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.
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).
