Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc granted Vinh Nghiem Pagoga the recognition certificate in a ceremony on March 20. (Photo: VNA)

Granting the recognition certificate to Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said the province should develop a plan to preserve the pagoda soon.

Further studies should also be conducted on its value in connection with the Complex of Yen Tu Monuments and Landscape, the Deputy PM said, adding that this is needed in order to ask for UNESCO recognition as a World Heritage item

Arts performances during the ceremony recreated the life of King Tran Nhan Tong, the third king of the Tran Dynasty and the first master of Truc Lam Zen Buddhism, who became a monk in Vinh Nghiem Pagoda.

Vinh Nghiem Pagoda is located 20 kilometres southeast of Bac Giang city. Constructed at the beginning of the Ly Dynasty in the 11th century, the pagoda was expanded during the Tran Dynasty (13th - 14th centuries). Then it became a training centre for Truc Lam Zen followers for nearly eight centuries.

Many types of sacred Buddhist statues - including a valuable collection of woodblocks used to print Buddhist Sutras - were safeguarded here.

The pagoda was named a national relic in 1964 and its festival, held annually on the 12th of the second lunar month, was recognised as a national intangible cultural heritage item in 2013.

The Prime Minister decided to grant it the title of Special National Relic on December 23 last year.