The land of Tien Giang is famous for many beautiful landscapes imbued with the identity of the rivers and gardens of the Mekong Delta region. In particular, there is a famous Buddhist work that visitors should not miss, which is Vinh Trang Pagoda – A unique temple with the convergence of Eastern and Western cultures.
By Thomas Vietnam at vemekong.com | Official My Tho Visitor Guide
1. Better to Know as a Tourist
Ticket: Free
Spend-time: One hour (approx)
Hours: Dawn – Dusk
Food: Yes
Shop: Yes
Parking lot: Yes
Blog: https://vemekong.com/my-tho-vinh-trang-pagoda-vietnam/
Address: Located on Nguyen Trung Truc street, My Tho city, Tien Giang province.
Added values: Coming here, visitors will admire the unique beauty of the temple with the highlight of the modern style of the West and the East mixed together.
Nearby attractions and hidden gems: Looking for places to stop on your way to and from Vinh Trang Pagoda? Or maybe you found it too long a drive here? We’ve got some ideas! Check out our list: Phoenix Islet (13 km), Dong Tam snake farm (11 km), Dieu Hoa Temple (5 minutes), My Tho Cathedral (5 minutes), My Tho Market (5 minutes)…
2. Travel Guide to Vinh Trang Pagoda
From Ho Chi Minh City, you go in the direction of National Highway 1A to the center of My Tho city. Then follow provincial road 879 about 3km, to Vinh Trang park, then turn left about 300m to Vinh Trang pagoda.
Vinh Trang Pagoda has a history of construction with many ups and downs and has undergone many lifetimes of change and embellishment. About the history of its formation, it is known that the pagoda was built by Mr and Mrs. Tri of Bui Cong Dat district during the Minh Mang period, early 19th century. Initially, the pagoda was just a workshop to serve as a place to practice during the retirement days of Mr. and Mrs. Tri in the district.
In 1894, Venerable Thich Hue Dang at Giac Lam Pagoda (Gia Dinh) was invited to be the abbot. Later, he organized the rebuilding of the temple by carrying the soil to build the foundation with the help of many friends. Finally, this place became a great temple and named it Vinh Truong pagoda. People often call it Vinh Trang pagoda. Over many generations of transmission, Vinh Trang Pagoda has grown larger and larger, making it a place for Buddhists or relatives near and far to go on pilgrimage.
3. What to Do – See – Eat at Vinh Trang Pagoda
The pagoda makes the first impression on visitors near and far by its superficial scale and sophisticated architecture and decoration. The pagoda has an area of about 2 hectares, including many areas such as Amitabha Buddha station, main hall, Quan Am station, tower garden, book publishing room, …
In front of Vinh Trang pagoda, there are two large and magnificent martial arts three-way gates, built in 1933 according to ancient architecture. A special feature of this gate is the art of joining porcelain pieces illustrating the history of Buddha with all shapes of dragons, unicorns, turtles, phoenixes, fish, etc., which is very impressive and unique.
Vinh Trang Pagoda was built in a general architectural style that is the interference between Asian – European architecture such as French, Roman, Thai and Cham architecture. The pillars and corridors on the left hand side of the temple will give you the feeling and view as if you were in a corridor in Europe.
Particularly in the front part of the outside of the main hall, visitors will see Renaissance-style patterns or Roman domes. This is French iron wool, it is Japanese ceramic tile. You’ll also find familiar features such as Chinese characters written in the ancient seal style, and national language characters written in the Gothic script.
All these architectural patterns come together in harmony, creating a beautiful work. Due to the features of the West mixed with the East, up to now, the temple is many years old but still has modern and ancient features. This creates a special attraction of its own that no other temple in the West has encountered.
However, the core type of sculptural architecture is still boldly traditional for the Vietnamese people. Built in the shape of the letter Quoc, including 4 consecutive compartments: front hall, main hall, ancestral house and back house.
The houses are all made of cement and precious wood, with high floors, and solid walls around. Inside the pagoda, there are many paintings of horizontal phi, couplets carefully made with iridescent embossed bottles and jars, which look very beautiful. The envelopes are elaborately and delicately carved, typically the bundles of the Bat Tien worshiping objects placed in the middle.
