Sung Khanh Pagoda is located in a Nung village on the banks of the Lo River, about 9 km southwest of Ha Giang city. The pagoda is a place where visitors can explore Buddhist culture and local beliefs.
Sung Khanh Pagoda was built during the Tran Dynasty in 1356 and has undergone many restorations to this day. The pagoda covers an area of only about 26 square meters and has a relatively simple architecture. The pagoda also preserves national treasures such as two stone steles with intricate carvings, and a bronze bell nearly one meter high. If you visit Sung Khanh Pagoda at the beginning of the new year, you will also have the opportunity to participate in the Long Tong festival – a very bustling spring festival of the Tay people.
Ha Giang has beautiful scenery with unique villages, majestic landscapes, diverse ethnic groups and spiritual beauty on the rocky land that has existed since very early times. Among them is the ancient Sung Khanh pagoda, an extremely famous Buddhist spiritual site in Ha Giang.
Sung Khanh Pagoda Festival
Every year, on the 3rd and 4th day of the Lunar New Year, Sung Khanh Pagoda is the busiest. At this time, the pagoda holds a spring festival with many unique local activities such as throwing con, tug of war, volleyball, soccer, etc., attracting visitors from all over the world to gather.
Then on the 6th day of the Lunar New Year, the Long Tong festival (going down to the fields festival) of the Tay – Nung people is also held in the courtyard below the pagoda – this is the oldest traditional community festival of the people here to pray for a new year with a bountiful harvest, thank the gods and heaven and earth for a peaceful year. After the burning of incense by the people, the government is the festival with many folk games, singing, eating during the ceremony… full of excitement.
Location of Sung Khanh Pagoda
Sung Khanh Pagoda is located in Dao Duc Commune, Vi Xuyen District, Ha Giang Province. It is about 2km from Dao Duc Commune People’s Committee and 9km from Ha Giang City.
About Sung Khanh Pagoda
Sung Khanh Pagoda is a special destination of Ha Giang heritage and spirituality, a pagoda with a long history, many values in architecture, art research and Vietnamese writing.
Sung Khanh Pagoda is also known as Nung village pagoda because this is where many Nung – Tay people have lived for a long time. The pagoda is located on a hill next to Lo river, in a prime position “front and back” facing Thich Bich stream, on the left is the shape of a dragon mountain, on the right is the shape of a tiger mountain – creating a beautiful feng shui position with the meaning of blessing, the scenery is charming and poetic, making this place more peaceful.
Sung Khanh Pagoda is quite small, only about 26 square meters in area, designed in the architectural style of the letter Nhat; there is only one room to worship Buddha and Quan Am; along with that is a large bell recording the merits of the person who built the pagoda. To the right of the pagoda is the lecture hall which is also the place to receive guests of the pagoda.
The temple was rebuilt with concrete but the pillars are still made of wood, the roof is tiled with fish scale tiles, and the four corners of the roof are curved like drifting clouds.
Special relics of Sung Khanh Pagoda
The most famous point that attracts many tourists to visit Sung Khanh Pagoda is the two ancient stone steles – original artifacts with historical and architectural value of the Tran Dynasty; including the place name, event and Nom script appearing on the steles.
The stone stele is placed on the back of a stone turtle and was built during the reign of King Tran Du Tong in 1367. It is currently considered a special relic with unique cultural and artistic value that has never appeared in any other relic.
On the stele are carved many unique images such as two dragons, lotus platform, Buddha and disciples standing in attendance… The most special of which is the epitaph compiled by the Governor of the Imperial Library Ta Thuc Ngao expressing his admiration for the Nguyen Cong family for peacefully ruling the northern land, helping the people have a happy and peaceful life.
In addition, the temple bell was recognized as a national treasure cast during the Vinh Thinh dynasty around the year At Dau 1705 (information is written on the bell); the bell’s sound symbolizes liberation, awakening sentient beings from the shore of ignorance and darkness to return to the shore of enlightenment.
Sightseeing along the route
- Milestone KM0 Ha Giang
- Co Doi Cau Ma Temple
- Bach Ngoc Cave
- Na Thac Palms
- Xin Man flower valley
- Tien Nguyen terraced fields
- Stone Mountain God
- Twin Mountains
