Visit Ha Tan Pagoda

Ha Tan Pagoda used to be a small village pagoda, built in the 40s of the last century. A devout Buddhist of Ha Tan village, Mr. Luong Chau (Luong Tu Hoi), built the pagoda and donated the garden land, creating conditions for Buddhists in the village to have a place to worship Buddha all year round. He also contributed to maintaining and renovating the pagoda over the years.

Statues of 18 Arhats in the temple grounds. Photo: HL

However, there was a time when, due to the devastation of war, the village was desolate and desolate, and the pagoda was also desolate. In 1974, Ha Tan village was the area that directly suffered the war with the historic Thuong Duc battle, and the village pagoda also suffered pain.

Ha Tan Pagoda is a place of worship for more than 1,000 martyrs who died on the Thuong Duc battlefield. Photo: HL

After liberation, the small pagoda also seriously deteriorated. Ha Tan village pagoda had no abbot for a long time. Every year, Buddhists and villagers often came to the pagoda to worship Buddha and make offerings to the Triple Gem. The pagoda eventually had an abbot, Venerable Thich Dong Nhan.

The village temple was small, desolate and devastated by the terrible floods. The two poetic rivers became fierce and violent during each flood, swallowing everything on the three-river promontory. The government supported the villagers to evacuate all the vulnerable areas...

Summer retreat at Ha Tan pagoda. Photo: HL

At this river junction, thousands of young soldiers sacrificed their lives on the Thuong Duc battlefield. To show gratitude to those who sacrificed their lives on this land, with the consent of the local government and the families of the martyrs, Ha Tan Pagoda has brought the souls of 1,000 martyrs from the 304th and 324th Divisions and the 219th Regiment of the 2nd Corps to worship in the solemn martyrs' temple. Every year, during Vu Lan season, relatives of martyrs from all over the country come here to offer incense and commemorate the souls of the martyrs who fell on this land. Every year, the pagoda organizes a grand ceremony to pray for the martyrs.

Temple garden with cool, peaceful green space. Photo: HL

In the period 2013-2015, thanks to the support and donations of Buddhists, businessmen and people, Ha Tan Pagoda had the conditions to renovate and embellish the main hall, guest house, kitchen, pagoda garden and other landscapes...

Over the years and many renovations and embellishments, the pagoda was rebuilt on the old pagoda's foundation, the pagoda garden was built up, expanded harmoniously and beautifully, becoming a destination for people and tourists from near and far to visit and worship Buddha, especially on important holidays and New Year's Eve. The pagoda yard has many large shady trees, laurel trees, and flowering sala trees, where there are statues of 18 Arhats sitting silently and peacefully in the meditation garden. To the southwest of the pagoda, the statue of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, tens of meters high, is located spaciously, facing the river junction...

Ha Tan Pagoda is located on a promontory at the confluence of three rivers. Photo: HL

To preserve the pagoda in this "stormy" place, many efforts of monks, nuns, Buddhists and people have been poured out. Monk Thich Dong Nhan - abbot of Ha Tan pagoda has repeatedly mobilized young men in the village to go to the forest to carry rocks, cut trees, build embankments, make stone cages to shore up the land, and block the fierce water to protect the village and the pagoda. Every day, the efforts to shore up the river and protect the pagoda's foundation become more and more difficult, thanks to which Ha Tan pagoda is firmly protected.

"To protect the beautiful pagoda at the source of Vu Gia, which is also to protect this poetic Ha Tan village, the pagoda has spent a lot of effort calling on monks, nuns, Buddhists, and philanthropists from near and far to support and make offerings to the Triple Gem, thanks to which Ha Tan pagoda has been preserved and maintained. However, the fear of landslides is still there..." - Venerable Thich Dong Nhan said.

The temple gate leading to Ha Tan village. Photo: HL

On a spring day, I visited the temple, standing on the land at the end of the village looking out at the river junction, the wind blew coolly, the scenery was breathtakingly beautiful. The sound of the temple bell echoed amidst the clouds and water, suddenly I felt strangely peaceful. I hope that the temple roof - "the place that shelters the soul of the nation" at the forefront of the wind and waves will last forever.

Source