Mekong Delta River.
The pagoda’s architecture is unique and diverse, blending tradition and modernity with Buddhist artistic styles from countries around the world. Construction items in the pagoda include two Tam Quan Gates (three gateways), a statue of Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva Monument, Main Hall, Xa Loi Stupa, Dharma Hall, Sangha Hall, Lecture Hall,… and is still in the construction phase.
The highlight of the pagoda is the statue of Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva, 32 meters tall, ivory-white with golden light, exquisitely crafted to exude a gentle, benevolent beauty. The statue stands majestically on a large pink lotus; the lotus pedestal is 03 pillars with 09 golden dragons (symbolizing the land of the Mekong Delta) winding at the feet.
In front of the Main Hall are 05 statues representing 05 main sects of Vietnamese Buddhism and two other bronze statues of Dharma Protectors, Bodhisattvas (people call them good and evil). Inside the main hall, there are many large pillars carved and sculpted with elaborate patterns; each pillar has different parallel sentences in Buddhist scriptures.
The most prominent feature in the Main Hall, and the symbolic centerpiece associated with the name of this pagoda, Phat Ngoc Xa Loi, is the Emerald Buddha Statue. The statue is carved from monolithic jade stone mined in Canada, 1 meter 3 tall, and weighs about 1 ton. It is turquoise in color and was brought to Vinh Long in 2017 as a donation from Buddhists to the pagoda.
There is also a statue of Buddha Shakyamuni placed behind the Emerald Buddha, standing 3.5 meters tall and weighing about 4.5 tons, and a Statue of the Patriarch on the back of the Main Hall. Both were cast bronze and covered with gold. In addition, there are many other large Buddha statues, beautifully carved and venerated in very solemn positions, such as the statues of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva and Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, … especially the 18 Arhats in bronze; rare, high-value copper is found only at the Phat Ngoc Xa Loi Pagoda in Vinh Long.
The ideas on using materials, layout, and harmonious colors to create unique architecture that make the temperature inside the Main Hall always cool. Therefore, the space always has a gentle purity; this is also the aspect tourists are most satisfied with when attending the Buddha ceremony.
The unique stupa, which is 9 floors high
The next highlight, and also the second symbol of this Pagoda, is the Sarira Stupa, the tallest stupa in the Mekong Delta, standing 45 meters tall with 9 floors. Each floor has a different way of displaying and worshiping Buddha statues. The tower was built in a hexagonal shape. And the tile corners of the tower are carved with exquisite dragon patterns, imbued with ancient culture. Visitors can go up the 9 floors of the tower by the stairs inside the Main Hall.
The pagoda’s square is dozens of meters high, very wide, with airy space. From this height, there is a panoramic view of My Thuan Bridge and a corner of Vinh Long ward, breathing fresh air because it is located far from the center. Furthermore, tourists can also admire the sunrise or sunset from this area.
Place to study and exchange Buddhist culture
Every year, the Phat Ngoc Xa Loi Pagoda often organizes events: Buddhist Conference, Summer Retreat courses, Fostering the abbot’s profession for monks and nuns,… During the ceremony, everyone united in their hearts to pray for world peace, a prosperous nation, and peace for the people. settle down.
In particular, this place also often organizes meditation courses for Buddhists. Invite monks from all over to lecture and transmit Buddhism. Helps people have a good outlook on life.
Useful information about Phat Ngoc Xa Loi Pagoda
- Best for: solo, Buddhist followers
- Entrance: Free
- Tourist spots nearby: Vinh Trang Pagoda, Thoi Son Islet, Vinh Long Ancient House Ecological Area, May Islet, Vinh Long Ceramic Brick…
Source: collected by An
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