Crowds rush to pagoda which is still under construction

Tam Chuc Pagoda complex is now still under construction, but thousands of people since the first days of the Lunar New Year.

It would take the investor around 30 years to fully complete the complex and at that time it would become the biggest pagoda in the world with a total area of 5,000 hectares.

The pagoda has a lake of 1,000ha, mountain and forest of 3,000ha, and the valley of 1,000ha. It is home to 1,200 statues made from lava and also owns many treasures in the world.

In 2013, the complex was recognised as a national tourist site.

The pagoda, which is around 1,000 years old, has been rebuilt with the participation from Indian experts. The Tam The Hall can accommodate 5,000 people.

The pagoda has been selected as the place to hold the 16th United Nations Day of Vesak celebrations and international Buddhist conference this year.

Tam Chuc Pagoda festival opens

Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh beats the drum to open the festival (Source: laodong.vn)

The Tam Chuc Pagoda festival kicked off in Kim Bang district in the northern province of Ha Nam on February 16, which falls on the 12th day of the first lunar month.

Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh and Head of the Party Central Committee's Organisation Commission Pham Minh Chinh attended the opening ceremony.

Deputy PM Binh and Most Venerable Thich Thanh Nhieu, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha’s Executive Council, jointly beat the drum to open the festival, and joined the incense offering to pray for peace for the nation and happiness for the people.

The festival restores the story 1000 years ago on a pilgrimage route connecting the heritage sites of Golden Temple - Trang An - Hoa Lu Ancient Capital - Bai Dinh Pagoda - Van Long Pagoda (Ninh Binh) - Dong Tam Pagoda (Hoa Binh) - Tam Chuc Pagoda (Ha Nam) - Huong Son Pagoda - and Thang Long Citadel (Hanoi).

The Tam Chuc Pagoda sits on a site of nearly 5,000ha, surrounding by lakes, mountains, forests and valleys. Excavated objects reveal that the pagoda is around 1,000 years old.

The pagoda, which has been entirely damaged with time, is being rebuilt with the first phase expected to be completed in May 2019 when the pagoda hosts the UN Day of Vesak (Buddha's Birthday, Enlightenment and Passing Away).

The new pagoda has been built using giant blocks from Kim Lan ceramic village in Hanoi. As many as 12,000 murals depicting legends of Buddha craved into volcano rock by Indonesian artisans will decorate the area.

A garden of 99 stone pillars, each 13.5m high and 200 tonnes in weight, carved with Buddhist teachings, will also be installed at the site.

The Tam Chuc complex was recognised by the Prime Minister as a national tourism site in 2013.

The festival is part of activities to celebrate the UN Day of Vesak which will be held at the Tam Chuc Pagoda from May 12-14.