Pho Minh Pagoda

Location: Tuc Mac Hamlet, Loc Vuong Ward, Nam Dinh City, Nam Dinh Province, far from Ha Noi about 90km and 3km north of Nam Dinh City’s centre.
Characteristics: The pagoda was originally built during the Ly Dynasty and later expanded in 1262 during the Tran Dynasty. It was a place for high-ranking mandarins and the aristocracy of the Tran Royal Court to worship and lead their religious life.

Architecture

The pagoda built in the noi cong ngoai quoc style where the inner part was built in the form of the Han character 工 (Cong) and the outer, the Han character 国 (Quoc), had clear imprints of the cohabitation of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism.


A 7-tonne cauldron, since vanished, once guarded the front and could hold two men, was dubbed one of the four precious objects of An Nam, joining the Bao Thien Tower, the Quy Dien Bell and Quynh Lam Statue.

 

The statue of King Tran Nhan Tong lying on his left side shows him entering Nirvana; the statues of the three founders of the Truc Lam Buddhist Sect, Tran Nhan Tong, Phap Loa and Huyen Quang; and 60 red-lacquered and gold-trimmed Buddha and Saint Statues have been preserved in the pagoda.

 

 

Pho Minh Tower

In particularly, a 13 story-tower named Pho Minh Tower in the shape of a lotus, 21 meters high, was built within the vicinity of the pagoda in 1305.

 

It is estimated that the 700-tonne tower relies on an area of only 30 square meters but up to now it has remained where for 700 years. The base and the tower's first floor were constructed with flagstones and the upper floors were built with bricks.

 

On top of the tower, there is a gourd-shaped decoration which is kind of talisman to catch the elite energy from the universe. The tower is believed to connect the Earth and the Universe.

ALBUM
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WHERE TO STAY
Son Nam Hotel

Add: 26 Le Hong Phong St., Nam Dinh City

Tel: (84-228) 3645 617

Vi Hoang Hotel

Add: 153 Nguyen Du St., Nam Dinh City

Tel: (84-228) 3849 290

Lakeside

Add: 168 Hung Vuong St., Nam Dinh

Tel: (84-228) 6262 626

Nam Dinh Trade Union Hotel

Add: 121 Le Hong Phong St., Nam Dinh City

Tel: (84-228) 3841 124

WHERE TO EAT
Huong Giang Restaurant

Add: 58 Hoang Hoa Tham St., Nam Dinh City

Tel: (84-228) 3849 086

Restaurant Thanh Lich

Add: 113 Nguyen Du, Nam Dinh City

Tel: (84-228) 3849 832

Canh Dieu Vang Restaurant

Add: Lot E9, My Trung Industrial Zone, Nam Dinh City

Tel: (84-228) 3500 577

Lang Van Hoa Am Thuc Restaurant

Add: Km2 Dang Xuan Bang St., Nam Dinh City

Tel: (84-228) 2240 663

Vuon Cau Restaurant

Add: Nam Phong, Nam Dinh City

Tel: (84-228) 3857 905

Thu Thủy Restaurant

Add: Dang Xuan Ban St., Nam Dinh City

Tel: (84-228) 3600 794