Ang Pagoda

Amidst the vast green rice fields of the Mekong Delta, Ang Pagoda stands out like a precious gem, shining brightly. More than just a temple, it serves as a living museum preserving the valuable cultural and historical values of the Khmer people. With its unique architecture, mysterious stories, and traditional festivals, Ang Pagoda promises to offer visitors unforgettable experiences.

Today, let's explore one of the unique cultural symbols of the Khmer people in Tra Vinh - Ang Pagoda, also known as Wat Angkorajaborey. This ancient temple is part of a system of 141 Khmer pagodas in Tra Vinh province. Currently located in Cluster 3, Luong Hoa, Chau Thanh district, Tra Vinh province, the pagoda is more than 5 km southwest of the provincial center and over 500 m east of National Highway 53, adjacent to the Ao Ba Om scenic spot and the Tra Vinh Khmer Cultural Museum.

Courtyard and Landscape

Interestingly, did you notice that the pagoda faces east? According to Buddhist beliefs, this is the direction that Buddha looks towards to illuminate and guide sentient beings. Imagine this! When you step through the pagoda gate, two rows of tall ancient sao trees stretching over 400 meters provide a green canopy, leading the way into the sacred space. What is your first feeling? Is it a sense of peace mixed with a little solemnity? These rows of trees have witnessed hundreds of years of the pagoda's history, as if whispering stories from the past to the present.

With an area of over 3.5 hectares, Ang Pagoda is remarkable for its many endemic plant species growing in the sandy soil, such as Hopea, resin tree, bamboo, and cane. Among them, hundreds of ancient hopea and resin trees provide year-round shade, adding to the ancient beauty of the pagoda. Like many other Khmer pagodas in Tra Vinh, Ang Pagoda is a complex of architectural structures, including monks' quarters and classrooms for teaching Paly and Khmer scripts, surrounding the majestic main hall.

History and Architecture

According to legend, Ang Pagoda has existed for many centuries but was built on its current large scale in the third year of King Thieu Tri's reign (1842). Since then, the pagoda has undergone numerous renovations and repairs, including the construction of new auxiliary structures such as monks' quarters and dining halls, but the main hall has remained largely unchanged from its original form.

According to the historical record of Ang Pagoda, the pagoda dates back to 990. By 1695, the main hall was rebuilt with bamboo leaves. In 1842, the pagoda was reconstructed using precious wood (rafters, beams, and 60 columns), with tiled roofs and brick walls. The pagoda has been renovated several more times since then.

Special Architectural Features

From the entrance gate, you will see tall towers and statues of demons, dancing girls (Kẽn naarr), and Garuda birds (Krũd), symbols of prosperity and protection. A unique feature of Ang Pagoda! In front of the main hall stands a five-spire tower, symbolizing the universe according to Hindu beliefs. This is the only five-spire tower among the 141 Khmer pagodas in Tra Vinh with this unique design. Did you know that each spire is not just a symbol but also contains the remains of chief monks who have presided over the pagoda throughout the ages?

Main Hall - The Heart of the Pagoda

At the center of the Khmer pagoda is the main hall (Preah Vihea), dedicated to Buddha, reflecting the skill level of contemporary artisans in architecture, painting, and sculpture. The foundation of the main hall is 24 x 36 meters, 1.4 meters high, built of green stone with antique tile floors and surrounded by a 1.23-meter-high fence, with two entrances on the east and west sides. The main hall itself measures 12 x 24 meters, built on a second foundation 0.6 meters higher than the first, and encircled by a second, 0.7-meter-high fence.

The main hall is constructed from a wooden frame with a tiled roof, supported by a system of 18 precious wood columns, each 0.6 meters in diameter and 6 meters high. The front veranda has six columns, including four central columns carved with celestial nymphs (Keyno) and two side columns carved with Garuda birds (Krud). Inside, the main hall is a large space with 12 dragon-decorated columns, painted in red and gold. The roof of the main hall is uniquely structured, with three levels of roofing in harmonious colors, the top two being very high and steep, creating a sacred feeling when looking up. The two gables are closed with elaborately carved wooden triangles. The eaves are decorated with dragon motifs, the dragon bodies lying flat with scales curving upward, giving the tiled roof a light, elegant feel.

