Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has given the green light to the northern province of Bac Giang in planning the preservation of Vinh Nghiem Pagoda in Yen Dung district, a special national historical and architectural relic.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is tasked with examining the plan before submitting it to the Prime Minister for approval.
Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, informally called La or Duc La pagoda, is 20 km to the southeast of Bac Giang City.
Built in the 11th century under the Ly Dynasty, the pagoda served as a training institution for Vietnamese Zen monks during the Tran Dynasty (13th-14th centuries).
It has been considered the first Buddhism university of Viet Nam and the place of origin for Truc Lam Zen Buddhism. It also houses a collection of 3,050 carved woodblocks recognised by UNESCO as a world documentary heritage.
Vinh Nghiem Pagoda was rated as a national historical and cultural site in 1964 and a special national relic in 2015. Its festival, which is held annually from the 12th to 14th day of the second lunar month, was also recognised as part of the national intangible cultural heritage in 2013.