Keo Pagoda – Special National Monument

Perhaps if you search Vietnam Tourist Information about Keo Pagoda, many people will think about the Keo Pagoda in Thai Binh Province. However, there is also another Keo Pagoda considered as a twin brother in Nam Dinh Province. This place is considered as the Best destination in Vietnam. This is one of the oldest temples in Vietnam preserved almost intact 400-year-old architecture.

A legend about this “twin brother”

The temple was built by the monks Duong Khong Lo on the banks of the Red River from 1061 in Ly Dynasty. Initially, the pagoda was called Nghiem Quang Pagoda, and in 1167 it was changed to Than Quang Pagoda. Because Giao Thuy is named Keo according to Ancient Vietnamese script, this temple is also known with the name Keo Pagoda.

After nearly 500 years of existence, in 1611, the water of the Red River increased, flooding Giao Thuy village, and the temple. A part of the residents moved to Hanh Thien Village in Nam Dinh Province nowadays, built the new Keo Pagoda (or Keo Hanh Thien Pagoda). Another part moved to the left bank of the Red River, established Dung Nhue village in Thai Binh Province, also built a temple called Keo.

The ancient and contemplative pagoda

Keo Hanh Thien Temple has long been famous for its beautiful and quiet scenery. The temple is located on a large, flat land near the Red River and Ninh Co River. In front of the pagoda gate, there is a semi-circular lake and delicately arranged penjing, with the clear water. There is also a pair of giant stone elephants; and around the pagoda is ancient trees of hundreds of years old.

Although there is no three-storeyed bell tower such as Keo Pagoda in Thai Binh, the bell tower in front of the Keo Hanh Thien Pagoda is built in a three-door structure with the height of 7.5 meters carved delicately.

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The Pagoda attracts visitors not only by its delicate all-wood religious architecture but also by its valuable ancient collections of the 17^th century in the post-Le Dynasty including many many letters, alters, the statues, ancient epitaphs and royal priceless books written about Keo Pagoda.

Keo Pagoda Festival

Keo Hanh Thien Pagoda Festival is held on the full moon in a ninth lunar month, at Hanh Thien Village, Xuan Hong Commune, Xuan Truong District. The festival includes various traditional cultural activities projecting lifestyles and agricultural culture of citizens residing along Red River Delta such as incense offering, praying, chanting Buddhist scripture, dragon dance, boat racing on the Red River. Coming the Festival in Vietnam package Tours, you can participate in some interesting games as rice cooking completion, duck catching, and firecracker hurling.

The most unique in the festival is the boat race: there are 15 villages involved in boat racing, there are all 10 people on the boat including a boatman. Boat racing at Keo Temple in Nam Dinh is different from other places, they do not sit rowing and all 10 people stand rowing.

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