Inside the temple are the most Buddha statues in Vietnam.

(Dan Tri Newspaper) - Located in the Chinese quarter (District 5, Ho Chi Minh City), Van Phat Pagoda has been recognized by the Vietnam Record Organization as the pagoda with the most Buddha statues in Vietnam.

Van Phat Pagoda is located on Nghia Thuc Street (District 5). The pagoda was built in 1959 by two abbots, Venerable Tang Duc Bon and Venerable Thich Dieu Hoa.

Unlike other temples in Vietnam, Van Phat Temple is built in a unique Chinese architectural style. It is not only a place of study and practice for monks, nuns, and Buddhists, but also a familiar cultural and spiritual center for the Chinese community in Vietnam.

The highlight of Van Phat Pagoda is the main hall, also known as the Great Hall of Light. Located on the 4th floor of the pagoda, the main hall's space and architecture reflect the rich cultural heritage of the Chinese people.

The statue of Buddha Shakyamuni is placed on a lotus pedestal right in the center of the main hall.

The lotus pedestal of Buddha Shakyamuni is crafted from 1000 exquisitely detailed lotus petals.

Surrounding the main hall are 10,000 Buddha statues arranged neatly in rows, creating an extremely sacred space.

Although each Buddha statue is only the size of a palm, it is meticulously crafted. Each statue is also numbered and labeled with a name.

Every year, many monks, nuns, Buddhists, and tourists come to pilgrimage and visit Van Phat Pagoda.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tuan (47 years old) said: "When entering the temple, it feels like stepping into a world of Buddhist teachings. The architecture of this temple is very unique, with very delicate and meticulous carvings."

Currently, the abbot of Van Phat Pagoda is Venerable Thich Truyen Cuong, originally from Guangdong Province, China.

Besides the main hall, the lower levels also house altars dedicated to other Buddhas such as the Medicine Buddha, the Lapis Lazuli Buddha, and the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva…

In addition, Van Phat Pagoda also has an area for depositing the ashes of the deceased, with the hope that after death they will be protected by Buddha and soon reach the Pure Land.

"I felt more humbled when I stepped into this temple. The details of the temple are beautiful. Everything has been preserved intact after many years. I will remember this when I return home," shared Mathieu (a tourist from the Netherlands).

The Ten Thousand Buddhas Pagoda is located on the temple's rooftop. It is also one of the architectural highlights of this temple.

"My house is only a few hundred meters from the temple, so I go to the temple to pray to Buddha a few times almost every month to ask for health and peace for my family members," said Mrs. Hong (53 years old, residing in District 5).

Buddhism originated in India and has become a popular religion in many countries around the world, thus contributing to the diversity and richness of national cultures.

In recent years, Van Phat Pagoda has become increasingly well-known and is gradually becoming a destination for locals and tourists during the early spring season.

Dantri.com.vn