Traveling to Tien Giang, going to Vinh Trang pagoda on pilgrimage, you have the opportunity to admire more than 60 precious Buddha statues, made of wood, bronze or terracotta, all gilded with iridescent gold, of which the most prominent is the set of 18 statues. Arhats lying on both sides of the main hall wall were carved with jackfruit wood in the early 20th century.
In the temple, there are also 3 large Buddha statues: Amitabha 98 cm high; Quan Am and The Chi are 93 cm tall and a large bronze bell called Phap Bao Chuong is 1.2 m high, weighing about 150 kg on the body with the word “Vinh Truong Tu” engraved in the middle of the 19th century.
The statue of Shakyamuni Buddha entered Nirvana was started on February 15, 2012, completed on February 15, 2013, and inaugurated on March 26, 2013. The part of the statue is designed to lie down with an auspicious posture, 32 m long, 10 m high, weighing about 250 tons with a very gentle and peaceful face color that makes all pilgrims feel. relaxed, peaceful.
Outside the temple is a campus with many ornamental trees, many tall and old trees, a shady orchard and a beautiful lake. Prominent among the temple garden is the 24m high statue of Di Da Buddha (6m pedestal, 18m statue) with the implication that the Buddha is standing and taking care of sentient beings in all realms and is considered the symbol of the present temple.
Maitreya Buddha statue is enshrined sitting in the middle of Vinh Trang ancient temple park in My Tho city, with a length of 27m, a width of 18m, a height of 20m was inaugurated on January 22, 2014 with a gentle smile.
During the two resistance wars against foreign invaders, Vinh Trang pagoda was also a refuge and nurturing place for revolutionary soldiers. Experiencing a long history, through two devastating wars, but the ancient features of the temple are still preserved almost intact.
With great historical values and unique architecture, Vinh Trang Pagoda was recognized as a national historical and cultural relic in 1984, becoming a Mekong Delta tourist attraction attracting a large number of tourists from all over the world to visit, admire and worship. People come here not only to see a big temple, but also to send their wishes for peace, to spread their hearts in a peaceful and tranquil space.
4. Free Itineraries from VeMekong
As a local travel expert, we have some ideas for you to think about.
From My Tho 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 My Tho. 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 My
Tho daily tour with local, you can contact www.vemekong.com or Hotline/WhatsApp/WeChat/Zalo +84939888559; email: hello@vemekong.com
5. Google Maps of Vinh Trang 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 Vinh Trang 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 My Tho 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 My Tho.
7. Responsible Travel and Advice to Visit Vinh Trang 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 Vinh Trang 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. 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 Mekong riverside, this will help you out. Then you can hire a scooter, car or bike and explore it by yourself.
If you plan to extend your travel to My Tho homestay, do not forget to bring mosquito repellent cream.
Visit My Tho 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 My Tho responsible tours which help you give back while traveling. It’s a cliché, but it’s true.
My Tho 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 My Tho 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 Hu Tieu My Tho (a kind of noodle soup but it is really yummy), elephant ear fish, Snakehead Fish Rice Porridge, snake wine, coconut candy, Fried Sticky Rice…
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 My Tho in the rainy season, as My Tho always looks fantastic in the full rain and full sun.
My Tho tourist attractions are magnificent itself, but if you have enough time, don’t forget to put other places onto your bucket lists such as Coconut Candy Traditional Village & Small Canals, mighty Mekong river cruise, educational tour and community tour in My Tho, My Tho homestay 2D1N, My Tho Cycling Tours, Dong Tam Snake Farm, Vinh Trang Pagoda, 4 Stunning islets (Dragon, Unicorn, Turtle and Phoenix), My Tho Market, My Tho Cathedral, Buu Lam Pagoda, Dieu Hoa Temple.
Hopefully, the above tips will help you to come up with a great plan for your adventure in My Tho, Tien Giang province, Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Have a safe trip!
“Sleep less, travel more, respect more” – Thomas Vietnam – Local travel expert.
Thank you
