Tiền Giang – a province of the Mekong Delta is famous for its hot travel destinations which are loved by many visitors. Remarkable activities for a visit to Tiền Giang are experience ecotourism, get to know more about local culture and the land’s history, savor local specialties, and contemplate unique architecture. In terms of architecture, what you never miss on a tour to Tiền Giang is Vĩnh Tràng Pagoda which is supposed to be a fusion of Oriental and Occidental styles. Perhaps, it may be your first experience about unique architecture in Asia in general and in Vietnam in particular.
Where is Vĩnh Tràng Pagoda?
Vĩnh Tràng Pagoda is a renowned pagoda on Nguyễn Trung Trực Street, Mỹ Tho City, Tiền Giang Province. The pagoda is so common that it often appears in most scheduled programs from tour operators and travel agents in Ho Chi Minh City – the economic center of Vietnam. For a Mekong Delta tour, the spot tourists should arrive first is Vĩnh Tràng as it’s the nearest one from Ho Chi Minh City.
What distinguishes Vĩnh Tràng Pagoda from others in the Mekong Delta is its elaborate outer-appearance which is a sophisticated blend of Orriental and Occidental architectural styles. While having a special architectural style, and easily reached from the metropolitan center – Ho Chi Minh City, the pagoda is often the first choice for any Mekong Delta trip.
Address: Nguyễn Trung Trực Street, Mỹ An Hamlet, Ward 8, Mỹ Tho District, Tiền Giang Province
- No entrance free
- Parking fee: VND5,000/ticket
What is special about Vĩnh Tràng Pagoda?
Situated at Mỹ Phong Commune, Mỹ Tho City, Vĩnh Tràng Pagoda is seen one of the renowned pagodas in the Mekong Delta and also draws a lot of domestic and international visitors thanks to its fabulous architecture.
The pagoda was first erected by Mr. & Mrs. Bùi Công Đạt in the 19th century. Undergoing many refurbishments, Vĩnh Tràng Pagoda now has a new outer-appearance which is extremely attractive. The pagoda is renowned for its unique combination of traditional architecture and Western style. This is exactly the most awesome detail appealing to numerous people every year.
Architecture of Vĩnh Tràng Pagoda
Looking at Vĩnh Tràng from a far distance, you will feel that its architecture is like that of a Western palace. However, when the pagoda is peered at closer or inside, it appears traditional as a palace for kings in the feudal dynasty. One of the outstanding qualities of this structure is that the central chamber is decorated with arches and images of eight immortals riding eight mascots, illustrating the solemn space there.
The gate of Vĩnh Tràng Pagoda was built in both Asian and Western styles. It’s easy to discover that patterns on the gate have appeared since the Renaissance, the arched roof is in a Roman style, and other materials are from France and Japan. Inside the central chamber has some marks of Chinese architecture, but still remains the distinctive features of Vietnam. Wooden statues and horizontal lacquered boards contain exquisite details and images.
Statues of Vĩnh Tràng Pagoda
There are more than 60 wooden and stone statues. On the altar, there are statues of the Buddha, Guanyin, Amitabha, and Arhats. The oldest statues are of the Guanyin, Amitabha, and Mahasthamaprapta. Next to walls inside the central chamber are statues of eighteen Arhats made from wood by local artisans in the early 20th century. Inside the yard has a statue of the Buddha and Maitreya, making it a quiet and peaceful place for people to take a short rest after sightseeing around.
The statues and designs you see at the pagoda may be different from what you have known in your culture and religion, yet they will contribute to your wide knowledge about the world out there. Thanks to the excursion to Vĩnh Tràng, you can realize that each religion has its own beauty and uncovering it doesn’t waste your time at all.
Being a perfect background for photos
It’s stated that Vĩnh Tràng Pagoda is a place of the most phenomenal scenes, formed by Asian and Western architecture, a lush green yard, and beautiful statues. That’s why every corner of the pagoda is able to become an ideal background for photos. You can take a leisure walk, sightsee around, and take the most miraculous photos.
