Ton Thanh Pagoda is the oldest pagoda in Tay Ninh, featuring an ancient and distinctive architectural style. This famous pagoda is also immortalized in numerous poems and proverbs and has been preserved in history books for generations. For these reasons, it attracts not only many Buddhists who come to pray but also tourists.
General information about Ton Thanh Pagoda
Ton Thanh Pagoda (Vietnamese: chùa Tôn Thạnh; chùa means “pagoda”) was named Lan Nha initially and was built by Buddhist Monk Vien Ngo in 1808, who also made many contributions to the community. After his death, the local people around Long An (now Tay Ninh Province) decided to build a worship tower in the grounds of Ton Thanh Pagoda. That’s why this pagoda is also called Tang Ngo Pagoda (means Monk. Ngo Pagoda) or Ong Ngo Pagoda (means Mr. Ngo Pagoda).
Tower worship Monk Vien Ngo
This pagoda not only bears a profound Buddhist mark but is also a site of historic significance. During 3 years (1859 – 1861), Vietnamese poet Nguyen Dinh Chieu lived, worked as a medical practitioner, and opened classes to teach young people. He also wrote many novels. One of his immortal novels, Vǎn tế nghĩa sĩ Cần Giuộc (Eulogy for the Righteous People of Cần Giuộc), and later, completed the famous narrative poem – Lục Vân Tiên.
In 1997, Ton Thanh pagoda was designated a national historical relic by Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture and Information. Currently, the pagoda is a spiritual, cultural, and historical tourist destination for visitors from the Mekong Delta and beyond.
How to get to Ton Thanh Pagoda?
Currently, Tay Ninh province lacks an airport, so the most convenient way to reach Ton Thanh Pagoda is to fly to Ho Chi Minh City first. After landing at Tan Son Nhat airport, you can use the airport shuttle service to move to your next destination.
Because from Ho Chi Minh to Can Giuoc Ward is only about 30km, traveling by bus or motorbike is convenient. If traveling by bus, you can take a bus from the Eastern or Western bus stations, with fares ranging from 100,000 to 140,000 VND/person. Or you can also rent a motorbike and travel to Long An. The current motorbike rental rate in Ho Chi Minh City is about 100,000-120,000 VND/motorcycle/day.
Don’t forget to book a private car to Long An Ward with a driver option. The driver can pick you up from the airport, and you can easily stop along the way for sightseeing and relaxation.
Ancient beauty of Ton Thanh pagoda
Historical records indicate that Ton Thanh Pagoda has “magnificent, golden pillars” that were renowned in the ancient and pure land of Saigon. Over many years, Ton Thanh Pagoda has undergone extensive remodeling and the construction of several new buildings, yet it has not lost its ancient features.
Curved roof architecture and yin and yang tiles – these are traditional forms of ancient pagodas in Vietnam
The long road leading to the pagoda passes through a large gate named “Ton Thanh Pagoda” built in 1960; on both sides of the road are rows of ancient trees, making visitors feel peaceful and leave behind the noise of the city to enter a pure spiritual place.
The overall architecture, from front to back, includes the Front yard facade, sanctum, lecture hall, East corridor, and West corridor, with tiled roofs and brick walls.
A look from the outside of the main hall
The sanctum is relatively modest. Still, it preserves many valuable and meaningful artifacts of history, culture, and art through the four-shaped columns in the main hall, Buddha statues from the early 19th century, horizontal parallel sentences with Chinese characters painted in red and gold.
The altar in the middle of the pagoda
The most valuable is the 110cm tall statue of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, cast in bronze.
Currently, in the grounds, there is a stele commemorating poet Nguyen Dinh Chieu, erected in 1973. The second stele was just erected in June 1998, praising the merits of Mr. Nguyen Dinh Chieu and celebrating the day the pagoda was recognized as a National historical and cultural achievement on November 27, 1997.
Useful information about Ton Thanh Pagoda
- Location: Thanh Ba hamlet, My Loc Commune, Tay Ninh province.
- Best for: Family, couples, solo, and pilgrims
- Entrance: Free
- Other tourist spots nearby: Rạch Cát Fort, A Hundred Columns House, Tan Lap Floating Village…
Source: collected by An
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