Murals and Buddha Altar

The four walls of the main hall feature vivid murals depicting Buddhist philosophy through the life journey of Buddha. The ceiling boasts four large murals illustrating four stages in Buddha's life: birth, renunciation, enlightenment, and passing into Nirvana.

The Buddha altar in the main hall was also meticulously crafted by artisans of the time. The entire altar is a lotus throne with many petals placed behind a wooden lattice intricately carved with floral and animal motifs, painted in red and gold. On the altar, in addition to the main 2.1-meter-high statue, there are 55 smaller Buddha statues made of cement and precious wood, all gilded. Like other Southern Khmer temples, the main hall of Ang Pagoda only worships a single Buddha statue in a meditative posture.

Historical and Cultural Value

The grand and majestic construction of the pagoda in the mid-19th century demonstrates that the area on the southwestern sandy hill of Tra Vinh city already had densely populated Khmer villages, a prosperous economy, and high artistic skills at the time. Over time, some wooden columns and details in the architecture of Ang Pagoda's main hall have deteriorated, and the pagoda has had to repair and patch them with cement and other materials.

National Historical Site

For nearly two centuries, Ang Pagoda's main hall has stood resilient against the weather and time. Ang Pagoda is the pride of the Khmer people and the broader Tra Vinh community for its artistic, architectural, and sculptural values, rich in Khmer cultural identity, with certain influences from Vietnamese, Chinese, Indian, and Thai cultures. In 1994, Ang Pagoda was recognized as a national historical and cultural site by the Ministry of Culture and Information.

Modern Cultural Hub

Today, Ang Pagoda is one of the prominent Khmer Buddhist temples in Tra Vinh, hosting numerous cultural activities and festivals, including the Ok Om Bok festival – a national intangible cultural heritage event held annually on the full moon of the tenth lunar month. Along with the Ao Ba Om historical and cultural site, the Khmer Cultural Museum, and the Provincial Cultural and Sports Center, Ang Pagoda creates a cultural complex and an important highlight in Tra Vinh's 21st-century tourism development strategy.

Thank you for accompanying Tatinta on today's visit to Ang Pagoda. I hope the information and experiences shared today leave a beautiful impression on you. If you have time, don't forget to spend another day exploring the beauty of Ao Ba Om and other attractions in Tra Vinh. Wishing you a meaningful and memorable journey!

Unmissable Experiences

• Capture Stunning Photos: Don't forget to record beautiful moments at various spots like the pagoda gate, main hall, or under the cool shade of sao trees.
• Participate in Ok Om Bok Festival: A chance to understand the rich cultural life of the Khmer people.
• Learn About Khmer Culture: Opposite the pagoda is the Khmer Cultural Museum, which houses many precious artifacts.

Ideal Time to Visit

Ang Pagoda in Tra Vinh is an attractive destination year-round, but the lunar months of July and October are the best times to experience the distinctive festival atmosphere of the Khmer people. During these months, traditional festivals such as Chol Chnam Thmây (Khmer New Year), Đôlta (Ancestors' Day), and Ok Om Bok (Moon Worship Festival) are vibrantly celebrated, attracting many visitors. Additionally, if you visit in the summer, you can enjoy fresh fruits from the Tra Vinh gardens such as durians, mangoes, coconuts, and rambutans. The scenery of Ang Pagoda is particularly beautiful in the summer when sunlight casts a mystical and solemn glow.

Directions to Ang Pagoda

Ang Pagoda is about 125 km from Saigon, equivalent to over 2 hours by car. You can choose to travel by personal vehicle (motorbike, car) or by bus. If traveling by personal vehicle, you will follow National Highway 1A, then turn onto QL60, passing through locations such as the Tien River, Ben Tre city, and Co Chien bridge to reach Tra Vinh. From the city center, just ask the locals, and they will guide you. If traveling by bus, you can choose one of the bus services from Mien Tay Bus Station, such as:

• Kim Hoang Bus (100,000 VND/ticket)
• Tra Vinh Transport Bus (120,000 VND/ticket)
• Tan Thanh Thuy Bus (100,000 VND/ticket)
• After arriving in Tra Vinh, you can rent a motorbike to move around the city for 150,000 - 200,000 VND/day.