If traveling to Ca Mau, you cannot ignore a spiritual tourist destination located in Ward 1, the center of Ca Mau city, which is Monivongsa Bopharam Pagoda. A Khmer temple in the South with typical architecture of Theravada Buddhism and is the largest and most beautiful temple in the city. Visiting the temple, you will own yourself with virtual images as if you were in the land of golden pagodas or Cambodia.
By Thomas Vietnam at vemekong.com | Official Ca Mau Visitor Guide
1. Better to Know as a Tourist
Ticket: Free
Spend-time: One and a half hour (approx)
Hours: Dawn – dusk
Food:
Shop:
Parking lot: Yes
Blog: https://vemekong.com/monivongsa-bopharam-pagoda-ca-mau/
Address: Located in Ward 1, the center of Ca Mau city.
Added values: With specific cultural features, it can be said that Monivongsa Bopharam Pagoda is the place to preserve the unique cultural values of the Khmer people in Ca Mau, the temple as a charm of the southernmost city always welcomes visitors.
Nearby attractions and hidden gems: Looking for places to stop on your way to and from Monivongsa Bopharam Pagoda? Or maybe you found it too crowded here? We’ve got some ideas! Check out our list: Ca Mau Cape – The South Pole of Vietnam (3 km), Hon Khoai Island (40 km), Mui Ca Mau National Park (3 km), Thi Tuong Lagoon (55 km), Nam Can Mangrove Forest (10 km), Thien Lam Pagoda (11 km), Hon Da Bac Island (50 km)…
2. Travel Guide to Monivongsa Bopharam Pagoda
Monivonsa Bopharam Pagoda, named in Pali – Sanskrit, and taking the meaning from Buddhist scriptures, translated into Vietnamese can understand Lien Hoa Tu – Lien Hoa Pagoda.
Monivongsa Bopharam Pagoda was built in 1964 by Venerable Thach Ken calling for contributions from Buddhist monks. Monivongsa Bopharam Pagoda has an area of about 230m2, including the main hall, sala, houses of monks, stupas, shrines, lotus ponds…
Bright red and yellow are the two main colors in the entire temple architecture. The two colors represent luck and blessings. With a soaring dome, each corner of the column has the image of a fairy standing wearing a dome. Embossed images appear alternately and throughout in each architectural array.
The main gate of the temple faces east. Above is a picture of 3 towers representing the Three Realms or Three Jewels, decorated with a variety of sophisticated patterns. 100 meters from the gate is the temple grounds surrounded by trees. A Khmer temple usually has a main gate and many side gates showing the idea of opening the door to welcome the footsteps of pilgrims and visitors. This is also a common feature of Khmer temples in the South.
When entering the temple, the most impressive thing is the “giant” Buddha statue lying across the temple yard, partly showing the majesty and superficiality of the temple. The Buddha’s lying posture is uniquely designed, with his right hand resting on his head gently, his face is elegant, exuding a sense of freedom.
The temple grounds are large, with many green trees, and a lotus pond… very poetic and quiet. Especially impressing guests is the sight of hundreds of pigeons hovering and perching on the curved roofs, making the space of the temple more intimate. Coming here, you seem to be able to vent all the sorrows of life and feel strangely at peace.
The main hall is 32 m high, located in the center of the campus, the facade faces to the East, there are three steps from the ground leading to the main hall 1.5 m high. Outside the main hall, there is a corridor surrounding it.
Inside are two rows of tall columns supporting the multi-storey pagoda roof, creating a soaring space, then forming a sharp peak representing the Tudi mountain of the Buddha. Observed on the columns are reliefs of fairies and monsters. According to the philosophy of the Khmer people, these are challenges for Buddhists on the path to enlightenment.
On the dome and stairs of the temple are carved snake motifs because they believe that the Buddha’s compassion and compassion has tamed this dangerous animal.
Inside the main hall, a very special point is the murals painted on the walls with the main content recounting the life of Buddha Shakyamuni from his birth to his religious practice or the stories to warn people not to commit evil deeds and violate morality in life.
3. What to Do –See – Eat at Monivongsa Bopharam Pagoda
When entering the Buddha ceremony, visitors must leave personal items such as bags, hats, slippers, shoes outside, go barefoot into the main hall to worship to pay respects to the Buddha. After worshiping the Buddha, visitors can walk in the temple grounds with many green trees, lotus ponds… watch the tranquil scenery or play with hundreds of gentle pigeons and comfortably feed them.
Every year on the Buddha bathing holidays on August 30 and September 1 of the lunar calendar or on festivals of the Khmer such as Chol Chnam Thmay, Sene Dolta, Ok Om Bok … local people come to the temple to worship and organize entertainment, attracting a large number of tourists from all over the world to attend.
Such festivals often last for many days and take place all night with exciting activities such as shuttlecock kicking, weightlifting, net jumping, blind folded and catching, fighting, releasing sky lanterns…
Visitors to the temple on festive occasions can not only enjoy and participate in traditional cultural and artistic activities of indigenous Khmer people but also experience the dishes that people bring to the temple, in the open air, jubilant atmosphere all night and all morning.
In addition to the main task of performing religious activities, the pagoda is also a cultural and educational center for Khmer people living around the area. In the temple, there is a school for teaching Khmer, teaching Kinh…, which is a place to keep collections of old and modern folk tales, traditional cultural capitals of Khmer indigenous residents.
