The ancient temple hundreds of years old by the Ky Cung river

Thanh Pagoda is located on the bank of Ky Cung River, Lang Son City, Lang Son Province. Built in the 15th century under the Le So Dynasty, the pagoda was called Huong Lam Tu, then renamed Dien Khanh Tu and Tuan Khanh Tu. In 1796, the pagoda was moved to its current location (about 200m from the old location) and once again named Dien Khanh Tu. However, the locals still know it by the simple name "Thanh Pagoda", because the pagoda is located right next to the ancient citadel.

Thanh Lang Son Pagoda is a pagoda with a very special architectural style in the "inner public - outer private" style, consisting of 8 large and small rooms, and is regularly restored and renovated, so it always retains its majesty as well as its unique architecture to this day. The three-door gate is designed with overlapping tiles, fish-tail tiles and curved roof edges; the pagoda roof is carved with the mascots Dragon - Unicorn - Turtle - Phoenix with a system of supporting columns made of solid ironwood.

The pagoda still preserves more than 50 exquisitely and perfectly sculpted bronze statues. In addition, the horizontal lacquered boards and parallel sentences of the pagoda are also carefully preserved despite hundreds of years. In particular, the pagoda still preserves a 600 kg bell cast in the 9th year of Canh Tri (1671) under the reign of King Le Huyen Tong and the Dien Khanh Tu Bi Ky stele (Dien Khanh Pagoda stele inscription) erected in 1796 under the reign of King Canh Thinh. Coming to Thanh Pagoda, visitors from all over can also admire the meditating jade statue of Buddha Shakyamuni, weighing more than 30 tons...

Thanh Pagoda is also the headquarters of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Lang Son Province. Every year, this place is also the venue for many important Buddhist events such as Vu Lan Festival, Buddha's Birthday...

Mr. Hoang Minh Vu, a resident of Lang Son city, shared: “Since I was a child, my grandparents and parents have taken me to this pagoda to worship and enjoy the scenery. When I grew up, my family and I still maintain this habit. Not only for me personally but for many people, this pagoda is not only a spiritual tourist destination but also has an extremely great cultural value and spiritual significance.”

Venerable Thich Quang Truyen, Head of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Lang Son Province, Abbot of Thanh Pagoda, said: “We always try our best in management to make the pagoda beautiful in landscape, solemn in worship, and do a good job of preserving, repairing and maintaining the pagoda. The pagoda now fully contains the elements of a pure Vietnamese ancient pagoda, beautiful in architecture, beautiful in culture, beautiful in history and very sacred. I hope that visitors to Lang Son will come to Thanh Pagoda once, to hear the sound of the pagoda bell echoing along the Ky Cung River flowing upstream. Amidst the vastness of the mountains and rivers of the northernmost land of our Fatherland, we will love Vietnam more, know how to appreciate the values ​​we have today that our ancestors left behind, so that everyone has a sense of responsibility to join hands in preserving the cultural heritage of the nation”.

According to Dr. Hoang Van Pao - Chairman of Lang Son Heritage Association, Thanh Pagoda possesses truly rare and unique values. This is also a cultural symbol when located in the historical relic complex "Ky Cung Thach Do", a symbol of Lang Son province in general and in the hearts of the people in particular. This pagoda is also considered a cultural milestone of Buddhist beliefs in the hearts of the people. In addition, Thanh Pagoda creates a highlight to attract tourists to explore the huge cultural treasure of Lang Son province.

Pagodas have always held a special place in the cultural life of the people with their communal and benevolent lifestyle and the preservation of cultural and ethical values, enriching the cultural identity of Vietnam. In Lang Son, Thanh Pagoda holds an extremely important position in the spiritual life of the people of all ethnic groups in the province. This place attracts a large number of people and tourists from all over the country to visit, worship Buddha, pray for blessings and peace, as well as to admire a national relic with unique historical and architectural values.

According to VOV