Discovery Viet Nam: Temple

Showing posts with label Temple. Show all posts

Dec 26, 2013

Photo of Phat Tích Pagoda

Photo of Phat Tích Pagoda, Bac Ninh city, Viet Nam. Phat Tich is an ancient pagoda at the foot of Phat Tich Mountain. Coming here, tourists can get a glimpse of the birthplace of Vietnamese Buddhism. Phat Tich is the cradle of Vietnamese Buddhism. It was the first place where Indian Buddhism was introduced. Also known as Van Phuc, the pagoda in Tien Du District, Bac Ninh was built between the 7th and 10th centuries and renovated throughout the years before its destruction in 1947 during the war against the French. Since it was important to Buddhist life, it was roughly rebuilt in 1958.

Along the moss-covered path to the main hall are two lines of stone horses, buffaloes, rhinos, elephants and lions on their knees, which are among a few vestiges of the ancient pagoda.

During the Ly Dynasty in 1057, a tower was built at the pagoda but it later collapsed, thus exposing what was described as the country’s largest Buddha statue, which is 1.85m high. It is a real treasure. There are also a dozen of lower towers said to hold the remains of senior monks.

Visitors can also see a giant stone statue of Buddha on the peak of Phat Tich Mountain, which took three years to build. The statue is 27m tall and weighs 3,000 tonnes, making it one of the largest stone statues in Southeast Asia.

Actually, the architecture of the pagoda is quite similar to that of others in northern Vietnam but it is worth dropping by it to get a glimpse of the birthplace of Vietnamese Buddhism.

Photo of Phat Tích Pagoda.

Travel a rainy spring day in My Son Sanctuary

This was an unforgettable celebration as I found a peaceful place to review the past and ponder my future plans.

My Son Sanctuary on a rainy day

Travel Majestic My Son

The bus carried around 12 guests, mostly foreigners from Hoi An ancient town, to the site in about an hour. Traffic to My Son is quite convenient on a flat road with some beautiful landscapes of rivers, bridges and fields where tourists can see local people with gentle smiles on their faces.
A tourist takes pictures of the headless Siva statue

A tourist takes pictures of the headless Siva statue

Our troupe was greeted by a local humorous tourist guide aged around 40. He spoke English fluently and made his guests laugh at his jokes so I didn’t feel it was a long distance at all. While presenting briefly about the sanctuary he collected entrance fees which are priced at VND100,000 for foreigners and VND60,000 for Vietnamese.

My Son located in Duy Phu Commune, Duy Xuyen District of Quang Nam Province is about 70km away from Danang City and is a complex of Champa architectural constructions and towers. The sanctuary which was recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site in 1999 is a worshipping place and has royal tombs from the Champa dynasties.

A dog raised by security guards is seen at My Son Sanctuary - Photos: Kieu Giang

It is in between a 2km valley surrounded by mountains and hills so from the front gate tourists are taken to a parking lot by bus then they have to walk about 400m to get to the relics. I myself find this is the most romantic path under the shades of high trees swinging their leaves in spring breezes. Looming under the shades and bushes are winding streams with sparkling pure water. Those who come in pairs may find an ideal place to have good pictures for their albums.

The tourist guide’s loud voice woke me up from my daydreaming and made me focus on a small board featuring the map of My Son Sanctuary which consists of six stone construction complexes affected from Hinduism named A to H. Group A is still in its original shape while others were mostly destroyed during wartime. They were built from the 7th century to the 13th century during the splendid time of the Champa kingdom. Tourists can find many huge statues of linga, yoni and especially a headless Siva in the site. Thanks to the tour guide our troupe knew that Siva is both man and woman but his original shape is man.

Numerous artifacts, including statues of apsara, holy animals and daily activities of ancient people found at My Son are displayed at Champa Museum at the corner of Bang Dang and Tran Phu streets in Hai Chau District of Danang City.

Travelers My son can register a tour to My Son Sanctuary by bus and boat at numerous agencies in Hoi An ancient town at VND150,000 per person with lunch served on a boat drifting on dreamy Thu Bon River. Furthermore, guests will be taken to some local sightseeing spots on their way back to Hoi An like Kim Bong wood carving village or Thanh Ha pottery village which is 3km away from the ancient town.

SOURCE: TALKVIETNAM

Giong festival in Soc Son Distric, Hanoi city, VietNam

Giong Festival (Vietnamese: Hội Gióng) is a traditional festival which is celebrated annually in many parts of Hanoi to honour the mythical hero, Thánh Gióng "Saint Giong," who is credited with defending the country against foreign enemies. The festival was listed on the UNESCO List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Thánh Gióng, also known as Phù Đổng Thiên Vương and Xung Thiên Thần Vương is a mythical folk hero of Vietnam's history. Little holy Gióng grows in size to be a giant hero on a flying magic horse leading Vietnam to victory against invaders.

According to legend, it is the final point of his journey the same earthly place, after defeating the enemy and take, he just come here to rest, watching the sky for the last time, renouncing war put on plant cellsincense to stay where Ve Linh mountain, and his horse flew to heaven. People around Mount Soc grateful divine hero who founded his temple at the foot of the mountain Soc (called temple Soc). Every year, people around the festival for 3 days (6th to 8th lunar month) to remember him.

Small lake in Soc Son Temple

The Sóc Sơn Temple is situated in Vệ Linh Village, Phù Linh Commune which now belongs to Sóc Sơn, a suburban district of Hà Nội. The temple is dedicated to Dóng God that is Phù Đổng Thiên Vương.

Starting from Hà Nội, one can go to Vệ Linh Village by following Highway No 1, cross Chương Dương and Đuống Bridges, then turn left and follow Highway No. 3, cross Phù Lỗ Bridge and, on reaching Mã Market (located at Km 29 of the same highway), turn left again.