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TOURISM IN THE MEKONG DELTA
it a social obligation for boys. The
boys are sent to pagodas for a time
before officially becoming monks. It
is a probation process to help them
get used to their new environment.
During this period, the boys learn the
Khmer language and some basic ritu-
als and customs.
Some young Khmer men take a
break and live for a few months or years
as monks. They decide themselves on
how long. Staying in the pagoda is
not an excuse to escape from life, but
an opportunity for them to learn to
become responsible adults. As a Khmer
saying goes: “When men live, they stay
in pagodas; when they die, their bodies
return to the pagoda.”
Each pagoda has at least 5-10
monks who are local villagers, and some
have 60-70. Local people often hear the
monks chanting and at dusk.
Besides learning Buddhism, many
monks also have to go to public school
during the day. They try their best to
study while maintaining their Khmer
cultural identity. Taking the cloth is the
path to knowledge, as they learn and
practice to become observant Buddhists
who can be useful for society. Learning
to be a monk not only shows gratitude
to parents, but is also like going to
school to become a good person.
In the past, the majority of Khmer
people were illiterate because schools
did not teach the Khmer script. Only the
monks were literate and understood
ethnic and cultural traditions, as well
as religious ceremonies. According to
monks, a mature Khmer man must un-
derstand these cultural and religious
values. The longer the time they spend
at the pagoda, the wider their educa-
tion is, so after leaving, they are re-
spected by others.
Especially in the past, Khmer
youths who did not study Buddhism
were considered ungrateful to their par-
ents, and often struggled to find wives.
Young Khmer women preferred young
men who had carried out their duties
and knew how to behave as men, with
knowledge that earned them respect
from society.
UNIQUE ARCHITECTURE
As they hold an extremely impor-
tant position in the Khmer culture, the
pagodas are built magnificently. Differ-
ences from pagodas of Kinh, Chinese or
other ethnic group in the north, the cen-
tre and the south are many. The charac-
teristic Khmer architecture maintains a
harmonious combination between Ang-
kor and southern Khmer styles.
Khmer pagodas have unique archi-
tecture with colourful tiles and intricate
patterns. The pillars are high and deco-
rated with various patterns which give
the places a peaceful, sacred feeling.
Walls surrounding the main hall are
made of pieces of ceramics. The halls
are spacious, airy and cool, making
them comfortable and relaxing for all
worshipers. The architecture of Khmer
pagodas features the cultural charac-
ters of Khmer people in the domes,
walls, pillars, doors and stairs. The steep
tiers of the roof seem to be piled on
the top of the pagoda, with the highest
tower stretching upward to the sky.
All the patterns, pictures and im-
ages from the foot to the top of the
main palace are skillfully designed. All
are painted gold, making the pagoda
not only sacred but also splendid, with
a style similar to Buddhist temples in
Thailand, Cambodia and Laos.
Each step of the stairs is sculpted
with the Nagar Basilisk. As well as the
gate, the stairs and domes of the central
chamber are also engraved with snake
vignettes because the mercifulness of
Buddha tamed this dangerous reptile.
The grand pagoda in Bac Lieu