Giac Ngo Pagoda receives provincial relic ranking certificate

Delegates attending the ceremony.

Attending the ceremony were comrades: Duong Hoang Sum, Provincial Party Committee member, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Thach Boi, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Tra Vinh ; Phan Van Nhan, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Duyen Hai District Party Committee; Thai Thi My Dung, Vice Chairman of the Duyen Hai District People's Council...

Giac Ngo Pagoda was built in 1927 by Venerable Thich Thien Hong (real name To Van Ngoi) and his family. The pagoda is located in Sa Vang Hamlet, Don Chau Commune, Duyen Hai District. This is a religious institution with many achievements contributing to the cause of national liberation revolution in the two resistance wars against France and the US.

Giac Ngo Pagoda campus.

During the resistance war, the abbot and the Board of Trustees of Giac Ngo Pagoda demonstrated a spirit of steadfast and indomitable struggle against the enemy. From the day the pagoda was founded until the day the South was completely liberated and the country was unified, the pagoda went through 3 generations of abbots and all 3 were people who contributed to the revolutionary cause, the most typical of which was Monk Nhieu. The pagoda was the cradle of the revolutionary movement in the region, a place where progressive youths were enlightened about revolutionary ideals and it was also the place that gave birth to the first generation of Communists in the land of Don Chau.

Authorized by the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Mr. Duong Hoang Sum, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, presented the relic certificate to the local government and the abbot of the pagoda.

After the country's reunification, the pagoda continued to do social work to serve the people in the region. Currently, the pagoda still conducts religious activities to serve the spiritual life of Buddhists according to the organizational and operational principles of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha. It regularly does public service and supports Buddhists in difficult circumstances in the region.

Giac Ngo Pagoda plays an important role as a place where Buddhists entrust their good wishes in life. In particular, through the annual festivals held at the pagoda, it demonstrates the values of community cohesion, the tradition of filial piety, and gratitude of our people.

With such outstanding historical and cultural values, on May 24, 2024, the Chairman of Tra Vinh Provincial People's Committee issued Decision No. 898/QD-UBND ranking Giac Ngo Pagoda, located in Sa Vang Hamlet, Don Chau Commune, Duyen Hai District, as a provincial-level relic of the Historical Relic category.

Comrade Thach Boi, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism spoke at the ceremony.

Speaking at the ceremony, comrade Thach Boi, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, requested the Party Committee and local authorities to strictly implement the provisions of the Law on Cultural Heritage. Promote propaganda and education in many forms and with rich content to raise awareness of the people, especially the young generation, about the meaning, value and importance of preserving and promoting the value of relics.

Giac Ngo Pagoda being ranked as a provincial relic is an honor and pride as well as a responsibility of all levels and sectors in preserving and promoting the value of the relic. Therefore, local authorities need to pay attention to supporting, protecting and exploiting the relic effectively.

Comrade Phan Van Nhan, Permanent Deputy Secretary of Duyen Hai District Party Committee, presented a certificate of merit to the pagoda's Management Board.

In the immediate future, Duyen Hai district needs to study and develop a plan to link visiting and studying at the relic with tourism development, considering this as one of the bright spots in the exploitation of cultural tourism resources of the district along with local tourism activities. At the same time, coordinate well with provincial departments and branches, have solutions for preservation, renovation and restoration to do a good job of preserving and promoting the value of the relic comprehensively and effectively...

Comrade Tran Van Quan, Chairman of Don Chau Commune People's Committee, presented certificates of merit to outstanding collectives and individuals.

On this occasion, Duyen Hai District People's Committee awarded 03 certificates of merit to 01 collective and 02 individuals; Don Chau Commune People's Committee awarded certificates of merit to 01 collective and 13 individuals with achievements in preserving and promoting the value of relics.

Besides, the Board of Directors of Giac Ngo Pagoda presented 25 gifts to poor households, people with disabilities and students in difficult circumstances in Don Chau commune.