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CAN THO CITY
Pitu Khosa Rangsay, also known as Vien
Quang Pagoda, is one of the primary reli-
gious centers for Khmer people in the area,
and is billed as the most beautiful Khmer
pagoda in the Mekong Delta, due to its
fine Khmer art and architectural style, and
spiritual value.
The pagoda was originally built by
Son Tay in 1948 as a place to facilitate the
meditation practiced by many Khmer Bud-
dhists in Can Tho. The pagoda has recently
been upgraded and restored. The most
prominent architectural feature, unique
among the area’s pagodas, is in the cen-
tral part of the structure: the pagoda’s
halls are decorated with fine features,
with the majestic shapes of dragons, fair-
ies and the legendary Garuda bird. The life
of Buddha is presented in 16 paintings,
and the outside wall of the third floor has
Angkor features.
At present the pagoda hosts a free class
teaching Khmer language to local children
on weekday evenings, also educating them
about Khmer musical instruments. A dormi-
tory will be built with 26 rooms, accom-
modating about 100 monks and students
coming from all over the Mekong Delta
to Can Tho for their studies. The pagoda
has also provided free accommodation for
many poor Khmer pupils and students stud-
ying in Can Tho.
TRA VINH PROVINCE
The 350-year-old Khmer Hang Pago-
da in Tra Vinh province was bombed in
1968 and underwent restoration 10 times.
Many storks are nesting in this area mak-
ing this worth a visit, especially in the late
afternoon when the storks return home in
large numbers.
Built on a large plot of ground at
Ham Tan commune, Tra Cu district, Vam
Ray Pagoda is a fascinating attraction for
those on Vietnam heritage tours in the
Mekong Delta. It is the largest of the
pagodas serving the ethnic Khmer com-
munity in the Mekong Delta. Although it
has only been established for a few years,
many of the traditional, ancient features
of Southern Khmer Buddhism can be eas-
ily recognised here.
There are usually not many visitors on
weekdays. You will be free to explore and
learn about Khmer Buddhism from the
monks in the pagoda, who truly make Vam
Ray a highlight for heritage tours. If you are
interested in festivals, consider visiting in
April to enjoy the traditional Khmer New
Year holiday of Chnam Thmay.
Ang pagoda and Ba Om Pond is a well-
known scenic landscape in Luong Hoa com-
mune, Chau Thanh district, Tra Vinh prov-
ince, and is just off of Highway 53, some 7
km southwest of Tra Vinh City. Ba Om Pond
is sometimes called Square Pond, but in
fact it has a rectangular shape - 300 meters
wide and 500 meters long. The water in the
pond is blue and clean. Around the pond
are sandy hills and many old trees, their
protruding roots forming the most fasci-
nating of shapes. The air is cool and fresh
throughout the year.
The many legends about Ba Om Pond
make for interesting listening as you en-
joy the scene. Ba Om Pond is just next
door to Ang Pagoda. Ang Pagoda is a
graceful Khmer structure while Ba Om
Pond provides a peaceful backdrop. The
area is quiet during the day, but the at-
mosphere is quite noisy in the late after-
noon when flocks of birds fly back to roost
in the trees.
SOC TRANG PROVINCE
The provincial capital of Soc Trang is
easily reached as a day trip from Can Tho.
For travellers who are interested in Khmer
culture there is plenty to see. The Khmer
population is about 30 per cent here and
you can find numerous pagodas and also
culinary specialties. The biggest Khmer
festival of the Mekong delta, the Ok Om
Bok festival, is held here in October/
November.
The Khleang pagoda was originally built
from bamboo in 1533 and then renewed
with stone in 1905. Opposite you can find
a Khmer museum with more information
about the ethnic group in Vietnam. Here
you can also see dance and music perfor-
mances, but these take place on an irregu-
lar basis.
Doi Pagoda (Pagoda of Bats) is an an-
cient pagoda and a national heritage site.
Located in Ward 3 in the town of Soc Trang,
less than 2km from the downtown, the
yard of the pagoda is always shady thanks
to many big old trees. The pagoda got its
name because tens of thousands of bats
live in these trees.
Visiting Doi Pagoda at any time of the
year, tourists can see many monks work
and study. The relationship between monks
and local people is so close that it seems
the gap between religion and daily life no
longer exists.
Following a fire in 2007, the pagoda
has been partly restored to its original
shape. Rare wood used for building the
400-year-old pagoda could not be found
and some of the new carving was not
done well.
AN GIANG PROVINCE
Kal Bo Ruk Pagoda is one of the most
beautiful pagodas in the area. Kal Bo Pruk,
meaning a seasoned tree in the Khmer
language, was built in 1816 on an area of
26,000 square meters at the foot of Ba The
Mountain, Oc Eo town, in Thoai Son district.
The pagoda looks distinguished; its walls
and pillars carved with many bas-reliefs
and patterns featuring Khmer culture and
Buddhist legends.
The spacious grounds
of a Bac Lieu pagoda
Soc Trang’s colourful
pagoda entrance
Must-visit pagodas