4. Free Itineraries from VeMekong
As a local travel expert, we have some ideas for you to think about.
From Ca Mau city center:
Route 1:
Route 2:
Route 3:
If you do not have much time left, it is easy to check out spots in one full day by boat or with bike or with motorbike and car. But there are much more than tourist sites like these in Ca Mau. Make sure you have more time to feel and explore more about the hidden gems and the culture, food, night life, wildlife and forest as well. Top tip: Stay in a homestay nearby, so you have more chances to visit it and surroundings. If you are looking for the package Ca Mau daily tour with local, you can contact www.vemekong.com or Hotline/WhatsApp/WeChat/Zalo +84939888559; email: hello@vemekong.com
5. Google Maps of Monivongsa Bopharam Pagoda
Google Maps made a name for itself helping people travel from one place to another, avoid traffic (You probably know the route from your hotel to the gas station by heart, but what you can’t be sure about is gridlock), measure a distance, get back to the hotel on time, share the location…
6. Visit Monivongsa Bopharam Pagoda by yourself
Solo traveller? Travelling on your own means you will get out of any difficult situations by yourself. This, in turn, leads to more satisfying travel experiences and helps you improve your problem-solving skills. These days we rarely get the chance to sit with ourselves and simply be. That’s why you should consider the time you spend alone on your trip as a gift.
It is possible for solo travellers to use google maps and do it alone. But sometimes they need to update local maintained roads and bridges which close and lead you a longer road than the road from Google maps. It is just about the time. It takes more time to find the correct garden to come. Adventure is always fun. Wifi is strong in Ca Mau village! The locals find it hard to speak English as well. Top tip: Sticking to one canal and keeping going along it which gives you more things to see and avoids getting lost. Contact vemekong.com to hire a car, scooter with English-speaking-guide or cycling tours in Ca Mau.
7. Responsible Travel and Advice Monivongsa Bopharam Pagoda
Don’t get us wrong. But we assure you that you totally agree with us. “Do not give candy and things to the children when you plan to visit any local villages”, the kids will leave the school and follow the sweets and later they find some things to give you or sell to you. The garden is a little forest, don’t pick and touch the flowers or fruits without the local’s smiles. We deal with traveling green and leaving green behind, not plastic. Top tip: Vemekong.com are some of the companies that care a lot about responsible travel and local respectation.
8. Amazing Video flycam/drone of Monivongsa Bopharam Pagoda (4k)
If a picture says a thousand words, it stands to reason that the video says many times more.
9. Incredible Tips for Photography, Specialists, KOLs, Media and Influencers
To get the best of the best for your unique writing, featuring, photo, video and insider’s stories. We do recommend you to have a local travel expert, the one who always gets more ground information and makes sure every single element is solved perfectly. The Vemekong (very exclusive Mekong) team is your priority choice. Email and have a private talk with them to customize your journey smoothly, personal and the most ultimately amazing. You can contact www.vemekong.com or Hotline/WhatsApp/WeChat/Zalo +84939888559; email: hello@vemekong.com
10. Pro Tips
You can stay in a homestay which is near the riverside, this will help you out the best option. Then you can hire a scooter, car or bike and explore it by yourself. There are many local homestays in the mangrove forest near Ca Mau cape and near U Minh Ha forest. Both of these places are super green for staying and forget the world.
If you plan to extend your travel to Ca Mau homestay, do not forget to bring mosquito repellent cream.
Visit Ca Mau or do any customized tours, please choose reputable providers with boat trips equipped with lifebuoys, jackets, motorcycle and cycling tours with the helmets and. Safety is a priority! Choose Ca Mau responsible tours which help you give back while traveling. It’s a cliché, but it’s true.
Ca Mau food & drink guide ranges from street food, authentic, fancy to fusion foods. As a tropical land of many fresh vegetables and homegrown gardens, which always make Ca Mau cuisines fresh, close to nature and very traditional. If you are a food lover, don’t hesitate to put other bites onto your food lists such as Banh tam ga cay (Silkworm rice cake with curried chicken), grilled Vop clams with salt and pepper, grilled snakehead fish, grilled mudskipper fish, stone crab roast with salt, young bee salad, Ba Khia – A traditional food in Ca Mau, Ca Mau crab is a must-eat…
Bring your hat, sunglasses, and sunblock, scarf to wear when visiting temples, pagodas, and the cathedral.
Bring the raincoat if you’re planning a trip to Ca Mau in the rainy season, as Ca Mau always looks fantastic in the full rain and full sun.
Ca Mau tourist attractions are magnificent itself, but if you have enough time, don’t forget to put other places onto your bucket lists such as Ca Mau City Bird Garden, Ca Mau Cape – The South Pole of Vietnam, U Minh Ha National Park, Mui Ca Mau National Park, Monivongsa Bopharam Pagoda, Thien Lam Pagoda, Ca Mau Floating Market (totally no more), Cao Dai Temple In Ca Mau, Nam Can Mangrove Forest, Quan Am Ancient Temple, Memorial of President Ho Chi Minh, Watch the Sunrise and Sunset at Ca Mau Cape, U Minh Forest, Thi Tuong Lagoon, Khai Long Tourist Area, Hon Khoai Island, Hon Da Bac Island,
Hopefully, the above tips will help you to come up with a great plan for your adventure in Ca Mau province, Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Have a safe trip!
“Sleep less, travel more, respect more” – Thomas Vietnam – Local travel expert.
Thank you