For a sightseeing tour of Vĩnh Tràng Pagoda, many people get valuable experiences since they get a full sense of Buddhism – a common religion in Asia and contemplate the extraordinary architecture of this structure. Meanwhile, others find themselves lost in a collection of phenomenal photos of the pagoda. No matter which situation you are in, it’s sure that the trip will never fail to make your day.
How to get to Vĩnh Tràng Pagoda?
Located on Nguyễn Trung Trực Street, Ward 8, Mỹ Tho City, Vĩnh Tràng Pagoda may be found easily. To get to Vĩnh Tràng, you need to depart from Ho Chi Minh City or Cần Thơ City. An easy and convenient way to reach the destination is by bus/coach and taxi or motorcycle taxi. Just go by bus/coach to Mỹ Tho first, and then take a taxi or motorcycle taxi to the pagoda.
If you travel by bike independently, here is the best route: the intersection of Mỹ Tho City – go south-east to Nguyễn Thị Thập Street/National Route 60 – Nguyễn Trãi Street (ĐT864 Street) – Nguyễn Trãi Bridge – Nguyễn Văn Giác Street. On Nguyễn Văn Giác Street is Coffee 52. By that time, turn left to Nguyễn Trung Trực Street and turn right at HQL Mỹ Lợi Block to Vĩnh Tràng Pagoda
Other activities to do for an excursion to Vĩnh Tràng Pagoda
An excursion to Vĩnh Tràng Pagoda, which you find as a part of some Mekong Delta tours from travel agents and tour operators in Ho Chi Minh City, not only shows you the magical architecture of the pagoda, but also enables you to try a few other activities after leaving that place. Some of those activities are to experience a rowing boat trip, taste local specialties, catch fish by bamboo traps, savor fruit in a lush garden, and listen to and perceive Vietnamese folk music performed by locals.
The life of locals in the Mekong Delta is associated with rivers, and canals as well. Therefore, rowing wooden boats is considered as their daily activity, also the distinctive thing about this wet area. After leaving Vĩnh Tràng Pagoda, you will experience a rowing boat cruise along waterways, and immerse yourself into cool breezes and shadows of water coconut trees. This is indeed a fantastic boat trip you have never had before.
There are plenty of local specialties you shouldn’t neglect. These never disappoint you, not by any means. What must be listed here includes roasted voles, coconut fudge, honey tea, deep-fried giant gourami with vegetables, coconut worms, Mỹ Tho rice noodle soup, burned snakehead, etc. Furthermore, many traditional handicrafts made from coconut trees are also sold right in gardens. If you love souvenirs or want to buy some for your friends or family after the trip, those cute things are probably a nice choice.
Another must-try activity after leaving Vĩnh Tràng Pagoda is to catch fish by bamboo traps. It’s taken to be the long-standing work of locals. You will try becoming a farmer to drain ditches for fish or use bamboo traps to catch fish. Normally, the activity will be fun if you are in a group of 4-5 people.
Vietnamese folk music – Đờn ca tài tử – is seen as an entertainment symbol of the Mekong Delta. It’s also a unique cultural feature of Vietnamese people. Hence, to promote tourism and culture of Vietnam, so many songs of this kind of music have been translated and performed in English. While enjoying the music in a lush garden, you will be served with tea and fruit for free. It’s a quite common activity after or before a sightseeing tour of Vĩnh Tràng Pagoda
Special Notes:
- Keep quiet while sightseeing around as the pagoda is a sacred place.
- Wear clothes which show your respect for the pagoda. It means you should wear the ones which cover your shoulders, chest and legs.
- Take off your shoes and hats before you enter the central chamber, and the altar.
- Don’t take photos of the central chamber and the altar. You should ask the pagoda head first.
- Don’t bargain over items sold in the pagoda.
- Don’t enter the residence and the kitchen of monks.
The religious culture or life is always one of the curious things many travelers and tourists want to discover when they have a journey to remote parts of the world. Accordingly, Vĩnh Tràng Pagoda, Tiền Giang Province, the Mekong Delta is certainly a must-visit place in their journey as they are able to get valuable knowledge about the Buddha, and admire fabulous architecture of this kind of structure as well. Being a studious learner of history, culture, religion, and architecture, it’s with great regret that you lose out on a visit to that pagoda.
