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Vinh Trang Pagoda (Chùa Vĩnh Tràng) & Vinh Trang Park @ My Tho
Just on the outskirts of My Tho is a beautiful temple called the Vinh Trang Pagoda. But don't go looking for a tall pagoda, their is one here but it's not that tall to be conspicuous from a distance. What first attract visitors are the three entrance gates at the front perimeter wall of the temple.
Chùa Vĩnh Tràng is a Buddhist temple near Mỹ Tho in the Mekong Delta region of southern Vietnam. It is one of the best-known temples in the region. The temple stands on a 2 hectares (5 acres) block filled with fruit trees in the village of Mỹ Hóa in the town of Mỹ Phong, on the banks of the Bảo Định Canal.
The main entrance arch (the right side arch has a statue of Buddha at the centre. At the two sides are statues of local deities.
The main triple gate was built in 1933 through the labour of craftsmen recruited from the imperial capital in Huế, central Vietnam.
A close up look at the main entrance arch, showing the ornate style of the panel carvings and the multi-tiered roof.
The centre archway entrance.
Close up of the centre archway.
Chùa Vĩnh Tràng is a Buddhist temple near Mỹ Tho in the Mekong Delta region of southern Vietnam. It is one of the best-known temples in the region. The temple stands on a 2 hectares (5 acres) block filled with fruit trees in the village of Mỹ Hóa in the town of Mỹ Phong, on the banks of the Bảo Định Canal.
The main triple gate was built in 1933 through the labour of craftsmen recruited from the imperial capital in Huế, central Vietnam.
The temple stands on grounds with an area of 2,000 metres square, planted with many beautiful trees. It was built in 1849 in the shape of the Chinese characters denoting “Nation”.
The beautiful structure features a mixture of Chinese, Vietnamese and Khmer-Angkor Period architectural styles. Vinh Trang Pagoda has a number of impressive features like the ornate gate, built by craftsmen from Huế, and detailed woodwork within.
A view of the central structure above the main prayer hall. Formerly, it was a small hermitage set up in the early 19th century by District Chief Bui Cong Dat. In 1849, the Most Venerable Abbot Thich Hue Dang put up a bigger temple and named it Vinh Trang Pagoda.
From afar, the pagoda resembles the five-tower Angkor Wat Temple. According to locals, a monk named Minh Dan and an architect named Huynh Tri Phu traveled to Khmer Empire prior to building the pagoda for inspiration and eventually combined Khmer architecture with European styles for the pagoda.
Within the compound are several shrines, this one with a golden statue is dedicated to the Dhyana Mudra Buddha.
And this one is dedicated to Guan Yin, with her standing on a lotus bloom.
Unfortunately, we were early and could only admire the temple from outside. This photo shows the intricate craftsmanship that has been put into the central stairway and the columns and arches behind.
The temple also includes elements from the Renaissance period, Romanesque style, French decorative flowers and Japanese enameled tiles.
A close up look at an arch window with elaborately carved columns and window grilles.
A close up look at a corner of the building showing the multiple layers of artwork, each of a different style and all beautifully combined together.
At the wall panels of the archway gates are panel artwork done in very Vietnamese styles with broken shards of colourful pottery.
This one is of a dragon rising into the sky.
One of a peacock in the garden.
And this one is of the peacock with its colourful tail beautifully opened .
A peacock roosting on a tree.
A wall panel of a tortoise - tortoises represents longevity.
Okay, let's rewind a bit to when we were just riding into the road leading to the Vinh Trang Pagoda. As we entered we noticed a giant standing statue of Buddha (Abhaya Mudra Buddha) on our left. The pagoda is straight ahead and the statue is actually located on a small park called Vinh Trang Park.
It's a nice little park planted with tropical palms, trees and flowery bushes.
Front side view of the Standing Buddha statue in a Abhayamudra posture. This gesture was shown by Buddha immediately after attaining enlightenment. It symbolizes strength and inner security. It is a gesture which instills a sense of fearlessness to others as well.
One long corridor leads to a Laughing Buddha (Budai, Vietnamese: Bố Đại). Behind this statue, on the right, is a large statue of a Sleeping Buddha (Reclining Buddha).
Budai, Hotei or Pu-Tai (Chinese: 布袋; pinyin: Bùdài; Japanese: 布袋, Hotei; Vietnamese: Bố Đại) is a semi-historical monk as well as deity who was introduced into the Zen Buddhist Pantheon. He purportedly lived around the 10th century in the Wuyue kingdom. His name literally means "Cloth Sack", and refers to the bag that he is conventionally depicted as carrying as he wanders around. His jolly nature, humorous personality, and eccentric lifestyle distinguishes him from most Buddhist masters or figures. He is almost always shown smiling or laughing, hence his nickname in Chinese, the "Laughing Buddha" (Chinese: 笑佛; pinyin: Xiào Fó).
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